Class 5A Division 1 Championship Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the build-up to this season's 5A Division 1 Lower State and Upper State championships, a bombshell was dropped with the announcement that Ashley Ridge – one of the favorites to win the 5A Division 1 crown – was disqualified from the postseason.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Swamp Foxes earned a 74-70 four-overtime victory over Ridge View in the Lower State semifinals to earn its berth to Florence but the team was axed from the tournament due to questions about a player's eligibility.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This announcement completely upended the 5A Division 1 tournament. Ashley Ridge was slated to face Summerville – a team the Swamp Foxes had already defeated twice this season, but the proceedings gave the Green Wave an automatic bye to Friday's championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While it is a heartbreaking way to end what was shaping up to be a banner season for the Swamp Foxes, there are still three teams still remaining to vie for this year's state crown. Here is a look at the remaining 5A Division 1 field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Upper State Championship: Blythewood (26-2, 11-1) vs. J.L. Mann (20-6)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Blythewood</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1092915,"width":"550px","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/eZy-Watermark_30-11-2024_11-07-34-7330PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1092915" style="width:550px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If one can track the trajectory of Blythewood the past few seasons, one could tell that the Bengals were steadily rising to where it would arrive at this point.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was only a few years ago where the Bengals ran the table – in reverse. Now – in the second season of coach Emily McElveen at the helm, Blythewood is two wins shy of bringing a state championship to the northeast Midlands suburb for the first time since the school opened its doors in 2005.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals were one-and-doned from last season's 5A tournament at the hands of Spartanburg. This season's Blythewood rendition has only lost to a pair of other 5A Midlands powers in Dutch Fork and Ridge View. The Bengals girls and boys teams both made it to Florence. Blythewood earned an automatic bye to the second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Bengals' Road to Florence:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 20 – 63-49 win vs. Byrnes</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24 – 60-47 win vs. Rock Hill</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The nucleus for all things Blythewood these past several seasons has been its big three of 2026s. This includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320742' first='Chase' last='Thomas']</strong> who has averaged a double-double of 23.1 points and 10.8 rebounds – not to mention 3.3 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That big three also includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259994' first='India' last='Williams']</strong>. She is averaging 17.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and three steals plus 1.2 blocks per contest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Teams looking to defeat the Bengals have also to find a way to keep <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='259992' first='Hayley' last='Hightower']</strong> in check. She has played in 24 games and is averaging 13.1 points, 5.4 steals and 3.6 rebounds per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood has also greatly benefitted from the play this season of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1096238' first='Daniella' last='Bosmans']</strong>. The senior Bengals wing is averaging 7.4 points, 4.4 boards and 1.5 steals per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals also have depth in the backcourt in the form of senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='895009' first='Sherron' last='Waters']</strong> and in the frontcourt from sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='754999' first='Kaila' last='Spain'].&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>J.L. Mann</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1117735,"width":"563px","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/IMG_2167.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1117735" style="width:563px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots are hoping that their time in the Pee Dee this go round has better fortunes than the last time they played at the Florence Center.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, J.L. Mann also qualified for the Upper State championship, but the Patriots' season came to a halt at the hands of Rock Hill.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One interesting factoid to coach Lamont Wakefield's team is how it has struggled in neutral site games. Four of the Patriots' six losses were at neutral sites. Two of them were at the hands of in-state teams – Ridge View and SCISA 4A First Baptist. J.L. Mann made up for it by running the table in region, by its 11-game winning streak entering Saturday's play and by earning a bye to the second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Patriots' Road to Florence:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 20 – 62-46 win vs. Lexington</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24 – 57-47 win vs. Dutch Fork</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Leading the charge all season for the Patriots has been sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610424' first='Jade' last='Hailstock']</strong>. She leads the team in scoring with 15.3 points per game and has also given the team 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 steals on average.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610464' first='Imari' last='Richardson']</strong> is completing her senior season with J.L. Mann. Along with averaging 11 points per game, Richardson is the team's leading rebounding having hauled in 9.6 boards per contest. She has also given the team 2.9 steals a game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of juniors, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='610465' first='Olivia' last='McKinney']</strong> is another one who has provided plenty of big plays for the Patriots. McKinney has averaged 10.8 points and four steals in the 26 games she has played in.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='196052' first='Breah' last='Franks']</strong> is hoping to have two more games where she proudly sports J.L. Mann's colors. The senior center and Queens (NC) commit has averaged 8.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolstering the Patriots' efforts in its backcourt is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='387003' first='Anastasia' last='Gillam']</strong>. She is completing her sophomore season having averaged 6.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1047755' first='Brie' last='Carson']</strong> – a junior – also provides frontcourt depth for J.L. Mann.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>J.L. Mann state championships:</strong> 2005, 2006, 2007</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 1, 4 p.m. at Florence Center</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The winner of Blythewood vs. J.L. Mann will have one team remaining between it and state glory.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Summerville (23-3, 8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1094076,"width":"543px","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_02-12-2024_04-17-12-8230AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1094076" style="width:543px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was three seasons ago when the Green Wave last participated in a 5A championship game. That was during the brief time when the USC-Aiken Convocation Center was the home for state play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That time, coach Calvin Davis' Summerville assembling was on the receiving end of a 52-44 defeat to Rock Hill. The Green Wave will be looking to correct that on Mar. 7. Last season, Summerville's season came to an end in defeat to eventual 5A champion Sumter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Throughout the Green Wave's history, it has been state runners-up on five different occasions but the big prize has eluded it. Summerville was another team that earned a bye into the second round of this year's tournament.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Green Wave's Road to Florence:&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 20 – 60-50 win vs. Spring Valley</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Feb. 24 – 43-27 win vs. Carolina Forest</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Key Players:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All three leading point-getters for the Green Wave are seniors. This includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='453217' first='Molly' last='Daugherty']</strong>. In the 24 games she has played this season, Daugherty is averaging 13.9 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 steals.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='375963' first='Cailah' last='Tucker']</strong> is another important element in what has been a winning season for Summerville. Tucker has averaged 9.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and three steals per matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both Molly and her sister <strong>Emma Daugherty</strong> are commits to Abilene Christian. She is also averaging 9.5 points in addition to 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals per contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Jayden' last='Bennett']</strong> and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='770242' first='Madelyn' last='Marsaa']</strong> bolster what Summerville gets accomplished in the backcourt. Frontcourt depth occurs in the form of senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='662508' first='Madison' last='Thomas']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='919884' first='Jordan' last='Espinal']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>When and Where?&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Mar. 7, 6 p.m. at Florence Center</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->