Lower State 2A Newcomers: Right On ‘Que’

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The PGH Carolinas Freshman Showcase is Aug. 30 and the Expo takes place on Sep. 6! Use the discount code Carolinas26PGH25OFF for 25% off registration!</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No school is able to maintain the same enrollment forever. This means that the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) has to make changes every few years on where a school is classified in terms of athletics.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most previous reclassification occurred prior to the 2024-25 season and saw many a school move up in terms of class. The opposite appeared to be the case for this most recent round of classification that saw more schools move down than up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This included a number of schools that moved, mostly, down from 3A to 2A. We took a look at the teams that are moving to 2A from the Upper State in an earlier article and now place a lens on those doing so in the Lower State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Horse Creek Academy</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horse Creek Academy is the third of the three schools that moved up from 1A to 2A with the other two being GREEN Upstate and High Point Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stallions managed to be one game better than its 2024-25 season – both in terms of its overall and region records. Last season would see Horse Creek Academy score in-state victories over Williston-Elko, Wagener-Salley and Calhoun County.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the victory over the Saints in late January, the Stallions finished the season with a five-game losing streak. Last season's Horse Creek Academy assembling graduated two seniors as part of the school's 2026 class.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Layla Sistare played in all 17 of the Stallions' contests last season. The 2028 averaged 8.6 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Karrington Simpkins is a 2029 that also saw playing time in all of Horse Creek Academy's matchups throughout 2025-26. She averaged 8.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.2 steals per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Orangeburg-Wilkinson</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1258438,"width":"675px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7726.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1258438" style="width:675px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In similar fashion as Woodruff and Hampton County, Orangeburg-Wilkinson also recently opened its doors to a new facility.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time the Bruins were reclassified was between the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. This actually saw Orangeburg-Wilkinson also drop down in classification from 4A to 3A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A strength of the Bruins has been how coach Cedrick Simpson's team has fared against region opponents. Orangeburg-Wilkinson – in addition to its 15-11 overall record – finished 6-2 in region with its only region defeats occurring against Oceanside Collegiate. The Bruins earned a first-round 3A tournament victory over Silver Bluff before its season ended by way of a 69-53 defeat at Dillon in the second round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach Simpson graduated plenty of seniors from last season's team. A returning 2028 is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1120170' first='De'leon' last='Steward']</strong> who played in 21 of Orangeburg-Wilkinson's 26 games. She averaged nine points, 2.6 steals and two rebounds per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1040958' first='Harmony' last='McCaskill']</strong> is also transferring into Orangeburg-Wilkinson from another 2A school in Lake Marion.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Silver Bluff</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1603705,"width":"619px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/01/IMG_6027.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1603705" style="width:619px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Recent history has seen Silver Bluff as a 2A school which is why it had to be unusual for some aficionados of the Bulldogs to look up and see Silver Bluff battling its peers from the 3A ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 version of Silver Bluff may not have reached the heights of the 2023-24 team that compiled a record of 22-2 but the Bulldogs did improve from its 2024-25 showing. Silver Bluff went from six wins to 10 wins and also showed improvement in its region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Bluff did earn a berth into the 3A state tournament – but its season ended at the hands of Orangeburg-Wilkinson in the first round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Bulldogs' signature players from last season was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606282' first='Kaylynn' last='Walker']</strong>. She averaged 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 steals in 15 contests.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Battery Creek</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1451444,"width":"651px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/04/IMG_4204.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1451444" style="width:651px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A number of teams were affected by the round of reclassification that took place prior to the 2016-17 season. One of those was Battery Creek which moved up from 2A to 3A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season prior to that is likely looked at very fondly by Dolphins fans. The 2015-16 Battery Creek team concluded its season with a record of 19-10 and a region mark of 6-2. That season's team also made a deep playoff run that included wins over Edisto and Lee Central.