Y.C. Winborn Classic at Rock Hill: Palmetto State Standouts

The middle portion of December is typically when the basketball schedule kicks into high gear once again with midterm exams being in the rear-view mirror on the academic schedule.    Among the many schools throughout South Carolina playing host to midseason tournaments is 5A Division 1 Rock Hill – which hosts its annual Y.C. Winborn Showcase that welcomes teams from both Carolinas.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trip up to the home court of the Bearcats for the first day of games. The Palmetto State, as one would expect, was well represented at Rock Hill. Here are a few of those notable names.     One had to believe that for a 5A Division 1 Rock Hill-hosted showcase that the Bearcats would defend its home court. Hudson overcame some early struggles to conclude her day with a 17-point performance en route to a 49-32 Bearcats victory over the Cougars of 8A Chambers from North Carolina. Hudson is known throughout the state for being one of the most efficient 3-point shooters in the state. Early on, the 3-pointers were not falling and she helped her team by attacking the rim point guard-style. Hudson looked like vintage Hudson in the second quarter by draining a triplet of 3-pointers from the left wing. Fittingly enough, No. 15 had 15 points at the halftime break – outscoring the entire Chambers team.     One of four 2027s on this season's 5A Division 1 Rock Hill team, the Bearcats' portion of its Y.C. Winborn Showcase – and its holiday schedule – commenced with what was a commanding victory over 8A Chambers from the other side of the North Carolina-South Carolina state line. Dunbar contributed to the Bearcats' efforts with eight points. At 5-foot-10, Dunbar provides plenty of height and is another threat to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard. A force to be reckoned with in Rock Hill's frontcourt, Dunbar has already shown signs of taking that next step – a next step that once again ensures the Bearcats' status as a dangerous bunch.     Right before its Y.C. Winborn Showcase contest with 8A West Charlotte, it was revealed that Spartanburg maintained its top spot in the 5A Division 1 coaches' poll. Nelson played like as she began her weekend at the Bearcats' den with a 13-point showing to lead her Spartanburg team to a 54-49 victory over the Lions. She is one of three 2027s on this year's Spartanburg team. Nelson is unafraid of contact that can place her at the free throw line. Defense can turn into offense and even though Nelson is listed as a three or a four, she has the speed of a point guard. Nelson can also make things happen in the midrange game and has no issues attempting shots over taller defenders.     The Lions of NCHSAA 8A West Charlotte gave Spartanburg – the top-ranked team in 5A Division 1 – a stiff test as the Vikings looked to preserve its undefeated season. The seven points that were scored courtesy of Sims played their part in running Spartanburg's record to 9-0. Sims brings plenty of energy every time she steps on the court – especially on the defensive end of the floor. She can come from seemingly out of nowhere to deflect an opposing team's pass or collect a steal to give her team an additional offensive possession. One also has to look out for Sims from behind the arc as she has displayed in previous contests that she can be accurate from 3-point range.     For a good portion of the game, NCHSAA 8A West Charlotte was successful in keeping Bridges mostly off the scoreboard. Then the fourth quarter of what was an entertaining battle between the Lions and 5A Division 1 Spartanburg happened. Bridges was the closer for her Vikings on Thursday evening, tallying the bulk of her 15 points in the fourth quarter to secure a 54-49 win over West Charlotte and preserve Spartanburg's undefeated season. The Lions made a strong bid to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season before Bridges' late-game heroics made all the difference. She is a versatile veteran that can play the bulk of her minutes either in the backcourt at the point or in the frontcourt as a three forward.     Meadows may not have been in the starting lineup for top-ranked 5A Division 1 Spartanburg's contest against NCHSAA 8A West Charlotte, but her play was starting five-worthy. Adding scoring depth of the bench, Meadows' 10 points made a massive difference in not only earning a 54-49 victory over the Lions but to preserve Spartanburg's undefeated season. In addition to her scoring, Meadows gave her team plenty of energy and speed when attacking the rim. A 3-point shot is part of her overall offensive arsenal and she can give her team timely defense with the minutes she is allotted. Meadows has already garnered plenty of playing time as a standout eighth grader for the Vikings.     