Region 5-AAA: Aynor vs. Waccamaw

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Region 5-AAA, Dillon currently is the team to beat. Two teams that are looking to knock the defending 3A Lower State champion Wildcats off their perch did battle on Friday night in the Grand Strand.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two teams were Aynor and Waccamaw. Both Blue Jackets and Warriors entered Friday's play at 1-1 against region foes. Aynor, ranked eighth in the latest 3A coaches' poll, began its region slate with a close victory over Marlboro County before being on the wrong end of a 21-point defeat to Dillon this past Tuesday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for the Warriors, it began region play with a close loss on its home floor to Georgetown before righting the ship with a victory at Loris.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trek to Waccamaw for Friday's contest. Here are a few standouts from Friday's region contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1106560"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1663481,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696b7dcc4b1f2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Richardson helped Aynor earn its second region victory of the season by tallying 14 points in what was an entertaining 47-38 victory over Waccamaw. The Warriors' defense managed to contain Richardson in the first half – which is why Waccamaw had a 23-13 lead over the Blue Jackets at the break. Richardson had 10 of her 14 in the second half. She understands the art of finding driving lanes to the basket and finishing strong at the rim. Over the years, she has also excelled as a rebounder, ball hawk and shot blocker. Richardson is one of three seniors on this year's Blue Jackets team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1663488,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Shamaya Carter","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Aynor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696b7dcc4b2a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aynor also benefitted from the 11 points that were placed on the board courtesy of Carter – a 2028 guard. All 11 of her points occurred in the second half of play and she was integral in the Blue Jackets' comeback efforts in the third quarter as she scored nine of the 20 points Aynor had in that frame. A team can place Carter in its lineup either at the point or as a two in the backcourt. Carter is a playmaker on both offense and defense and she displays this through her ability to collect steals and block shots. Getting out in transition is another strong point of her skillset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1663503,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Elisha Huffman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Aynor","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696b7dcc4b330"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"> In close contests against tough region opponents, every point matters. This includes the 10 points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of Huffman. She displayed her consistency throughout the contest as she was the lone Blue Jacket to score at least one point in every quarter. Huffman can find herself in a team's lineup at the four in the frontcourt and can greatly help a team's rebounding efforts. She also has no issues drawing contact that can place her at the free throw line. Huffman is another of the three sophomores that are part of this year's Aynor assembling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["569805"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1663519,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696b7dcc4b38c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Prior and her Warriors may not have achieved the result it was hoping for against Aynor but she still led all point-getters for Friday evening's matchup with 15. She also steered clear of the referee's whistle for the most part as she had only one personal foul called against her for the game. Prior is one of two team co-captains on this year's Waccamaw team. She can thrive in a team's lineup as either a point guard or a shooting guard and understands how to organize an offense in a halfcourt set. Prior also displays her toughness and veteran instincts with her ability to draw contact and get to the free throw line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1663543,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Viana Bender","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Waccamaw","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-696b7dcc4b40e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Bender – the other of the two team co-captains for Waccamaw – spearheaded the efforts for the Warriors from the frontcourt. She added 10 points to the Warriors' cause. She also steered mostly clear of the referee's whistle as she had only two personal fouls called against her on Friday night. Bender can display her power forward skills by receiving the ball near the lane and successfully attacking the basket. She can be placed in a team's lineup either at the four or as a traditional five. In addition to being one of two co-captains, Bender is also one of three sophomores Waccamaw has on its roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->