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season did not exactly have the same success as that 2015-16 team. Battery Creek only finished 3-18 but two of those wins did occur in region. Hilton Head Island, Hanahan and North Charleston were the three teams the Dolphins earned wins against. One team it did not earn a victory against was Fox Creek – which the Dolphins faced off against in the first round of last year's 3A tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Dolphins' key standouts is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606197' first='Makayla' last='Wilson']</strong>. She is entering her junior season at Battery Creek and solidifies what the Dolphins look to get accomplished in the frontcourt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Dillon</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1726362,"width":"613px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_7161.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1726362" style="width:613px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A season after winning a 3A Lower State championship, coach James McMillan's Dillon assembling entered its 2025-26 campaign with heightened expectations.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats were hoping to be the final 3A team standing at the conclusion of last season. Things looked promising throughout the early portion of the tournament with double-digit victories over North Charleston and Orangeburg-Wilkinson prior to being on the wrong end of an eight-point, 43-35 defeat by way of Keenan.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dillon will look to translate that success to the 2A realm. The last time the Wildcats took to the court as a 2A combatant was in 2015-16. That season saw Dillon conclude its season with a 14-3 record.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those that follow the Wildcats program understand the two players that make up the nucleus of its program. One is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='429829' first='Treasure' last='Davis']</strong> who will be in her junior season in 2026-27. Davis averaged 23 points, 5.6 steals, 5.3 rebounds and three assists last season. The other is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='833034' first='Khw-Nylahi' last='McKinnon']</strong>. She is part of Dillon's 2027 graduating class and recently picked up an offer from Oklahoma City University. McKinnon played in 26 contests last season for the Wildcats and averaged 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 steals and 4.6 assists per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Marlboro County</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1092474,"width":"599px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/IMG_1092-2-crop-2104x1381-1732977303.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1092474" style="width:599px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlboro County is in a similar spot as Orangeburg-Wilkinson where when it was most affected by a realignment shuffle it resulted in the Bulldogs dropping down to 3A from 4A. That occurred prior to the 2020-21 COVID season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At one point last season, the Bulldogs were 5-4. The bottom began dropping out for Marlboro County at the time region play began. The Bulldogs only claimed victory twice during the region slate – once against Georgetown and once against Loris.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlboro County did manage to qualify for last season's 3A state tournament but fell in the first round of the tournament in a close loss to eventual Lower State champion Keenan.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the signature players for last season's Bulldogs was <strong>Iyanna Boatwright</strong>. She is a 2028 that averaged 11.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.7 steals per game. <strong>Jordyn Zimmerman</strong> is part of Marlboro County's 2027 graduating class. She averaged 9.5 points and 8.1 rebounds as a key piece in the team's frontcourt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlboro County also benefitted from another stellar season courtesy of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1174784' first='Serenity' last='Bethea']</strong>. In the 16 games that she played, Bethea averaged 8.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, three steals and a block per contest. Rebounding depth was also provided by two more 2027s in <strong>Shayana White</strong> (who averaged 8.6 per game) and <strong>Destiny Ford</strong> (who averaged 7.4 per contest).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Waccamaw</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":825761,"width":"603px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/eZy-Watermark_22-12-2023_07-50-40-3940AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-825761" style="width:603px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The year was 2015-16 when Waccamaw last was part of the 2A ranks. The Warriors only finished with a 3-12 record that season along with going 1-3 in its region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 season for the Warriors yielded more positive fortunes than was the case for that Waccamaw team from 10 years prior to it. An interesting characteristic of last season's Warriors was how they were road “Warriors.” Waccamaw finished 7-4 on the road but only 4-7 on its home court.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of those road victories was in the first round of last season's playoffs by way of Newberry before a defeat in the second round at Oceanside Collegiate ended its season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the charge for the Warriors was 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='569805' first='Ayami' last='Prior']</strong> who competed in 16 of Waccamaw's 22 contests from last season. Prior would average 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds and 3.1 steals per matchup in 2025-26. Waccamaw also benefitted from 2029 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='978506' first='Avery' last='Collins']</strong> nearly averaging a double-double (11 points and 9.8 rebounds) plus 2.1 steals, 1.9 assists and 1.9 blocks per game. <strong>Viani Bender</strong>, a 2028, played in all 22 matchups last season for the Warriors while averaging 8.1 points and 7.9 points per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->