Wando vs. Blythewood: 5A Division 1 Championship

Midlands girls teams were in the spotlight throughout championship Friday at Colonial Life Arena. One of them – Keenan – competed in the 3A championship game and another – Blythewood – took part in the 5A Division 1 state tilt.    Unlike the Raiders, coach Emily McElveen's Bengals were defending their state crown they won last season against Greenwood at the Florence Center. Blythewood earned a bye into the second round of this year's 5A Division 1 tournament and scored victories over Clover, Dorman and Mauldin.    Wando entered Friday's state contest in search of its first championship since 1980. Coach Jeffrey Emory's Warriors did not earn a bye into the second round but defeated Stall, Summerville, Ashley Ridge and Lexington en route to the CLA.    Departing from downtown Columbia with state hardware for the 2025-26 season would be Blythewood. The final score would be 68-44 with the Bengals prevailing over the Warriors.    “We lost some key players – two starters last year. But, in the end – defense,” Bengals coach Emily McElveen says on what made the difference. “That's what we preach to our kids. We've got to play defense. I'm not worried about the scoring. I've got scorers on the floor, we'll score the basketball. We've got to stop people. We can't exchange basket for basket with people. And we're small. So, we've got to box out, we've got to rebound. We can't give people chance after chance after chance to put the ball in the goal.”    Records   Blythewood was the last 5A Division 1 team standing and would conclude its 2025-26 season with a 24-5 record plus a region showing of 11-1. Friday may not have gone as planned for Wando, but it can still be proud of its Lower State championship, its 22-7 record and finishing 6-4 during its region schedule.    Quarter-By-Quarter   At one point in the first quarter, Wando's lead over Blythewood was only 10-9 before the Warriors finished the quarter with a 7-0 run. With one frame in the books, the Warriors lead over the Bengals would be 17-9.    “We came out soft (and) slow,” McElveen says. (The Warriors) were driving right past us. We weren't closing out well. We were just running at them. And I challenged them that anybody here is good. You can't just run at somebody and think you're going to stop them. So, you've got to pick the intensity up on defense. You've got to control the boards, you've got to protect the ball and good things will happen.”    The tide began to turn in the Bengals' favor in the second quarter as Blythewood would outscore Wando by a margin of 21-10. As both teams entered their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Blythewood would pull ahead by a margin of 30-27.    Sometimes, halftime speeches work and at times they do not. The Bengals' halftime powwow clearly did as evidenced by what they got accomplished in the third quarter. Blythewood's lead expanded to 12 – 48-36 after three stanzas.    As the Blythewood edge over Wando grew into the twenties, if the Bengals would win was not in much doubt. The Bengals' point margin was the only thing that was. That point margin would be 24 as Blythewood's repeat effort would be successful.    “I'm just proud of the team,” McElveen says. “Proud of what they've accomplished, proud of what they've done. And there's no way I'd want them to go out. They deserve it. Credit to them, they work hard day in and day out. Morning, nights, whenever it is. They're in the gym.”    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0650-crop-2186x1435-1772848609.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798693" style="width:526px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='320742' first='Chase' last='Thomas'] had one more stellar performance in Blythewood navy blue and gold in her before she begins her transition to the collegiate ranks with SC State. Thomas finished her evening with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds plus five assists.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0686-crop-2184x1434-1772848721.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798696" style="width:522px;height:auto" /></figure>   The same applied to [player_tooltip player_id='259994' first='India' last='Williams'] who can now fully begin her transition to college life at USC-Aiken. Williams added 18 points to the Bengals' cause. She was also one rebound shy of a double-double with nine boards.   “(There's) no better way to send (our seniors) out,” McElveen says. “They deserve it. They've worked hard. They came in here, trusted a program, trusted us as coaches and turned it around. And this is the best way they could've gone out. This is what they deserve.”    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0668-crop-3406x2237-1772848819.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798698" style="width:528px;height:auto" /></figure>   As has been the case for much of the season, Blythewood fans have seen a glimpse of its present and its future. Eighth grader [player_tooltip player_id='889284' first='Kirsten' last='Fulton'] represents the immediate future for the Bengals. Fulton contributed eight points – including a pair of 3-pointers to Blythewood's attack.   “There's some young talent here,” McElveen says. “We're going to miss (our seniors), but we have some young talent coming. So, (we'll) keep building and see what we can do.”    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0609-crop-2184x1434-1772849159.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798709" style="width:537px;height:auto" /></figure>   Pacing the efforts for Wando was [player_tooltip player_id='989336' first='Makenna' last='Reynolds']. She led all point-getters for the Warriors with 19. Out of the 19 she did score, 17 occurred in the first half. Reynolds also had a great game on the glass as she corralled eight rebounds.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0355-crop-2184x1434-1772849295.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798713" style="width:531px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Warriors also benefitted from the nine points that were placed on the scoreboard by freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='1263372' first='Bella' last='McKevitt']. Her evening at the CLA also included eight rebounds and she collected two steals.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/03/IMG_0646-crop-2286x1501-1772849463.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1798720" style="width:527px;height:auto" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1563399' first='Emry' last='Crawford'] also had herself a productive contest. Crawford scored eight points and brought down eight rebounds. She also collected a steal. Crawford is one of the four sophomores on this season's Wando assembling.   So Long, Seniors   Blythewood's graduating class of 2026 includes [player_tooltip player_id='320742' first='Chase' last='Thomas'], [player_tooltip player_id='259992' first='Hayley' last='Hightower'], [player_tooltip player_id='259994' first='India' last='Williams'], [player_tooltip player_id='1320203' first='Kylie' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1318989' first='Kennedy' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='903675' first='Aniya' last='Guerrero']. As for Wando, it will say farewell to Ava Rush, [player_tooltip player_id='280466' first='Malaya' last='Mazyck'], Caroline Bowers, Jackie Crowley, Kate Benning, Abby Monaghan and Emma Brooks.   Reclassification   Both Wando and Blythewood will remain in 5A beginning next season.

Midlands girls teams were in the spotlight throughout championship Friday at Colonial Life Arena. One of them – Keenan – competed in the 3A championship game and another – Blythewood – took part in the 5A Division 1 state tilt.