Blackville-Hilda Hawk Invitational: Top Six Performers

Many a smaller school typically circles the days of the Hawk Invitational, hosted annually at 1A Blackville-Hilda on its calendar.    Usually, the tournament takes place right after Christmas but was moved a bit closer to New Year's Day this year with the final list of games emanating on New Year's Eve.    Eight teams were originally part of this year's girls' field along with the ten on the boys' side. Those eight were included 3A Silver Bluff and 2A schools Whale Branch and Barnwell along with 1A schools Denmark-Olar, Allendale-Fairfax, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Ridge Spring-Monetta and host Blackville-Hilda.    The Warhorses and Red Raiders were eliminated from competition as play on New Year's Eve commenced.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made our annual trek to the Hawks' nest for the final day of games. Here is who brought in the new year with stellar performances to close out the Hawk Invitational.    Prejean put her name firmly on the statewide map for 2A Whale Branch and has done more of the same in putting together a stellar freshman campaign for the Warriors. Her day at 1A Blackville-Hilda began by spearheading a Whale Branch rout of 1A Ridge Spring-Monetta with the final score being 52-19 with 22 points. Prejean was particularly effective from behind the 3-point line as she was true on four of her tries from distance. She is also a gifted rebounder who can make plays on either end of the floor. When she has the ball in her hands, Prejean understands how to take care of the ball, get downhill in a hurry, split defenses and finish emphatically at the cup. She added 25 in her team's third-place win over host Blackville-Hilda.     The Trojans of 1A Ridge Spring-Monetta finished the 2025 calendar year on a low note as evidenced by being on the wrong end of a 52-19 rout by 2A Whale Branch. Ligons proved to be a bright spot for Ridge Spring-Monetta as she scored nine points in a valiant effort. Ligons displayed solid ball-handling capabilities along with an ability to find driving lanes to the rim to finish strong at the cup. Ligons has been playing at the varsity level since the seventh grade and has only improved since. She understands how to make the right passes at the right times and is a defensive playmaker between her rebounding and her ability to collect steals. Ligons is one of three sophomores for this year's Trojans squad.     In Wednesday's contest between Allendale-Fairfax and host Blackville-Hilda to determine a berth in the third-place game, a pair of seniors took center stage. One of those was Carter as the Tigers' 2026 led her team with a 26-point performance to lead her team in an overtime thriller with the Hawks. Carter primarily plays point, but she is taller than the typical one guard. She maintains a high degree of activity away from the ball and is especially difficult to contain when she switches into that second gear. That speed proves to be a very worthwhile attribute on both ends of the floor. Carter understands how to read defenses and that high basketball IQ enables her to intercept an opposing team's passes.     As a senior, Williams is competing in her final Hawk Invitational. She was the other 2026 that took center stage in the matchup that featured her Blackville-Hilda assembling and its adversaries from Allendale-Fairfax with a berth in the third-place game up for grabs. Williams would finish Wednesday afternoon's get-together with 26 points. Early on, Williams displayed her toughness with her ability to attack the rim and draw contact to place her at the free throw line. As the game wore on, layups and floaters were falling for Williams. She assumes team captaincy duties for the Hawks, is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball and is one of four seniors on this year's Blackville-Hilda team. She also added 10 more in the third-place matchup with Whale Branch.     This year's Blackville-Hilda Hawk Invitational felt more like the Denmark-Olar Viking Invitational. Johnson's Denmark-Olar assembling faced off against 3A Silver Bluff in the championship game and her 19 points helped it feel more like a coronation instead of a competition. Johnson also departed from the Hawks' nest with co-MVP honors. She displays her versatility with the ability to give a team worthwhile minutes either in the backcourt at the point or as a two guard and can give a team productive minutes in the frontcourt as a three. Johnson can also be lethal from behind the arc. Denmark-Olar as a team connected on five 3-pointers against the Bulldogs. Four of those were Johnson's. Johnson is the lone junior on this year's Vikings team.     Also helping 1A Denmark-Olar win this season's Blackville-Hilda Hawk Invitational in commanding fashion over 3A Silver Bluff was the Vikings' standout freshman. Jerido concluded her evening with 19 points to contribute to their offensive onslaught over the Bulldogs. A team can put Jerido in its starting five – which is where Jerido was against Silver Bluff – at the three or the two and that can translate well to playing effectively on the wing. Jerido may be the lone freshman on the Vikings' roster but stellar performances such as what she had on New Year's Eve at the Hawks' nest will ensure she continues to solidify her already solid footing on what is a Denmark-Olar assembling with plenty of youth – and talent.

Many a smaller school typically circles the days of the Hawk Invitational, hosted annually at 1A Blackville-Hilda on its calendar.

Usually, the tournament takes place right after Christmas but was moved a bit closer to New Year's Day this year with the final list of games emanating on New Year's Eve.

Eight teams were originally part of this year's girls' field along with the ten on the boys' side. Those eight were included 3A Silver Bluff and 2A schools Whale Branch and Barnwell along with 1A schools Denmark-Olar, Allendale-Fairfax, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Ridge Spring-Monetta and host Blackville-Hilda.

The Warhorses and Red Raiders were eliminated from competition as play on New Year's Eve commenced.

We at Prep Girls Hoops made our annual trek to the Hawks' nest for the final day of games. Here is who brought in the new year with stellar performances to close out the Hawk Invitational.