Region 3-AAAAA: Fort Mill vs. Nation Ford

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 regular season concluded on Feb. 13. Among the many teams that were in action that day were two from Region 3-AAAAA just outside of Charlotte.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those two teams were Fort Mill and Nation Ford. The Yellow Jackets entered play with a possibility of winning a region championship as they were tied with Clover with identical 9-2 records in its region. The Falcons were fresh off a 65-57 victory over Rock Hill on Wednesday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time these two teams met was on Jan. 20 at Fort Mill. That contest saw the Yellow Jackets earn a 46-36 victory over the Falcons. This one saw Nation Ford outlast Fort Mill in an overtime thriller with the final score being 49-47 paving the way for Clover to claim the region championship. The Blue Eagles scored a blowout victory over Catawba Ridge that same day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Girls Hoops were on hand for the final regular season contest of the season. Here is who stood out from Friday's play between the Yellow Jackets and Falcons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["935769"],"_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":1748943,"_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-699086085b24c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For those that may not remember, the 2025-26 season began very inauspiciously for 5A Division 2 Nation Ford. The Falcons lost six of its first seven games. The 21-point outburst that Morrow put together against another 5A Division 2 team in Fort Mill was the culmination of Nation Ford's stunning turnaround. Morrow placed points on the board early and often, particularly demonstrating how effective she can be from distance. She possesses the ball-handling and iso skills of a guard while also displaying how effective she can be as a transition playmaker and free throw shooter. Late in the game with the score tied at 47, Morrow made two clutch free throws to seal victory for the Falcons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1748975"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","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-699086085b2ba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Also instrumental in the Nation Ford victory was Washington who, like Morrow, is one of four team co-captains for the Falcons. The nine-point performance she contributed was also key in Nation Ford outlasting Fort Mill. Washington is also one of five sophomores on this season's Falcons team. Her fearlessness displays itself with her willingness to attack the rim even against multiple defenders. Collecting a sizable number of steals and making plays in the transition game are two other strengths to Washington's overall skillset – as is her ability to connect on 3-point opportunities. With the win, eight of the Falcons' 13 regular season victories occurred against region opponents. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["975827"],"_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":1748984,"_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-699086085b312"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One expects high-level play from those who wear the Lady Attack Elite uniform during the spring and summer months of AAU. Wolf certainly brought that and then some for Fort Mill. The Yellow Jackets may not have achieved the result it was in search of on the road at Nation Ford, but Wolf's 19 points ensured Fort Mill had a chance to win all game long. Ten of the 19 points she scored took place in the first half of play. Wolf's veteran instincts display themselves with her willingness to maintain activity even away from the ball and via her overall high basketball IQ. She understands when the correct occasions are to pass and when the correct occasions are to score. Her defense can leave many opposing ball-carriers turnover-prone and she is particularly dangerous from behind the 3-point line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318824"],"_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":1748994,"_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-699086085b366"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A pair of senior frontcourt forces also were vital to Fort Mil's efforts on Friday evening – as they have been all season. Marker was one of those 2026s who is also one of three team co-captains for the Yellow Jackets. Marker concluded her evening with 14 points. She understands the art of playing with her back to the back and going to work in the low post. She also grasps the concept of drawing contact to find her way to the free throw line. Marker is the team's leading rebounder and is also one of the Yellow Jackets' leaders in blocked shots. She is one of four 2026s on this year's Fort Mill team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["922569"],"_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":1749010,"_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-699086085b3b6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Williams is another one of those four seniors – and another of the three team co-captains along with Marker and Wolf. She added eight points to the Yellow Jackets' cause. Out of the eight points she scored, five occurred either in the second half or in overtime. That included a clutch layup she converted on in late in overtime which tied the contest up again at 47. Williams is another of the team's leading rebounders and is the Yellow Jackets' leader for blocked shots. She is a Lees-McRae commit who played her final season of AAU ball last spring and summer with Team Mack Elite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->