Lower State 4A Newcomers: Can Anyone Guard Lailah? 

<!-- 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>What one experiences every few seasons throughout high school sports are the inevitable winds of change happening throughout a state's athletic landscape.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The most recent round of reclassification for the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) saw teams move down in classification as opposed to up. This is in stark contrast to what took place two years ago when a large number of teams moved up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams that were in the 5A Division 2 ranks the last couple of seasons were particularly affected by the recent carousel of realignment which saw many of them move down to 4A. We spotlighted the Upper State teams undergoing this change in an earlier article and now shift our focus to the Lower State portions of 4A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Fox Creek</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1569125,"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/4/2025/12/IMG_5518.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1569125" style="width:651px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Unlike most schools throughout the Palmetto State impacted by this round of realignment, Fox Creek moved up in classification from 3A to 4A.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Predators have gone through one of the more fascinating realignment sagas of any South Carolina team. The reclassification that took place prior to the 2016-17 season saw Fox Creek move up from 1A to 2A. Fox Creek then went up from 2A to 3A starting with the 2020-21 COVID season. The Predators became a 2A team again beginning in 2022-23 and went back to 3A in 2024-25.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season's Predators put together one of its better campaigns in recent memory as Fox Creek finished 18-10 overall and 6-2 in region with both losses occurring against eventual 3A Lower State champion Keenan. Fox Creek even earned victories over Battery Creek and Aynor in the 3A state tournament before falling to Oceanside Collegiate in the Lower State semifinals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='873915' first='Jada' last='Jennings']</strong> is part of Fox Creek's 2027 graduating class. She would play in all 28 of the Predators' contests from last season while averaging 10.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. Also part of that 2027 graduating class is <strong>Maya Kryshtalowych</strong> who also competed in all 28 of Fox Creek's matchups. She led the team in rebounding, averaging 8.8 per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Other names of note from last season's Predators team include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='992478' first='Mia' last='Price']</strong>, <strong>Mariah Price</strong>, <strong>Jayla Norris</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606225' first='Marcie' last='Hyer']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Irmo</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1563835,"width":"629px","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_5370.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1563835" style="width:629px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the initial list of 5A teams was created prior to the 2016-17 season, the Yellow Jackets were among that list of teams.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo was caught up in the last reclassification maelstrom prior to the 2024-25 season which saw the Yellow Jackets move back up to the 5A (Division 2) ranks. During Irmo's most recent season as a 4A combatant, it finished 10-12 along with a 4-6 showing in its region. The Yellow Jackets that season were eliminated in the first round of the 4A state tournament by North Myrtle Beach.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 2025-26, the Yellow Jackets concluded its season with an identical region record as that 2015-16 assembling but an overall mark of 16-11. Coach Coretta Ferguson's Irmo bunch earned a first-round 5A Division 2 tournament win over Myrtle Beach before falling to eventual state champion Berkeley in the second round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While the Yellow Jackets did lose a key transfer to Dutch Fork, Irmo appears to be set in terms of the next few seasons of its program. The centerpiece of said program is set to be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='975807' first='Lailah' last='Singletary']</strong> who has received offers from Coastal Carolina and Morehead State. A product of the [program_tooltip program_id='1238252' first='Twelve' last='Time'] AAU program, he averaged 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game while playing in all 27 games for the Yellow Jackets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='844792' first='JaNiyah' last='Stokes']</strong> was available for 24 of Irmo's 27 contests last season and averaged 9.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals per matchup. The Yellow Jackets also benefitted from what <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1116864' first='Tiana' last='Randall']</strong> was able to get accomplished in the 10 games she played. Randall averaged nine points and 5.3 rebounds per contest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336573' first='La'Nee' last='McCutchen']</strong> and <strong>Ja'iona Williams-Toatley</strong> are two other names of note at Irmo.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Lucy Beckham&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1654894,"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/user-uploads/IMG_6411.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1654894" style="width:599px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When Lucy Beckham opened its doors at the beginning of the decade, the Bengals debuted with the SCHSL as a 4A team. It was during reclassification prior to the 2024-25 season where Lucy Beckham moved up to the 5A Division 2 field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals' most recent iteration as a 4A team resulted in a 15-11 season along with going 7-3 against opponents in its Region 7-AAAA at the time. That team earned a berth in the state tournament and defeated South Florence in the first round prior to its season concluded in a second-round defeat to A.C. Flora.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, the Bengals went 10-12 and 4-6 in its region. Lucy Beckham's 2025-26 assembling followed a similar trajectory as that squad from 2015-16 – a 5A Division 2 first-round playoff victory (over Socastee) before a second-round defeat to Goose Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One name that has become a key piece to the Lucy Beckham puzzle has been <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1104724' first='Vivian' last='Watts']</strong> who also has had stints with SC Sixers and FBC Reign 2027 during her spring and summer months of AAU ball. Watts, who also plays volleyball, averaged 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.5 assists in 22 contests last season. Another is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654897' first='Roxie' last='Ciesar']</strong> who was one of the Bengals' leading rebounders pulling down five per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Conway</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1123446,"width":"666px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-40-27-1230PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123446" style="width:666px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers' return to the 4A ranks represents the first time Conway has been in 4A since the initial creation of the 5A classification last decade.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That 2015-16 season would see Conway compile 15 victories in 23 tries. That year's Tigers also prevailed in seven of its 10 contests throughout its region schedule. It was a season that saw Conway earn a first-round 4A tournament win over Fort Dorchester before being outdone by Goose Creek in the ensuing round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conway's 2025-26 season was not as successful as that 2015-16 version. The Tigers only won five games – including two over Loris and one each against Carvers Bay and region foes St. James and Myrtle Beach. The Tigers' 2025-26 season ended in a 5A Division 2 tournament defeat at Westwood.