Wando vs. Blythewood: 5A Division 1 Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Between this Thursday and Saturday, a grand total of 12 high school teams across South Carolina will experience championship glory at Colonial Life Arena as state contests return to Columbia for the first time since COVID.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday will be when teams from the 5A Division 1 classification will have their turn at the mic along with those from the 3A realm. On the girls end of the ledger, five of last year's six state champions were successful in returning to state this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those was last year's 5A Division 1 winner – and on the other bench will be another solid assembling from the Lowcountry as was the case at the Florence Center last March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Wando (22-6, 6-4 Region 7-AAAAA)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1560599,"width":"633px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_5256.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1560599" style="width:633px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 season for Wando had plenty of promise. Last year's Warriors were a veteran-laden bunch that finished 21-5 and finished second in its region only to eventual 5A Division 2 champion Berkeley.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warriors suffered an early exit from last year's playoffs at the hands of Ridge View. Coach Jeffrey Emory had his work cut out for him. The result – an even more dangerous Wando assembling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of a Dec. 20 defeat against Camden, the Warriors have only suffered defeat against region rivals Berkeley and Goose Creek. Thankfully for Wando, both of those aforementioned squads play in 5A Division 2 – meaning the Warriors do not have to deal with either the Stags or Gators in late February or early March.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wando had a tougher path to state than a number of its 5A Division 1 peers as it did not earn a first-round bye.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Warriors' Road to Columbia:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 16 – 91-21 win vs. Stall</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 20 – 62-53 win at Summerville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 23 – 71-39 win at Ashley Ridge</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 28 – 53-52 win vs. Lexington</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A major catalyst or Wando's success this season has been <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263372' first='Bella' last='McKevitt']</strong>. After playing her first season at the varsity level in 2024-25, she has had one of the signature freshman campaigns of anyone across the state. McKevitt has averaged 14 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.2 steals per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school athletic journey of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='451803' first='AVA' last='RUSH'] </strong>– that has included stints at Oceanside Collegiate and SCISA 4A First Baptist – is culminating with another opportunity at a state championship with the Warriors. Rush has nearly averaged a double-double at 12.6 points and 9.7 rebounds plus 3.4 blocks and 2.5 steals per game. Following Friday's contest, Rush will begin her transition to the collegiate ranks with Division I East Carolina. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of four 2028s on this year's Warriors bunch, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='989336' first='Makenna' last='Reynolds']</strong> has also played a massive role in ensuring Wando has stayed in the win column. Reynolds has averaged 12.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 2.8 assists.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='280466' first='Malaya' last='Mazyck'] </strong>will also sport Wando's uniform one final time before she heads to the next level with Columbia College. Mazyck has averaged seven, a team-high 5.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another of the four sophomores for the Warriors – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1563399' first='Emry' last='Crawford'] </strong>– has also put together a solid season. Crawford is a multi-sport athlete who also plays varsity volleyball. She has averaged 6.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Wando state championships:</strong> 1977, 1980</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Blythewood (23-5, 11-1 Region 5-AAAAA)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1592915,"width":"609px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/12/IMG_5971-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1592915" style="width:609px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One cannot tell the story of Blythewood's ascent South Carolina's high school girls basketball rankings without mentioning the 0-19 season the Bengals suffered through a few short years ago.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That journey from the valley of 2021-22 to reaching the peak of Palmetto State high school girls basketball culminated last season when coach Emily McElveen's Bengals prevailed in a 62-56 decision last year at the Florence Center against Summerville.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood went from being hunters to the hunted as defending state champions. The Bengals experienced a tough schedule out of the gate with losses to 4A Camden and North Augusta as well as 5A Division 1 Dorman. Blythewood has only dropped one contest to an in-state adversary since that Dec. 6 loss to the Yellow Jackets and that was in the regular season finale against Ridge View.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Bengals' Road to Columbia:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 20 – 56-39 win vs. Clover</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 23 – 54-52 win at Dorman</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 27 – 60-54 win vs. Mauldin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big three that has defined this era of Blythewood basketball have all announced their collegiate plans. This includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320742' first='Chase' last='Thomas']</strong> who will take her talents to SC State. Thomas has averaged a double-double of 22 points and 11.7 rebounds along with 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday evening's contest for the Bengals will also be the final game for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259994' first='India' last='Williams']</strong> at Blythewood. She has averaged 14.2 points, four rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals. Following this season, Williams will head west on Interstate 20 to USC-Aiken.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='889284' first='Kirsten' last='Fulton']</strong> has set herself up to be the immediate future for the Bengals following the departure of the big three. An eighth grade rising star, Fulton has averaged 9.6 points per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259992' first='Hayley' last='Hightower']</strong> is the third of that Blythewood big three and she has announced her intention to compete collegiately in the Big Ten at Purdue for track and field. Hightower has averaged 5.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of seniors, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='903675' first='Aniya' last='Guerrero']</strong> is also part of Blythewood's 2026 graduating class. Guerrero has competed in 25 contests this season as a Bengal. She is one of the team's leading rebounders, hauling in 4.2 per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Blythewood state championships:</strong> 2025</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 6, Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, S.C., 6 p.m.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->