Berkeley vs. Greenville: 5A Division 2 Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship week has arrived across the Palmetto State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The eyes of many a South Carolina sports fan are on Colonial Life Arena typically because of the Gamecocks' women's and men's basketball teams. This time, for the first time since the pandemic, the state championship games will return to downtown Columbia.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the storylines heading into this week's state contests is how five of the six defending champions from last year will be taking the court this week at Colonial Life Arena. The defending champions from the 5A Division 2 realm is one of those teams and it will face off against another team with “Green” in its name as was the case last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Berkeley (22-5, 8-2 Region 7-AAAAA)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1450398,"width":"608px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/IMG_3658.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1450398" style="width:608px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is nothing like that first feeling of championship euphoria. Berkeley experienced that last year at the Florence Center when the Stags prevailed over Greenwood.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stags entered a season for the first time as the hunted instead of the hunters. Coach Crystal Peace's team has answered the challenge. Berkeley may have finished second in its region to archrival Goose Creek but have more than made up for it with another opportunity to claim state hardware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since an early February defeat to the Gators, the Stags have responded with five consecutive victories. Berkeley was one of the eight teams that earned first-round byes into the tournament's second round – and got sweet revenge on Goose Creek in the Lower State championship to earn its state berth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Stags' Road to Columbia: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 21 – 65-26 win vs. Irmo</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24 – 58-52 win vs. North Myrtle Beach</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 27 – 52-48 win vs. Goose Creek</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams like the Stags are stacked with talent and leading the way for Berkeley is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='768684' first='Alaina' last='Carter']</strong>. The star sophomore guard has averaged 12.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists and three steals per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter leads Berkeley's efforts in the backcourt and junior big <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651705' first='Imani' last='Levey']</strong> does the same for the Stags in the frontcourt. Levey has competed in 24 matchups this season for Berkeley and has averaged 10.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and a block per matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the team's standout juniors is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='365237' first='Amani' last='McCray']</strong> who has led Berkeley in rebounding this season. McCray has also played in 26 games this season and has averaged 9.2 points, 8.2 boards, 1.8 steals and 1.5 assists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thursday evening's championship clash will be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662508' first='Madison' last='Thomas']</strong>' final time sporting a Berkeley uniform before she takes her talents to Coker in the college ranks. Thomas has averaged 8.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='672400' first='Kennedy' last='Caldwell'] </strong>is not only one of four sophomores on this season's Berkeley team but she is one of two team co-captains along with McCray. Caldwell has averaged 7.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and two steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will also be the final game for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='357552' first='Demi' last='Gray']</strong> in a Stags uniform before she begins her transition to the college ranks – Spartanburg Methodist to be exact. Gray has averaged 6.7 points, three rebounds, two assists and 1.5 steals per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Greenville (22-6, 12-2 Region 1-AAAAA)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1610791,"width":"597px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/IMG_6050.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1610791" style="width:597px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following last season when the Red Raiders made a run to the 5A Division 2 Upper State championship game against Greenwood, it became clear that Greenville belonged in the contenders' chat.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenville also had one of the more successful offseasons of any team in the state, ensuring that it would remain in said contenders' chat for the next several seasons. Coach Anthony Gowens' Red Raiders was another team that earned one of the eight byes into the tournament's second round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since a mid-December defeat vs. Blythewood, the Red Raiders have only lost one contest against an in-state opponent. That occurred against region rival Mauldin during the middle part of last month.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Red Raiders' Road to Columbia: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 21 – 66-33 win vs. Riverside</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24 – 75-28 win vs. Eastside</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 57-44 win vs. Gaffney</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players: </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The addition of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610425' first='Makayla' last='Assemian']</strong> from 3A Powdersville more than ensured the Red Raiders would be one of the more dangerous teams in the 5A Division 2 realm. Assemian has averaged 10.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per matchup. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenville also features one of the premier freshmen in the state in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267040' first='Emily' last='Jaminet']</strong>. The 2029 guard is averaging 10.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals in the 27 games she has played. Jaminet is one of two freshmen on this season's team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high school career that once included a stint at 4A Pickens is on the verge of coming to a close for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='258130' first='Ava' last='Owens']</strong>. Following Thursday's matchup with Berkeley, she will transition to college life at Lander. Owens is the team's leading rebounder, averaging a double-double of 11.5 rebounds and 10.1 points per game as well as five assists and three steals per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams looking to score victories over the Red Raiders also have to game plan for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567024' first='Miracle' last='Cheeks']</strong> who is the lone sophomore on this year's Greenville team. Cheeks has averaged 5.7 points and 1.4 steals this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the six juniors on this season's Greenville assembling is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651706' first='Jazaria' last='Jones']</strong>. She has played in 25 of the Red Raiders' matchups throughout 2025-26 and has averaged 5.6 points and 1.4 steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606102' first='A'Keyra' last='Harris']</strong> is another of those six juniors. She is also one of two team co-captains alongside Owens. Harris primarily operates at the two. In 26 games throughout 2025-26, she has averaged 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 5, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C., 6 p.m.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->