Bennie Bennett Memorial Showcase: Next Women Up

The latter part of the midseason tournament schedule around the holidays can be an important time for a team. Closing that portion of the season slate with victories can be a huge momentum boost and confidence builder with the region schedule lurking.    That is what many a team was looking to get accomplished at this year's Bennie Bennett Memorial Showcase. The event is co-hosted by 5A Division 1 Clover and 3A Newberry. The Blue Eagles' nest featured a showcase-style format with six girls' teams taking part while the Bulldogs' home court hosted eight teams in a bracket-style format.    Clover has also been in the news because of the upcoming grand opening of Lake Wylie HS. The school's first year will be 2026-27 and feature powder blue and gold colors (similar to 1A Ridge Spring-Monetta in the CSRA) as the Chargers. The new school will be in the 4A classification athletically, hence dropping the Blue Eagles down to 4A.   We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip to Clover for the final day of girls' games. Here, we recognize sophomores and younger prospects who soared at the home court of the Blue Eagles.     Following a 51-38 victory over SCISA 4A Heathwood Hall, Adams and her 3A St. Joseph's Catholic assembling matched up with 5A Division 2 Chapin. Adams did what she does best to the tune of a game-high 19 points in what was a 52-39 result in favor of the Eagles. With more experience than the typical sophomore, Adams has firmly established herself as one of the premier sharpshooters in South Carolina. She will also throw defenders off balance with her rim-attacking capabilities and her ability to finish at the rim with her left hand. Screen-setting is another element to Adams' game given she is taller than the typical two guard. St. Joseph's Catholic will drop down to 2A starting with the 2026-27 season – and the next two years will see Adams as the on-court leader for the Knights.     Wright transferred to 5A Division 2 Chapin during the offseason and has been a solid addition to this year's Eagles team. With seven points, Wright helped her Chapin team to a 52-39 victory over 3A St. Joseph's Catholic. Chapin had a lead late and St. Joseph's Catholic committed fouls to stop the clock. Late-game free throws from Wright helped seal the victory for the Eagles. Wright is a skilled guard with solid ball-handling skills, can handle the ball through a sea of opposing defenders and can get out of precarious situations thrown at her and her team by said opposing defense.      Hollenbeck is a name we vividly remember from when 4A Lancaster participated in the Upscale Cutz and Stylez invite at 5A Division 1 Blythewood. One of three team co-captains for the Bruins, Hollenbeck paced her team with 19 points against a tough SCISA 4A out in Heathwood Hall. The Bruins defeated the Highlanders with the final score being 36-31. Hollenbeck is listed as a frontcourt player on Lancaster's roster but she has the ball-handling skills of a guard with the ability to get downhill in a quick amount of time. She is also a solid rebounder who sets herself up to receive passes in close proximity to the basket. A midrange jump shot is also part of her offensive repertoire.      Coffey is another of the three team co-captains that make up this year's 4A Lancaster assembling. She adds backcourt depth for the Bruins and displayed that by adding seven points to the Lancaster cause against SCISA 4A Heathwood Hall. Defensively, Coffey will play effectively guarding the perimeter – including having her hands outstretched, matching an opposing ball carrier step for step and allowing her length to clog up an opposing team's passing lanes. Offensively, she has no problems drawing contact and finding her way to the free throw line. Coffey understands the art of playing point and setting up her team in the halfcourt.      The standout freshman for Heathwood Hall is a primary reason why the Highlanders remain a force to be reckoned with in SCISA's competitive 4A ranks. Jenkins concluded her day at 5A Division 1 Clover with eight points in a defensive-minded 36-31 contest with 4A public Lancaster – one where the Bruins proved victorious. Jenkins' height ensures that opposing teams will have a hard time scoring in the interior as she can block many a shot. It also ensures that she will come out on the good end of many a rebounding battle and she will display her offensive versatility with her willingness to attempt from long range.      While 5A Division 1 defending champion Blythewood's much-ballyhooed veterans make up the nucleus of its roster, coach Emily McElveen's Bengals are getting a glimpse of their future. Fulton denotes said immediate future and she provided 12 points to help the Bengals to a 51-42 win over 5A Division 1 showcase host Clover. Fulton was especially effective from behind the arc as she connected on three attempts from distance. She understands the art of being active even when the ball is not in her hands and is displaying leadership qualities of someone blossoming into a prospect to keep on one's radar.

The latter part of the midseason tournament schedule around the holidays can be an important time for a team. Closing that portion of the season slate with victories can be a huge momentum boost and confidence builder with the region schedule lurking.