SCISA Non-Region: Cross Schools vs. John Paul II

While the lion's share of attention relating to South Carolina high school girls basketball is bestowed upon its public schools, there is also plenty of competitive hoops being played among the private school field as well.    One of those many matchups in the SCISA realm features one of the premier 4A teams in John Paul II and defending 2A champion Cross Schools. The Golden Warriors got the better of the Stingrays last season when these two clubs met with the final being 57-43.    We at Prep Girls Hoops made the trek down to John Paul II for Thursday evening's contest. Here are a few notables from the day's matchup.    Heathcott also fits the category of the multi-sport athlete as softball and volleyball are her alternative athletic disciplines of choice. The Golden Warriors' sophomore finished her evening with a 15-point performance to lift John Paul II to its second victory of the season over Cross Schools. Much of the Golden Warriors' early efforts were courtesy of Heathcott – she scored the first seven points of the game for John Paul II. The two other sports Heathcott plays are softball and volleyball. Heathcott is one of five 2028s on this season's John Paul II version. She was also an important element to the Golden Warriors' third quarter push when they began to put plenty of distance between themselves and their Stingray adversaries.     Thursday evening's contest between the Golden Warriors and Stingrays was one where interior play was key for both teams. Termini concluded her evening with 14 points. In addition to what she gets accomplished as a scorer, Termini can also bring down a good number of rebounds on either end of the floor. She has maintained a very busy athletic schedule between the volleyball and soccer she also plays alongside her basketball achievements. A midrange jump shot is also part of Termini's offensive repertoire and she maintains a high level of activity even when the ball is not in her hands. Passing and cutting to the rim are other positive attributes to her game.     Speaking of standout 2028s for John Paul II, that distinction also applies to Jones. The 5-foot-4 Golden Warriors guard added seven points to the John Paul II cause to secure the team's 14th victory of the season. The speed and quickness that is part of Jones' skillset is difficult for opposing teams to defend against. That helps when looking for attacking lanes to the basket and finishing strong at the cup. Contact may also be drawn and she has no issues with getting to the free throw line. Collecting steals, making plays in the transition game and connecting on long-range attempts are also among the many positive attributes to her skillset.     The key to earning a victory over Cross Schools is keeping the Stingrays' star senior in check. Many a team has tried – most have been unsuccessful. Mayers paced her team's offensive attack with a 26-point performance against the tough out that is John Paul II. If Mayers has the ball in close proximity to the rim, it is virtually an automatic two points even against the best of interior defenses. There are also many occasions where those attempts will result in Mayers heading to the free throw line. Mayers is a multi-sport athlete who recently reached the 1,000-point plateau for her career.     Cross Schools did not achieve the result it was in search of on Thursday night at John Paul II. Maldonado can still be proud of the performance she had as she aided her team's cause with a nine-point performance. She primarily plays at the three and greatly helps out her team as a scorer and as a rebounder. Maldonado can make plays in the transition game, will come away with steals and can block shots as a defender. She is one of three from the class of 2027 on this season's Stingrays roster. Continued stellar play from Maldonado will be crucial down the stretch as Cross Schools is in search of another SCISA state championship.

While the lion's share of attention relating to South Carolina high school girls basketball is bestowed upon its public schools, there is also plenty of competitive hoops being played among the private school field as well.