Harpring breaks state career scoring record as Marist wins title

It didn't take long for [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring'] to pass Jill Razor (Athens Academy) as the all-time leading scoring in Georgia High School Association history. Kate came out on a mission, scoring 20 of her team's first 22 points, and getting Marist going on offense, while Kell struggled to score their first points of the game. As the game went on, teams adjusted, players settled down and steeped up their play of both teams. In the end, [player_tooltip player_id='541419' first='Kate' last='Harpring']'s storied high school career ends as it should finishing with 40 points, being named the MVP, and going out a state champion.    Harpring, who is a very good shooter from the perimeter and three, attacked her defender, got in the paint, and punished Kell all game long scoring inside ten feet. Kate made 15 of her 25 field goal attempts finishing the game with 40 points and I can't remember her taking one outside of the paint the entire game. She was able to get by and around the initial defender and to the rim fairly easy, where she either pulled up from 3-5 feet or finished at the basket off the glass. Kate did all this against Kell's impressive size, including four players over 5'10 and two six footers. Harpring did not have the best shooting night from the free throw line, but made enough to win the game. She was not going to be denied in her final game at Marist and her effort was obvious on the boards as she totaled 16. Now, Harpring will play in the McDonald's All American game before enrolling in Chapel Hill and beginning her career at UNC.     In games like this you never know who may step up and have a huge impact on the game. Tonight, it was sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1660115' first='Emily' last='Morrison'] for Marist who picked a great time to have the game of her career. "Mo" finished the game with 13 points on 6-9 shooting, including a pair of baseline jumpers from 10-12 feet and nice finishes around the basket. Morrison is a tough, athletic kid who has gotten better each game that I have watched Marist this year. She is strong, plays with no fear, and has no problem doing the dirty work for her team. Morrison didn't hesitate to get in the mix for rebounds and loose balls even playing undersized in the post on defense. Her teammates trusted her to make shots and she delivered in a bag way on the biggest of nights.     When Marist needed a lift off the bench and some scoring help in the second half, Shell stepped up and scored two big baskets to help her team in a closely contested game. She also provided some physicality on defense and did a nice job guarding Watson after she had knocked down multiple perimeter shots. Shell also got in the mix in the paint with the much taller Kell players and did what she could to help on the boards. She showed a lot of confidence and did not hesitate when she was left open in the second half on the wing from three. Azalia caught the ball, squared up to the basket, and buried it giving Marist a big shot of much-needed momentum answering Kell who was on a run.     Watson kept this game from getting ugly early on as Kell struggled mightily to score and keep up with the pace Harpring and Marist began the game with. Watson made three-three point shots, two from the corner, that gave the Longhorn's some life and fight when things were not going their way. She remained a threat the rest of the game and the attention she received from the Marist defense opened things up for her teammates after making those shots. Kell had few answers for the Marist zone and if it were not for Watson's shooting from the perimeter, this game would have been over much sooner.     I came away very impressed with Green after this game, even in defeat. She has very good size and length, above average athleticism, and what looked like a pretty good understanding of how best to use those attributes. She finished the game with nine points and seven rebounds while dealing with foul trouble. She has very good anticipation of when and where the ball is going to come off the rim on offense and was able to gather a few misses and convert easy put backs. Green looked to have soft hands and smooth touch around the basket, but Kell had a very difficult time penetrating the Marist zone with the dribble or pass limiting her opportunities to score. She has a lot of physical gifts and potential heading into her final AAU and HS season. What she does with those remains to be seen, but she is a player who could impact a team on the next level in two years.

It didn't take long for Kate Harpring Kate Harpring 5'10" | CG Marist | 2026 State #3 Nation GA to pass Jill Razor (Athens Academy) as the all-time leading scoring in Georgia High School Association history. Kate came out on a mission, scoring 20 of her team's first 22 points, and getting Marist going on offense, while Kell struggled to score their first points of the game. As the game went on, teams adjusted, players settled down and steeped up their play of both teams. In the end, Kate Harpring Kate Harpring 5'10" | CG Marist | 2026 State #3 Nation GA 's storied high school career ends as it should finishing with 40 points, being named the MVP, and going out a state champion.