North Augusta vs. Westside: 4A Championship Preview

Ten champions will have been crowned by the time we arrive at the latter portions of championship Saturday at Colonial Life Arena. All that will remain is to determine the 2025-26 4A state champions.    To say that this year's 4A state combatants have an illustrious playoff history is an understatement. After all, North Augusta and Westside met last season at the Florence Center for all of the 4A marbles. The Yellow Jackets got the better of that exchange in a 48-35 decision against the Rams.    The Rams did earn a state win a few years ago over the Yellow Jackets at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center. That contest would see Westside earn a 44-40 win over North Augusta in overtime.    Saturday evening will tell us if this North Augusta vs. Westside get-together will be a rerun of 2022 or 2025.    North Augusta (27-1, 14-0 Region 4-AAAA)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_4716.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1500430" style="width:657px;height:auto" /></figure>   As a team that has become so accustomed to state championship victories, the Yellow Jackets expect to get the best out of every opponent it faces.    The last time North Augusta was placed in the loss column this season occurred in late November at the start of the season. That contest saw the Yellow Jackets on the wrong end of a 61-57 overtime loss to fellow 4A team Camden.    Since then, coach Al Young's Yellow Jackets have resembled what one would come to expect from North Augusta – one of the toughest outs in the state. The Yellow Jackets will head into Columbia in the throes of a 26-game winning streak.    Yellow Jackets' Road to Columbia:    Feb. 16 – 60-23 win vs. Gilbert   Feb. 20 – 69-33 win vs. Lower Richland   Feb. 23 – 62-28 win vs. Gray Collegiate    Feb. 27 – 56-25 win vs. South Florence   Key Players:    Any conversation involving elite 2027s across the Palmetto State has to include [player_tooltip player_id='444371' first='Ashley' last='Walker']. Her first season playing at the varsity level was in the eighth grade. Walker has averaged 17.9 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.2 steals per game.    One more game in North Augusta black and gold awaits for [player_tooltip player_id='350281' first='Celena' last='Grant'] who has played at the varsity level since she was a seventh grader. Grant has averaged 12.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per contest.    Walker and Grant have both played in all 28 games for North Augusta and the same applies to another of its seniors – [player_tooltip player_id='304999' first='Messiah' last='Williams']. She has contributed 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest to the Yellow Jackets' cause.    Another of the five 2026s that are part of North Augusta's 2026 graduating class is [player_tooltip player_id='577618' first='Kenedi' last='Wright']. She has competed in 27 of the Yellow Jackets' 28 games this season averaging 6.8 points, 3.6 assists, 3.5 steals and 3.1 rebounds per game.    The high school career of [player_tooltip player_id='925564' first='Azaria' last='Sapp'] included a stint at another 4A school in Aiken. Sapp has also competed in 27 of North Augusta's 28 matchups. Sapp has averaged five points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.1 steals per matchup.    Another of the four juniors on this season's Yellow Jackets team is [player_tooltip player_id='1213547' first='Traeona' last='Davis']. She has seen playing time in 26 of the Yellow Jackets 28 matchups in 2025-26. Davis is one of North Augusta's leading rebounders averaging 3.4 boards per game.    North Augusta state championships: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025   Westside (27-1, 10-0 Region 1-AAAA)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/IMG_6659-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1667440" style="width:676px;height:auto" /></figure>   Since last year's 4A state championship defeat to North Augusta at the Florence Center, the Rams have put together a 2025-26 campaign where it has yet to drop a contest against an in-state foe.    The only loss that was dealt to Westside was by way of 7A North Mecklenburg out of North Carolina. Since then, Jackie Roberts, in her return season with the Rams as head coach, has seen her team string together 18 consecutive victories.    Outside of an earlier playoff contest against Camden, every single one of the Rams' wins since that defeat to North Meck has been by double digits.    Rams' Road to Columbia:    Feb. 16 – 73-12 win vs. Bluffton   Feb. 20 – 62-17 win vs. Travelers Rest   Feb. 23 – 67-64 win vs. Camden    Feb. 27 – 56-45 win vs. South Pointe   Key Players:    Since arriving on the scene as an eighth grader, [player_tooltip player_id='324541' first='Khalia' last='Hartwell'] has established herself as one of the premier bigs in not only the state, but the country. Hartwell, who has picked up a litany of Division I offers, has averaged 13 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.    Westside also has one of the Palmetto State's premier young guards sporting its colors. Said backcourt beast is [player_tooltip player_id='921724' first='Tiana' last='Marshall'] who has played at the varsity level since she was a seventh grader. Marshall is averaging 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.8 assists per contest.    The transfer of [player_tooltip player_id='417824' first='Harmoni' last='Earl'] from 5A Division 2 T.L. Hanna to Westside made it clear that the Rams would be one of the teams to beat yet again. Earl is averaging 11.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.7 assists per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='398712' first='Makyhia' last='Paul'] is one of seven seniors on this year's Westside team. Paul had the go-ahead, game-winning bucket in last season's Upper State championship game when the Rams rallied from behind to stun South Pointe. This season, Paul is averaging 7.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.    [player_tooltip player_id='195514' first='Asia' last='Clinkscales'] will wear Westside's uniform one final time before she calls it a career at the high school level and transitions to life at Newberry College. Clinkscales has averaged 6.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, a team-leading four assists and 2.4 steals per matchup.    Also among those seven seniors is [player_tooltip player_id='1302470' first='Mariah' last='Randolph'] who will transition to her collegiate life at Lander following Saturday's championship get-together. Randolph has averaged 6.4 points and 1.1 steals in 2025-26.    That graduating class of 2026 also includes [player_tooltip player_id='1318900' first='Lamiyah' last='Boggs']. The two guard announced a few weeks ago that she will attend Winthrop. In addition to basketball, Boggs has also competed in track and field throughout her athletic career.    Westside state championships: 1989, 1991, 1992, 2021, 2022   When and Where?    Mar. 7, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C., 4 p.m.

Ten champions will have been crowned by the time we arrive at the latter portions of championship Saturday at Colonial Life Arena. All that will remain is to determine the 2025-26 4A state champions.