With an eye on concluding her high school career with an exclamation point, Draughn displayed on Thursday evening at 5A Division 1 host Rock Hill why she is poised to do that – and then some. In a tough matchup between Draughn's Falcons and the Buccaneers of Charlotte Country Day, Draughn led her A.C. Flora bunch with 17 points. Draughn is one of three team captains on this year's Falcons team and her ability to put points on the board by attacking the rim or connecting from range displays how she leads by example. She is one of three on the Falcons roster that is part of the 2026 A.C. Flora graduating class.     Speaking of eighth-grade notables, Gray is making a strong case for 2030 of 2030s throughout the Palmetto State. Gray's 4A A.C. Flora team took part in an entertaining contest against Charlotte Country Day. Even though the Buccaneers got the better of the Falcons, the 13 points Gray scored kept A.C. Flora in the contest from the opening tip to the game's final buzzer. A reason why she is among the best eighth graders in South Carolina is her defense – Gray can come away with a multitude of steals. Over the offseason, Gray joined the [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] organization for AAU ball. She played like it on Thursday evening at Rock Hill.     McCray is always ready to play – home, away, night or day. The first day of this year's Winborn Classic featured a contest between McCray's 4A A.C. Flora team and Charlotte Country Day. McCray kept her Falcons in the contest from start to finish with a 15-point performance. She showcased many of the skills that landed her an offer from Converse last month. McCray is another of the three team captains that A.C. Flora has this season. The [program_tooltip program_id='783909' first='Palmetto' last='76ers/A'ja Wilson Elite'] product is in the throes of her final season at the high school level after first playing as an eighth grader.     Thursday's play at the Y.C. Winborn Showcase concluded with a commanding performance from 3A Newberry against 1A Bethune-Bowman. Robinson keyed the Bulldogs' efforts with a 16-point game. Newberry's attack involved plenty of high-percentage shots – whether it involved attacking the rim or finding frontcourt players in close proximity to the basket. As one of those frontcourt players, Robinson had plenty of success in converting on those high-percentage opportunities. Robinson can be placed in a team's lineup either at the three or at the four. Defensively, Robinson is a consistent threat to collect steals and she also will help her team as a shot blocker.     Williams was another important piece to the winning puzzle that saw 3A Newberry finish Thursday's play at the Y.C. Winborn Showcase with a 52-27 win over 1A Bethune-Bowman. She finished with 12 points. Much of the Bulldogs' first-half success was because of Williams who had 10 of her 12 in the first 16 minutes of play. Her guard attributes were on display throughout the contest – including her ability to attack the basket. The defense Newberry played on the Bethune-Bowman end of the floor enabled Williams to get out in transition and finish strong at the cup.     The junior big for 3A Newberry previously played at the junior varsity level before getting a call up to the varsity level. The Bulldogs' rout of 1A Bethune-Bowman was predicated on high-percentage shot opportunities – including the eight points that were tallied by Higgins. She is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in track and field at Newberry alongside her basketball achievements. Defensively, Higgins is a consistent threat to block shots and grab plenty of rebounds. The heads-up attitude she plays with enables her to take advantage of deflections and collect steals. Her length is as effective as her height.     Johnson's 1A Bethune-Bowman team had a rough go of things on Thursday against 3A Newberry. The senior guard for the Mohawks still put together a winning performance with 15 points. Johnson effectively plays point between her ability to organize her team in a halfcourt offensive set and her rim-attacking capabilities. Johnson also displays plenty of confidence in her ability to connect from behind the 3-point arc. She is one of three seniors on Bethune-Bowman's roster that is part of its class of 2026. Out of the 15 points that Johnson scored, eight occurred in the second half of play. Johnson is as much a threat to score as she is to come away with steals.

The middle portion of December is typically when the basketball schedule kicks into high gear once again with midterm exams being in the rear-view mirror on the academic schedule.