Military Magnet vs. Great Falls: 1A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two days were down and one day remained when championship Saturday at Colonial Life Arena tipped off – and it tipped off by determining which team would claim this year's 1A state championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Military Magnet – defending 1A state champions and winners of four of the previous five 1A crowns – was in search of one for the thumb. The trek to the Midlands for the Eagles saw them defeat Johnsonville, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Bethune-Bowman and Latta.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for Great Falls, coach Deshonia Cauthen's Red Devils have been one of the noteworthy turnaround stories of Palmetto State high school sports. The Red Devils, who only won two games two seasons ago (both against Governor's School for Science and Math) had bested Dixie, Ridge Spring-Monetta, North and Lee Central to claim this season's Upper State championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Would “four in five years” become “five in six seasons” for Military Magnet? The answer was yes as the Eagles concluded its 2025-26 season with a 70-21 victory against Great Falls.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eagles coach Nathaniel Taylor vividly remembers the last time his Eagles qualified for a state matchup that would take place at the home court of South Carolina's Gamecocks. It was at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season when Military Magnet was on the wrong end of a 60-50 loss to the Grizzlies of High Point Academy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I would not be telling you the truth if I wasn't nervous about never winning (at Colonial Life Arena),” Taylor says. “Whether it's during the summertime or whatever the case. We never were successful on that floor. So, to actually finish it off felt real well.” </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Along with the state championship, the books will mention that Military Magnet's 2025-26 season concluded with an overall mark of 26-4. During its region schedule, the Eagles compiled six wins and zero losses. As for the Red Devils, the book closes on its 2025-26 season having claimed 22 victories and four defeats overall – plus its region record of 12-2.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The contest commenced in textbook Military Magnet fashion with effective offense and defense. The Eagles jumped out to an early 5-0 lead which prompted a timeout from Great Falls. With one frame in the books, Military Magnet already established a commanding 22-5 lead over the Red Devils.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More of the same would be the case in the second quarter as Military Magnet continued to impose its will offensively and defensively against Great Falls. At the half, the Eagles would lead the Red Devils by a margin of 50-13.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Military Magnet may not have placed a crooked number on the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the Eagles held Great Falls to its lowest offensive output at that point. The Eagles outscored the Red Devils by a margin of 11-4 and were eight minutes away from bringing another championship to Carner Avenue. The score was 61-17 with three in the books.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the fourth quarter elapsed, it was no longer a question of if Military Magnet would make it five championships in six seasons, but what the margin of victory would be. The Eagles' lead grew into the fifties, meaning the fourth quarter would feature a continuously turning clock. That margin of victory would be 49 points as Military Magnet would be the final 1A assembling standing once again.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799535,"width":"538px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_1007-crop-2589x1700-1772911205.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799535" style="width:538px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Military Magnet's offensive onslaught would be spearheaded by an eighth grader. That 2030 was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='926321' first='Mariah' last='Brown']</strong> who led all point-getters with 25. Brown connected on five of her eight attempts from 3-point range and also hauled in seven rebounds. She would also collect three steals and dish out a pair of assists. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799537,"width":"534px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0845-crop-2476x1626-1772911305.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799537" style="width:534px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The development of young players is one element of the Eagles that has kept them successful throughout the 2020s. Another of those young players would be freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605899' first='Kaleah' last='Brown-King']</strong>. She contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block to Military Magnet's efforts. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Just getting in the work and the young ladies understanding not to be intimidated in the moment, or whomever we have to work with or play against,” Taylor says on his development of the team's younger players.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799539,"width":"528px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0970-crop-3356x2204-1772911409.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799539" style="width:528px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366551' first='DaNariyah' last='Williams'] </strong>would conclude Saturday afternoon's contest – and her high school career two rebounds shy of a double-double. She scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, collected a pair of steals and blocked one shot. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We're going to miss big 20,” Taylor says. “Next girl up.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799542,"width":"530px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_1061-crop-2439x1601-1772911512.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799542" style="width:530px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles also benefitted from the eight points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606173' first='Lamaria' last='Brown']</strong>, a junior point guard. She also hauled in five rebounds, sent out three assists and collected three steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799543,"width":"529px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0780.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1799543" style="width:529px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was the first time for seventh grader <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1742881' first='Makenzie' last='Beatty']</strong> under the bright state championship lights of Colonial Life Arena. Beatty led Great Falls' efforts with eight points and four rebounds in the 28 minutes of court time she logged. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor mentioned that his previous experience Military Magnet teams had against top-tier talents prepared this season's Eagles for the task of defending Great Falls' rising seventh grader.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“When you think about it the last few years, we've played (MiLaysia) Fulwiley, Joyce (Edwards), Talaysia Cooper. We've played some McDonald's All-Americans,” Taylor says. “What someone else says is a big time thing, we've said we've been there and done that.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366551' first='DaNariyah' last='Williams']</strong> is the only senior on this year's Military Magnet roster. A cap and gown will also soon be worn by Great Falls' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='798537' first='Janie' last='Bailey']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Reclassification</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While many teams will find themselves in new classifications next season, Military Magnet and Great Falls will remain in the 1A realm for this upcoming round of reclassification.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->