Season Epilogue: Noteworthy Milestones and Records

From Abbeville to Atlantic Collegiate and from Wando to Walhalla, the 2025-26 season was another that featured scintillating basketball play around all points of the Palmetto State.    Earlier this month, a grand total of six girls teams departed from Colonial Life Arena with South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) state championships. The same applied to four assemblings in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association (SCISA) as they left the Sumter County Civic Center with state hardware in late February.    There were also a plethora of players that concluded their seasons reaching lofty individual milestones. Without further ado, we give acknowledgement to those names.     In the years that Cunningham has spent sporting South Pointe red, she has left an indelible mark on the school's girls' basketball program. Last month, Cunningham reached a lofty career milestone when she reached the 2,000-point plateau for her career. In addition, Cunningham became South Pointe's all-time leading scorer for either girls or boys basketball. She completed what was another solid Stallions season where the double-double she averaged (20.5 points and 11.5 rebounds) plus 2.7 steals per contest led South Pointe to another berth in the 4A Upper State championship game. Cunningham is also continuing to secure Division I offers.     This season may not have ended as planned for the Chiefs of 5A Division 2 North Myrtle Beach who were undefeated until the Lower State semifinals against eventual champion Berkeley. Powell still can celebrate her reaching the 1,000-point plateau. She accomplished the feat on Feb. 12 when the Chiefs earned a 62-42 victory over region foe Carolina Forest. Powell was one of two Chiefs who scored 18 points in that contest and she also added seven rebounds, six assists and five steals in that matchup with the Panthers. The 2025-26 season would see Powell compete in 22 games for North Myrtle Beach where she averaged 14.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 steals per contest.     When thinking about teams of the future, the Bulldogs of 5A Division 1 Boiling Springs have to certainly be in that conversation. That is because Boiling Springs has one of the premier state's premier eighth grade guards at the controls. For the second consecutive season, Kinard earned all-region honors and she has reached 900 points for her career. She has also amassed 180 rebounds, 165 steals and 120 assists. One can count on Kinard reaching 1,000 points in the first few games of the 2026-27 campaign. Kinard helped the Bulldogs to its first season with a double-digit win total since 2019-20. The 19.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.2 steals Kinard averaged helped Boiling Springs earn a playoff berth.     It is not often that coaches trust sophomores to take on team co-captaincy roles but that was the case for Heard this past season with 5A Division 2 Nation Ford. The Falcons' season concluded with them being one win shy of the Upper State finals. In the playoff game that Nation Ford did win, Heard reached the 1,000-point mark for her career as the Falcons dispatched Hillcrest by a final score of 56-39. That contest would see Heard tally 12 points, grab seven rebounds and collect four steals in 25 minutes of play. Heard averaged 11.8 points, five rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.6 assists in 23 games this past season. Nation Ford will drop in classification to 4A beginning next season.     The Warriors of 5A Division 1 Wando had a season to remember. Reynolds was part of a stacked team that lifted the Warriors to the Lower State championship. She herself had a banner evening in Wando's final regular season matchup. It occurred at Cane Bay and resulted in an emphatic 63-14 victory over the Cobras. It was in that contest where Reynolds would score her 500th career point. Reynolds played in 26 games this past season for Wando and averaged 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and three steals a contest. She will switch her Warriors threads for those of [program_tooltip program_id='988463' first='Mosch' last='Ball'] which is set to make an appearance at the Southeast Kickoff of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit.     A 22-4 season like the one put together by the Blue Jackets of 3A Aynor will certainly raise plenty of eyebrows. Richardson was one of the key catalysts of Aynor's success this past season that included finishing only behind Dillon in the region standings. The [program_tooltip program_id='713674' first='Lady' last='Sonics'] product concluded her high school career having reached the 1,000-point plateau for her stellar career. Richardson is one of three seniors that are part of Aynor's 2026 graduating class. She played in 26 games this past season for Aynor and averaged a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds plus 4.2 steals and 3.9 blocks per contest.     