Magic City Holiday Invitational: Tuesday’s Primetime Performers

The holiday season is also tournament and showcase season in the realm of high school girls basketball. Across the Palmetto State, such events are happening at all points of South Carolina during the academic break – including in the Pee Dee.    The Magic City Holiday Invitational took place over a span of four days at 4A Wilson HS. The first couple of days of the girls' slate featured the Jolette Law Showcase and the final two days would see the Pearl Moore Showcase emanate from the Tigers' new and improved Pearl Moore Court. Boys games also took place.    We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand for the final day of matchups that Tuesday prior to Christmas. Here, we highlight notable names from the day's play.    Given Joseph's 4A Darlington team was placed in a region with Wilson with the most recent round of realignment, the Falcons have become very familiar with the Tigers' home arena. The final girls game of this year's Magic City Holiday Invitational saw Joseph lead Darlington with 20 points to a win over Ascension Academy. Per usual, Joseph was not only on her game as a scorer but also as a rebounder as well. Being the veteran that she is, Joseph understood that Ascension Academy was at a matchup disadvantage in the interior and exploited it en route to the Falcons victory.      That aforementioned win for 4A Darlington over Ascension Academy did not occur easy – because the Royals benefitted from a valiant effort courtesy of the team's standout 2029. The Falcons won by a final score of 45-38, but Darry's 18 points ensured Darlington had to earn it. Darry understands the art of calling for the ball when she is confident in her ability to make plays. She thrives as a transition playmaker, has a skillset that includes a great deal of speed and quickness and knows that her defense can translate into offense. Darry plays with a fearless attitude and has plays where she can play the role of a forward or a big even though she has the build of a guard.     Guarding against Dunston's 3-point shot is key for any team looking to score a victory over 5A Morrow out of Georgia. Dunson brought those 3-pointers with her to Wilson HS as her 17 points were part of the winning puzzle that saw the Mustangs earn a victory over the host Tigers. Dunston proved to be particularly effective from the wing. Morrow as a team connected on four 3-point attempts – three of those were courtesy of Dunston. She can also attack the rim point guard-style and understands how to finish strong at the rim – both conventionally and creatively. Nine of the Alabama State commit's 17 were scored in the second half.     The place to be for Dace was Wilson HS. Dace was another of the 17-point scorers that enabled 5A Morrow to earn a 49-34 victory over the host Tigers. While the four successful field goals Dace had were certainly a large help, where Dace came through for her team was at the free throw line. Morrow had nine successful tries from the charity stripe in the contest against 4A Wilson – seven of them were Dace's – a testament to her toughness and her ability to draw contact. Dace is also one of the leading rebounders on the team and much of what the Mustangs get accomplished on the offensive end of the floor is a byproduct of what occurs defensively.     Miller's 4A Wilson team may not have achieved the result it was looking for against its 5A Morrow adversaries from Georgia. The senior Tigers two guard still turned in a winning effort for her team in the form of a 16-point performance that led Wilson against the Mustangs. Miller was able to get in position on the perimeter on more than one occasion to attempt 3-point shots, hence why she was able to connect on four of her tries from distance – and why she had four of the five successful triples Wilson had on Tuesday. She also knows how to get her own rebound off a miss, if needed.     Early on in 4A Darlington's matchup against Ascension Academy, its interior attack was guiding the Falcons to success over the Royals. As the contest wore on, guard play took over and Woodham was one of the featured guards for Darlington as she has been all season. Woodham concluded her Tuesday with 13 points. One of the many areas where Woodham thrives is as a transition playmaker. The heads-up attitude she brings to every play enable her to come away with steals on defense and she is a proficient passer in large part because of her court vision. Woodham is one of only two sophomores on this year's Falcons team.     Those that are aficionados of 4A Wilson have to be overjoyed that the 5-foot-11 junior star is once again sporting a uniform that is gold and purple. The final day of the Magic City Holiday Showcase saw Murray and her Tigers compete against 5A Morrow from Georgia. Murray bolstered her team's efforts with nine points. Between her tall frame and her skill, Murray is on the winning end of many a rebounding battle. As someone who has proven she can get front of a defender and play with her back to the basket, Murray knows how to operate as a traditional big. As someone who understands attacking the rim from the perimeter, Murray understands how to play as a three or four. She did score 17 in a 56-47 win over Ascension Academy.     Being able to give a team like Darlington – one of the top 4A squads in South Carolina – everything it can handle and then some is not an easy task. McMurray helped her Ascension Academy assembling do just that as her eight points helped a solid Royals effort against the Falcons. McMurray brings plenty of speed and quickness to her team and her skill displays itself in her ability to split defenses. The willingness to draw contact and find her way to the free throw line is another positive aspect to her skillset as are her overall instincts as a veteran guard.     During the summer AAU schedule, it was revealed that Rials had secured an offer from Randolph College in Virginia. She displayed on Tuesday exactly why Randolph College had her on its radar while playing her final season of travel ball with Bouncenation. Rials added eight points to the 5A Morrow cause as the Mustangs earned a 49-34 victory over event host 4A Wilson. She thrives as a high-percentage shot maker and also does the same as a rebounder, making her a double-double possibility on a game-by-game basis. What she gets accomplished is indicative of many traditional fives and four forwards but Rials also has occasions where she can effectively play at the three.     The second half of 4A Darlington's contest against Ascension Academy featured a Falcons team that leaned on its guard play. In many ways, McAlister was the closer for the Falcons against the Royals as she did the bulk of her damage in the fourth quarter en-route to a seven-point performance. While the numbers she has the potential to place on a scoreboard receive plenty of praise, McAlister has also proven herself to be a solid defender. A consistent threat to collect steals, much of what the Falcons create on the offensive end is because of McAlister's defense. She also understands how to create playmaking opportunities for her team as a ball distributor.     Ascension Academy may have suffered a couple of losses at the Magic City Holiday Invitational, but the small margin of those defeats proved the Royals belong on the same court as top-tier 4A teams such as Darlington and showcase host Wilson. Williams' seven points ensured the Royals were within striking distance of the Falcons on Tuesday. A 3-point shot is part of her offensive arsenal and she does not shy away from contact that can place her at the free throw line. Connecting on 3-pointers, making plays in transition and grabbing rebounds as a guard are other strong elements to Williams' well-developed skillset.

The holiday season is also tournament and showcase season in the realm of high school girls basketball. Across the Palmetto State, such events are happening at all points of South Carolina during the academic break – including in the Pee Dee.