Second-Round Primetime Playoff Performers: Forwards and Centers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second round of this season's South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) postseason is now in the history books. Our six classifications are down to their final eight teams and we will soon learn which of those teams will vie for Lower State, Upper State and state championships.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When a team needs buckets in a close tournament contest, coaches will often look to their frontcourt forces to key those comebacks. After all, if a team has a big who is one of their leading scorers, converting on high-percentage baskets can be a worthwhile way to either close a gap or put distance between themselves and an opponent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are a few names who helped their teams come out first in the second round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["444371"],"_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":1569124,"_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-699b8d385d3da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Walker and her defending 4A champion North Augusta assembling are making yet another statement in this season's state tournament. The Yellow Jackets routed Gilbert to begin this year's playoffs and Walker led the Yellow Jackets' swarm of Lower Richland with a 31-point performance. She has played in all 26 games this season for North Augusta and is the team's scoring leader, averaging 17.7 per game. Walker is also averaging 3.8 rebounds and 2.6 steals per game. On Monday, North Augusta will renew pleasantries with region rival Gray Collegiate – a team the Yellow Jackets have defeated twice this season by double digits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["800460"],"_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-699b8d385d433"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Opponents of 4A South Florence understand that a key to scoring a victory over the Bruins is to contain the team's star freshman. Aiken did not fare too well in the first round and as the 28 points Bostick scored against Midland Valley displayed, the Mustangs did not fare well either. The Bruins picked up the 54-41 victory over the Mustangs. Bostick also tallied 33 in the first-round contest against the Green Hornets. Friday's matchup with Midland Valley would see Bostick finish with a double-double as she also brought down 19 rebounds in addition to collecting three steals. South Florence will host Beaufort in the third round of the 4A state tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["875527"],"_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":1450352,"_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-699b8d385d48d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Swamp Foxes of 5A Division 1 Ashley Ridge went 9-1 to win its region and earn a first-round bye in this year's tournament. First up for Ashley Ridge would be James Island and that contest saw the Swamp Foxes prevail over the Trojans with the final score being 51-43. Foley paced her team's efforts with 22 points, nine rebounds, seven steals, four assists and two blocks. She has averaged 12.3 points, 8.6 boards and 2.5 steals in 19 games. Up next for the Swamp Foxes will be a contest against Wando with a berth in the 5A Division 1 Lower State finals up for grabs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["850202"],"_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":1667450,"_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-699b8d385d4e3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Eastside finished the 2024-25 season – its first as a 5A Division 2 combatant – with only six wins. This season, thanks in large part to the heroics of the Eagles' star big, Eastside has won 17 games for the first time since 2015-16 when it went 23-6. The senior led the Eagles with 21 points to a close 60-56 victory over Fort Mill. Seven rebounds, four assists and three steals were also part of Harvey's performance. Harvey is the leading crasher of the boards for Eastside, averaging 5.7 per game. She is also averaging 10.4 points, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per matchup. Up next for Eastside is a 5A Division 2 Upper State semifinal contest with Greenville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["407242"],"_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":1450527,"_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-699b8d385d536"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brookland-Cayce was unsuccessful in stopping Britt in the first round as she placed 22 on the board against the Bearcats. Gray Collegiate's matchup with Wilson was a bit more competitive but 19 more courtesy of the War Eagles' star junior lifted her team to a 48-45 victory over the Tigers. Britt finished with a double-double as she also had 13 rebounds to go along with the 19 points in addition to two steals. Gray Collegiate's fortunes against North Augusta have not exactly been the best this season, but the War Eagles will look to reverse that trend in the 4A Lower State semifinals on Monday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["496215"],"_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-699b8d385d579"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Speaking of the 4A tournament, Camden is on the Upper State side of said bracket. The Bulldogs got thing started with a 73-25 rout of Seneca and followed that up with a 78-50 victory to eliminate Blue Ridge from postseason competition. That Camden victory would see Alexander contribute 18 points and seven rebounds to the Bulldogs' cause. In the win over the Bobcats, the Tennessee State commit pulled down 12 rebounds, scored nine points, sent out five assists and collected four assists. Camden played its first two games at home but will be on the road on Monday at Westside for the Upper State semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["452367"],"_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-699b8d385d5bd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For much of Friday's 5A Division 1 second round contest between River Bluff and Lexington, it appeared as if the Gators would pull off what some would consider an upset over the Wildcats. Anderson had other ideas. The Francis Marion commit tallied 16 points as Lexington won a close contest against its crosstown rival. The senior Wildcats big has averaged a double-double of 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game this season in addition to leading Lexington in blocks, averaging 2.1 per contest. Anderson and her Wildcats will remain home in the 5A Division 1 Lower State semifinals on Monday as they host Carolina Forest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1318994"],"_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-699b8d385d600"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Since the middle of January, the Eagles of 5A Division 2 Chapin appear to be playing its best basketball as they have won eight of its last 10 games. One of those contests was a second-round contest against a Lugoff-Elgin team that is rapidly on the rise. The Eagles picked up the 50-40 victory over the Demons with Stephenson contributing 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks to a winning Chapin effort. In the 24 games that she has played, Stephenson has averaged 9.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 1.6 steals per contest. Chapin has earned a date with Goose Creek in the 5A Division 2 Lower State semifinals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1774127"],"_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-699b8d385d643"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">As Sunday's 2A second-round matchup between Ninety Six and Clinton wore on, it became more obvious that the Red Devils would get the better of the Wildcats. Ninety Six had no answers for Clinton's interior attack which was paced by Shelton to the tune of 14 points. Out of the 14 she scored, 10 occurred in the second half. The junior big is the team's leading rebounder, averaging 6.7 per contest in addition to averaging eight points per game. Clinton has not dropped a home matchup all season and will look to keep that unblemished home court advantage intact in the 2A Upper State semifinals against Landrum. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->