Turner is ready to turn the page on her basketball career. She announced at the beginning of the month that she will play her collegiate ball at Southern Wesleyan University. In her swan song season at 3A Woodruff, Turner set a single season record for steals as she would collect 141. She would play in 25 games this past season for the Wolverines. Turner averaged 14.1 points, 5.9 steals, 5.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest. Throughout her high school career, Turner not only played basketball but also was part of Woodruff's varsity volleyball team. She is one of five seniors that are part of Woodruff's 2026 graduating class.     On Feb. 7, Riles and her 2A Lake City assembling took a break from its region schedule to host the Gators of 4A Lakewood. Riles would turn in one of the signature performances of her young career when she scored a school record 52 points in a 75-32 drubbing of the Gators. She recently concluded her freshman season with the Panthers – her third at the varsity level considering her first occurred when she was in the seventh grade. In the 26 games she played this past season, Riles averaged 13.9 points, four rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.2 steals per contest.     Speaking of noteworthy standouts from the Pee Dee, Williams also belongs on that list. Following a first-round tournament victory at Whale Branch, the Swamp Foxes traveled to Chesterfield for the second round of the 2A playoffs. Not only did the Swamp Foxes earn a 50-27 victory over the Rams, Williams would reach the 1,000-point plateau for her career. Marion recently completed a 2025-26 campaign that resulted in a Lower State semifinals berth. Williams will soon trade in her burgundy and gold Swamp Foxes uniform for a cap and gown given she is one of five seniors that are part of Marion's 2026 graduating class. She averaged 12 points, 5.3 rebounds and three steals this past season.     With her high school playing days in the rear-view mirror, Owens is now transitioning to college life at Lander where she committed to for both basketball and track and field. Owens finished her high school career at 5A Division 2 Greenville where she reached a pair of lofty milestones – 2,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. Her stellar play was a key reason why the Red Raiders concluded its 2025-26 season as Upper State champions. Owens averaged a double-double of 11 rebounds and 10.6 points plus 5.1 assists and 2.9 steals per contest. She was one of two team co-captains for Greenville and also played volleyball.     The 2025-26 season would see 2A Timberland reach 20 wins for the first time since the 2010-11 season when the Wolves won that season's 2A championship. Feb. 24 would be a day to remember for both Greene and her Wolves. Not only did Timberland earn a 45-32 victory over Marion to eliminate the Swamp Foxes from the 2A state tournament but Greene would reach the 1,000-point mark for her career. Greene was one of five seniors on this past season's Timberland team. The 10.8 points, 4.4 steals, four rebounds and 2.7 assists she averaged helped the Wolves to a berth in the Lower State finals.     Dorman was one of the teams to beat in the 5A Division 1 ranks as evidenced by the run the Cavaliers made to the Upper State semifinals. Wallace is one of four that is part of Dorman's 2026 graduating class. In late February, Wallace would join the 1,000-point club for her career – one that dates back to her playing at the varsity level as an eighth grader. She played in 26 games this past season at Dorman and averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game. Just as she concluded her high school career in Cavs colors, she finished her AAU career with SC Sixers.     A noteworthy season for SCISA 4A Northwood Academy concluded with the Chargers finishing as state runners-up. Earlier in the season, the Chargers hosted 5A Division 1 public West Ashley. The result was a 67-21 victory for Northwood Academy – one that would see Birch grab her 600th rebound. Birch has become accustomed to milestones as she reached 1,000 points two seasons ago. Her junior campaign with the Chargers would see her play in all 30 games for Northwood Academy. She averaged 19.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, five assists and 4.7 steals per game. Birch was one of only two from the 2027 class on this season's Northwood Academy team.     Birch was not the only notable name from Northwood Academy that reached a milestone. On Jan. 23, Northwood Academy was on the road for a region matchup against Pinewood Prep. The Chargers picked up the 65-21 victory – one that saw Bates reach 2,000 points for her career. Bates is one of three from this season's Chargers team that is part of Northwood Academy's graduating class of 2026. Bates participated in 29 games this past season for the Chargers and would average 16.9 points, 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals per game. She was also one of two team co-captains for Northwood Academy.

From Abbeville to Atlantic Collegiate and from Wando to Walhalla, the 2025-26 season was another that featured scintillating basketball play around all points of the Palmetto State.