North Augusta vs. Westside: 4A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Locating two teams that have more of a recent tournament history than North Augusta and Westside is a difficult chore.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rams got the better of the Yellow Jackets in the 2022 4A championship game at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center. North Augusta bested Westside last year at the Florence Center and these two 4A powers are sharing the same court once again with the scene having shifted to Colonial Life Arena.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, coach Al Young's Yellow Jackets earned double-digit victories over Gilbert, Lower Richland, Gray Collegiate and South Florence to punch its ticket to the CLA. Westside, with coach Jackie Roberts back at the helm for the Rams, did the same following wins over Bluffton, Travelers Rest, Camden and South Pointe.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final girls basketball contest of the season would go the way of North Augusta as the Yellow Jackets prevailed over the Rams with the final score being 63-50. The Yellow Jackets have now won seven championships in 10 seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“That's awesome,” North Augusta coach Al Young says on his program's feat. “I think it says a lot about our community. It says a lot about our kids. I just think it means a lot because we've had kids that started in our program and they set the right kind of example for our younger kids. And gave our young kids something to look forward to. And them coming through and coming up, I just think it's been a process, and they've bought in and continue to grow and continue to get better.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams entered Saturday's play with identical 27-1 records, and it would be the Yellow Jackets that ensured it would finish the 2025-26 season with only one blemish on this year's resume. Along with the 28-1 record, North Augusta also compiled a mark of 14-0 during its region schedule. Westside's 2025-26 season finished with a 27-2 record in addition to going 10-0 against region foes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The contest would begin with an auspicious start for North Augusta before Westside displayed exactly why it had yet to drop a game against an in-state foe. With one quarter in the books, the Yellow Jackets lead over the Rams would be a narrow 19-17.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A matchup of two elite teams from the 4A ranks continued to resemble that in the second quarter. As both Yellow Jackets and Rams entered their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, North Augusta would lead Westside by a margin of 26-24.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Augusta started the third auspiciously as the Yellow Jackets would grow its lead to as much as nine. Westside rallied only to be answered again by North Augusta. With eight minutes remaining in the 2025-26 girls basketball season, the Yellow Jackets led the Rams by a tally of 44-34.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even with a double-digit lead, the Yellow Jackets knew that a team such as the Rams deserved maximum respect given the state championships it won earlier this decade. The final girls contest of the 2025-26 basketball season would see North Augusta claim its seventh championship in 10 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799647,"width":"523px","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_1504-crop-3395x2229-1772928557.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799647" style="width:523px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of 15-point scorers would spearhead North Augusta's offensive attack. One of those was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='350281' first='Celena' last='Grant']</strong> who was playing in her final contest as a Yellow Jacket. Grant also finished one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards. Grant also contributed four assists and a steal to the Yellow Jackets cause. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“To me, she's really calm,” Young says of Grant. “And when everything else, kind of, goes haywire, I can always depend on her settling things down and staying calm and calming everybody else down. She's been a big plus for this whole program. And I just think with her all these years, it has allowed not only for her to grow but the other kids that's been with her (to grow) and see what it is and how it is to play basketball.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799648,"width":"532px","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_1217.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1799648" style="width:532px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second of those 15-point scorers was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='925564' first='Azaria' last='Sapp']</strong>. She also hauled in four rebounds and dished out a pair of assists. Sapp is one of three sophomores on this season's North Augusta roster. The Yellow Jackets connected on six 3-pointers for the game. Three of them were Sapp's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“She's been a big plus for us,” Young says of Sapp. “She came in and she bought into … how we do things. (She) didn't try to do too much and, kind of, fit into what we do and the way we do things. She certainly helped us today and she's helped us throughout the season.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799650,"width":"532px","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_1194-crop-2479x1628-1772928753.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799650" style="width:532px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Augusta also benefitted from the 11 points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='444371' first='Ashley' last='Walker']</strong>. Walker did not play in the second quarter as she had picked up a pair of personal fouls but scored eight of her 11 points in the second half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799651,"width":"532px","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_1439.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1799651" style="width:532px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304999' first='Messiah' last='Williams']</strong> would add a double-double to the winning Yellow Jackets effort as she not only grabbed 12 rebounds but tallied 10 points. Williams' afternoon also included a pair of blocked shots. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799653,"width":"533px","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_1536-crop-2274x1493-1772928902.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799653" style="width:533px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ten points were also placed on the scoreboard by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='577618' first='Kenedi' last='Wright']</strong>. Out of the 10 points Wright scored, eight occurred in the second half. Wright also grabbed four rebounds, sent out three assists and collected a steal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799655,"width":"531px","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_1199-2-crop-3938x2586-1772928994.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799655" style="width:531px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just as North Augusta had two players that finished with 15 points, Westside's efforts were paced by a pair of 12-point scorers. One of those was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398712' first='Makyhia' last='Paul']</strong> who put 10 of her 12 on the scoreboard in the first half. Paul also hauled in four rebounds and collected a steal. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799657,"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_1384-crop-3755x2466-1772929086.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799657" style="width:528px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='921724' first='Tiana' last='Marshall'] </strong>also aided the Rams cause with 12 points. Seven of Marshall's 12 would occur in the first half. Marshall's finished two rebounds shy of a double-double with eight in addition to three steals and a block. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799659,"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_1392-crop-2972x1951-1772929302.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799659" style="width:530px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='417824' first='Harmoni' last='Earl']</strong> provided key minutes off the bench for Westside. Earl would add 11 points in the 20 minutes of court time she logged. Earl is one of five juniors on this season's Westside assembling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1799661,"width":"531px","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_1527-crop-3094x2031-1772929408.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1799661" style="width:531px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195514' first='Asia' last='Clinkscales']</strong> also had herself a productive afternoon at the Gamecocks office in what would be her final time sporting a Rams uniform. The Newberry College commit would score nine points and dish out six assists. Three steals and a block were also part of her afternoon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“They are a good program,” Young says of Westside. “Well-coached teams and they play extremely well. They've got good players. I just think that we've done a good job to be able to come out of this game … a winner.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing their final games in North Augusta's signature black and gold were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='350281' first='Celena' last='Grant']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='577618' first='Kenedi' last='Wright']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='304999' first='Messiah' last='Williams']</strong>, <strong>Taylor Boney</strong> and <strong>Krislyn Johnson</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='195514' first='Asia' last='Clinkscales']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1302470' first='Mariah' last='Randolph']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398712' first='Makyhia' last='Paul']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318900' first='Lamiyah' last='Boggs']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='398715' first='Gervonna' last='Williams']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='264982' first='Jamiah' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>Alexus Thrasher</strong> have sported Westside's uniform on one final occasion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Reclassification</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Augusta and Westside were unaffected by the latest round of reclassification as both will remain in the 4A ranks beginning next season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->