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1833341' first='Saryah' last='Locklear']</strong> first played at the varsity level as an eighth grader and followed up said eighth grade campaign with an improved freshman season. Locklear averaged nearly seven points per contest along with 3.4 rebounds, two steals and 1.2 assists per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121781' first='Surhei' last='Brown']</strong> led last season's Tigers in rebounding, pulling down 7.1 per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Phoebe Stevenson</strong> and <strong>Marlowe Deal </strong>are two other young players for Conway that boosted the team's rebounding efforts. They averaged 4.6 and 3.6 boards per contest, respectively. Both are two-sport athletes who also play soccer.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Myrtle Beach</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1451492,"width":"650px","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_4322.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1451492" style="width:650px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2020s have been anything but kind to Myrtle Beach but last season was an exception for the Seahawks as they had a double-digit winning season for the first time since the 2019-20 campaign when they won 16 games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Seahawks were another team that last played at the 4A level in 2023-24. That season saw Myrtle Beach finish with a 9-14 record. Myrtle Beach did earn two region victories that season – both at the expense of West Florence before being eliminated by Ridge View in the first round of that season's 4A state tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for the 2025-26 Seahawks, they had a promising season going prior to the arrival of region play where its only victory was in early January at Conway. Myrtle Beach was also on the wrong end of a 38-27 defeat to Irmo in last season's 5A Division 2 tournament.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players of note for Myrtle Beach include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1605793' first='Gaby' last='Giammalva']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1357642' first='Mychala' last='Hopkins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1865778' first='Ariana' last='Brave']</strong>. Another is [player_tooltip player_id='1047746' first='Leila' last='Yandle'] who transferred to Myrtle Beach from St. James. She averaged 14.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game last season with the Sharks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>North Myrtle Beach</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1669313,"width":"700px","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_6681.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1669313" style="width:700px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is common coachspeak or playerspeak to say that an undefeated season does not matter – until said team extends said run into the postseason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach was the top-ranked 5A Division 2 team for much of 2025-26. Coach Heather Kearney's Chiefs had a perfect season – a 23-game winning streak - going before running into a defending champion Berkeley team that dashed North Myrtle Beach's hopes of making it to Colonial Life Arena.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When realignment last took place, the Chiefs were another team that last was acquainted with the 4A realm in 2023-24. That year's Chiefs went 18-8 along with going 7-3 opposite region foes. It earned a first-round postseason victory against Irmo before losing to Bluffton in the ensuing round. A few years earlier, North Myrtle Beach won a 4A Lower State championship and had a state get-together with Westside at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567022' first='Madison' last='Vereen']</strong> – who secured an offer from East Carolina last year – is entering her senior season at North Myrtle Beach. She averaged 16.1 points, 6.5 steals, five rebounds and 3.7 assists in 22 contests last season. Also part of the Chiefs' 2027 graduating class is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='668305' first='Jurnee' last='Blye']</strong> who transferred from Carvers Bay prior to last season. Blye played in 20 contests last season in Chiefs blue and gold while averaging 10.7 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142335' first='Aubree' last='Anglin']</strong> first played at the varsity level as an eighth grader and has solidified her status as a name to watch in the future for North Myrtle Beach. Anglin averaged 7.7 points, 3.5 steals, 3.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. <strong>Ke'Aisha Bryant</strong> would play in 22 contests last season for the Chiefs while averaging 6.4 points, four steals, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>St. James</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1123450,"width":"646px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-42-40-1320PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123450" style="width:646px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even though 5A was not created by the SCHSL until 2016-17, St. James did not become a 5A team until two years later.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until the upcoming 2026-27 season, the Sharks have played at the 5A level since that 2018-19 campaign. Before that, St. James went through a 6-17 season in what was its most recent as a 4A team. That season's team also only won one game against a region opponent – Marlboro County in late January. The 4A tournament was not kind to the Sharks that season as they were defeated in the first round in double-digit fashion by Stall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 version of St. James finished 14-10 and 6-4 in its region but suffered an unceremonious end to its season in the first round of the 5A Division 2 tournament via Lugoff-Elgin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1832119' first='Krystan' last='Small']</strong> put up solid numbers as an eighth grader for St. James. She averaged 11.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and two steals as a force to be reckoned with in the Sharks' frontcourt. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1123451' first='Callie' last='Centracchio']</strong> is part of St. James' 2027 graduating class and also competed in all 24 contests last season in a Sharks uniform. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>West Florence&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1588463,"width":"664px","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_5762.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1588463" style="width:664px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When 5A was created last decade, the Knights were one of the teams selected to be part of the new classification. West Florence then moved back to 4A prior to the 2020-21 COVID year and remained there until 2024-25.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The year before the Knights returned to the 5A ranks, West Florence finished 3-18 and did not win a game in its region. West Florence's only victories that season were against Lakewood, Cheraw and Dreher.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights were on the outside of the state tournament picture looking in as was the case last season as well when West Florence finished 0-for-the-season. West Florence's slimmest margins of defeat were both against the same team – Hartsville.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notable players for the Knights include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606235' first='Nadia' last='Brooks']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1606236' first='Natylia' last='Gregg'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1362381' first='Kessler' last='Johnson']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->