Class 5A Division 2 Lower State/Upper State Championship Preview

Instead of 10 state champions being crowned at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, that number increased to 12 because of the 5A realm being divided in two divisions.    This means that a third of the champions coming from this season's state games will be from 5A. Last season's champions – Sumter – were eliminated in the first round of the Division 1 playoffs by James Island, meaning we are guaranteed to have two new champions from the 5A ranks.    We will see the 5A Division 2 teams take to the court on Wednesday, Mar. 5. Which teams will grace the Florence Center with their respective presences? Here is a look at the remaining field.    Lower State Final: Berkeley (22-4, 10-1) vs. North Myrtle Beach (22-2, 8-2)   Berkeley   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6819-1.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-826477" style="width:581px;height:auto" /></figure>   The Stags began last season's tournament in promising fashion with a 52-16 drubbing of Stall. The game that ousted the Stags from last season's 5A playoffs was one Berkeley fans, players, coaches and students would rather forget – a 60-26 drubbing at the hands of eventual champion Sumter.    Coach Crystal Peace's team simply came back for more. Berkeley has dropped only four games this season – all to fellow 5A rivals from the Lowcountry (twice to Ashley Ridge, once to Goose Creek and once to Summerville).   Since the one-point defeat to Goose Creek on Valentine's Day, the Stags have reeled off 11 consecutive victories. Only one of those were by single digits – a Jan. 17 46-43 victory at Wando. Berkeley earned an automatic bye into the second round.   Stags' Road to Florence:    Feb. 20 – 48-28 win vs. Lucy Beckham   Feb. 25 – 53-36 win vs. Goose Creek   Key Players   Berkeley has been led scoring-wise by one of the premier 2028s in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='768684' first='Alaina' last='Carter']. She has competed in 25 matchups for the Stags while averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals.   What makes a team such as Berkeley so dangerous is how good they are while still being relatively young. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='365237' first='Amani' last='McCray'], in addition to averaging eight points per game, is also the team's leading rebounder averaging 6.8 boards per contest. McCray is also giving the Stags 1.8 steals per matchup.    [player_tooltip player_id='357552' first='Demi' last='Gray'] is another standout that Stags opponents have to game plan for. Gray has competed in 23 games while averaging eight points and 1.8 steals a game.    [player_tooltip player_id='357553' first='Aiyanna' last='Moses'] has been a worthwhile addition to Berkeley since transferring from Goose Creek. She has played in 25 games this season averaging 7.6 points, 3.1 assists and three steals per contest.    [player_tooltip player_id='662508' first='Madison' last='Thomas'] primarily operates as a two guard. The Berkeley junior has averaged seven points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.3 steals.    [player_tooltip player_id='651705' first='Imani' last='Levey'] is another one of the Stags' young frontcourt standouts. Levey has competed in 23 games in 2024-25 and has averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds.    Berkeley's rebounding efforts are also bolstered by [player_tooltip player_id='258131' first='Natalia' last='Madison'], a junior three forward. Madison has given her Stags 4.3 boards on average.   [player_tooltip player_id='672400' first='Kennedy' last='Caldwell'] adds depth in the backcourt and [player_tooltip player_id='990020' first='Kaelynn' last='Caldwell'] does the same for the Stags' frontcourt.    North Myrtle Beach   <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_07-41-53-6510PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123414" style="width:580px;height:auto" /></figure>   The last time the Chiefs made a run this deep in the postseason was the COVID year of 2020-21. That was when North Myrtle Beach made an appearance in the 4A state championship game at the USC-Aiken Convocation Center which resulted in an unceremonious defeat to Westside.    This season as a 5A Division 2 assembling, coach Heather Kearney's team is looking to make sure it experiences the euphoria and spoils of state glory. North Myrtle Beach moved up from 4A to 5A beginning with this season and only dropped two games this season – both were against a region rival in Carolina Forest – a 5A Division 1 school.    In 2023-24, following a first-round win over Irmo, the Chiefs' season came to a screeching halt at the hands of Bluffton in the second round of the 4A tournament. North Myrtle Beach earned an automatic bye into the second round of this season's 5A Division 2 playoffs.   Chiefs' Road to Florence:    Feb. 20 – 49-35 win vs. Chapin   Feb. 25 – 53-42 win vs. Westwood   Key Players   If a team looks to defeat North Myrtle Beach, it has to do something to keep its big three in check. That nucleus is led by senior [player_tooltip player_id='210157' first='Faith' last='Farmer'] who has averaged 21 points, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals in 22 games.    Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='567022' first='Madison' last='Vereen'] has also come up big for the Chiefs. She is one of the team's leading rebounders. Vereen is averaging 13.5 points, 6.9 rebounds, five steals and 4.1 assists per contest.    Another 2025, [player_tooltip player_id='825729' first='Nevaeh' last='Washington'], also is a big help to what North Myrtle Beach looks to get accomplished in the interior. Along with being the team's leading rebounder at 13 a game, she is also averaging 12.2 points and 2.5 steals in 22 games.   North Myrtle Beach state championships: 1986   Last Meeting    Feb. 16, 2018 – 43-38 North Myrtle Beach win   When and Where?   Mar. 5, 3 p.m. at Florence Center   Upper State Final: Greenville (16-12, 8-6) vs. Greenwood (17-9, 10-4)   Greenville   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_2156.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117729" style="width:529px;height:auto" /></figure>   The 5A Division 2 Upper State championship game will be a case of which “Green” is more mean. It is also a matchup of two former 4A regional rivals that moved up to 5A with reclassification while maintaining that region rivalry.   When looking at how Greenville's 2024-25 has unfolded, one can look at the Red Raiders and think that it is a good team. If coach Anthony Gowens' assembling had enough to make a run to Upper State was a massive question mark especially given the competition lurking in Greenville's path.    The Red Raiders were one-and-doned from last season's 4A tournament as they were matched up with the perennial state power that is North Augusta.    Red Raiders' Road to Florence:    Feb. 17 – 56-34 win vs. Indian Land   Feb. 21 – 39-35 win vs. Fort Mill   Feb. 25 – 61-55 win vs. Gaffney   Key Players   A pair of transfers from other Upstate schools have paid massive dividends for Greenville. One of those is [player_tooltip player_id='258130' first='Ava' last='Owens'] who previously played at 4A Pickens. Owens has averaged 14.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 4.3 steals and 3.3 assists in 26 games.    Another of those transfers is freshman [player_tooltip player_id='567024' first='Miracle' last='Cheeks'] who previously was at Eastside. Cheeks has competed in 27 games to the tune of 13.2 points and 2.4 steals a game.    The Red Raiders have also received worthwhile backcourt depth from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1049250' first='Kailee' last='Williams']. She is averaging 6.7 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 games.    Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1068049' first='Hailee' last='Wilson'] has given the team scoring and rebounding depth from the backcourt and that depth at the guard spot is further solidified by [player_tooltip player_id='633410' first='Scarlett' last='Watson'].    Greenwood   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/12/IMG_6718.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-826433" style="width:550px;height:auto" /></figure>   When the Eagles put together a 22-6 season in 2023-24, that put the rest of the Palmetto State on notice that something was brewing at their nest.    Following a first-round victory over Aiken, Greenwood's 2023-24 came to an end at the hands of South Pointe. The Eagles had proven themselves as a formidable 4A foe and coach LaShonda Chiles' team was looking to do the same with the move up to the 5A realm.   The 2024-25 rendition of the Eagles would finish second in its new 5A region – only trailing J.L. Mann which went a perfect 14 for 14 in 1-AAAAA get-togethers. Greenwood also went a robust 9-1 at home with the lone defeat on its home floor occurring against those very Patriots. The Eagles would earn a bye into the second round of this year's tournament.    Eagles' Road to Florence:    Feb. 21 – 77-26 win vs. Nation Ford   Feb. 25 – 59-53 win vs. Riverside   Key Players   [player_tooltip player_id='438237' first='Danielle' last='Oliver'], in her junior season, has emerged as the player to contain for the Eagles. She has played in 24 matchups this season and has averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 steals, 4.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists per matchup.   [player_tooltip player_id='436756' first='Ty' last='Johnson'] is a stalwart for Greenwood in the interior. Johnson is not only one of the team's leading point-getters at 13.6 per game, but she is also one of its leading rebounders at 6.3 per contest.    [player_tooltip player_id='438236' first='Cameron' last='Oliver'] is another notable name teams must game plan for. She is averaging nine points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 3.6 steals.    Another of the team's leading rebounders is [player_tooltip player_id='599274' first='Camryn' last='Fuller'], a senior big, who has also provided four boards a game in 24 games.   Greenwood state championships: 1995, 1996   Last Meetings   Jan. 6 at Greenwood – 53-38 Greenwood win   Jan. 28 at Greenville – 48-41 Greenville win   When and Where?   Mar. 5, 6 p.m. at Florence Center

Instead of 10 state champions being crowned at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, that number increased to 12 because of the 5A realm being divided in two divisions.