Previewing Region 5-AA

Falling temperatures and falling leaves means one thing – every single basketball player in the Palmetto State and nation is hoping their seasons include many of their and their team's shots falling.    It does not feel long ago that we were watching Andrew Jackson leave the Florence Center as one of six girls teams to depart from the Pee Dee with championship hardware. The annual travel and showcase schedules have given way to what should be another exciting season on the hardwood.    As we continue to comb through every region in South Carolina, next on our list is the Lower State of the 2A realm – beginning with Region 5-AA.    Lake Marion   (2024-25 Record: 22-2, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7757.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1257986" style="width:498px;height:auto" /></figure>   As the 2024-25 season wore on, it became apparent that Region 5-AA would be a two-team race. Lake Marion was one of those teams.    The Gators had one of the signature turnarounds of any South Carolina team, going from seven victories in 2023-24 to 22 wins last season. In addition, Lake Marion ran the table in its region.    Lake Marion earned a first-round playoff blowout of North Central only to be stunned in the second round by Atlantic Collegiate. That surprising upset to the Armada has likely stuck with the returning group of Gators all offseason long.   The only other team to earn a win over the Gators was 3A Orangeburg-Wilkinson in mid-December.   Key Players:   Returning for her senior season sporting Lake Marion green and black is [player_tooltip player_id='816495' first='Zimarika' last='Moorer']. She averaged 12.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.2 assists per game last season. At 5-foot-10, she is versatile in her ability to operate as a guard as well as a forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='1040958' first='Harmony' last='McCaskill'] had herself an impressive freshman campaign with the Gators. She averaged 9.2 points and 3.1 steals per game in 2024-25. McCaskill is an Orangeburg Xpress product that stands at 5-foot-4 and primarily plays at the two.   Hampton County   (2024-25 Record: 19-7, 8-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/01/IMG_8850.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-844650" style="width:500px;height:auto" /></figure>   If all goes according to plan, the 2025-26 season will be the final season where Hampton County will call the old 2A Wade Hampton HS home as construction on the new school is slated to be complete in 2026.    The new Hampton County HS may still be under construction but the Hurricanes basketball team is already fully built. The only region losses Hampton County suffered last season were to Lake Marion. When the 2A state tournament arrived, the Hurricanes earned a first-round playoff win over Philip Simmons only to suffer defeat in the second round at the hands of Lake City.    Much of last season's Hurricanes team is returning for 2025-26 as only two seniors graduated from the 2024-25 Hampton County version.   Key Players:   The junior season for [player_tooltip player_id='599148' first='Lyric' last='Jones'] is about to be underway. Her first season at the varsity level was as a seventh grader. Jones averaged 14.1 points and 2.7 steals in 2024-25 for the Hurricanes.   The final season of Hampton County at the old Wade Hampton gym will also be the final season for Travaih Henderson with the Hurricanes. The 5-foot-9 standout averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals a contest.   Hampton County's junior class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='890743' first='Jada' last='Rodgers']. She stands at 6-foot-3 and is a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball in addition to basketball. Rodgers averaged seven rebounds, 5.2 points and 2.5 blocks per game.   The Hurricanes' efforts on the boards last season were spearheaded by Faith Brooks who – similarly to Rodgers – is a two-sport athlete who also plays volleyball. Brooks averaged 9.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest in 2024-25.   Whale Branch   (2024-25 Record: 10-11, 6-4)   Reclassification would see Whale Branch move up from 1A to 2A. The first season of the Warriors returning to the 2A ranks saw improved fortunes.    Four of the team's 10 victories occurred outside of region play – including a mid-December win over 4A Bluffton at the Bobcats home court. Whale Branch did qualify for the tournament but suffered a first-round playoff exit at the hands of Kingstree.    One of the younger assemblings across the Palmetto State, Whale Branch is returning its entire team from last season. Interestingly enough, the 2024-25 season was the third consecutive season where the Warriors concluded its region schedule with six wins.    Key Players:   Not only did Whale Branch benefit from the new region and classification, the Warriors also benefitted from the superb play of [player_tooltip player_id='1131790' first='Harmony' last='Prejean']. She averaged 17.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and four steals in 20 games last season – as an eighth grader.   Larmore Pryor is a two-sport athlete that is part of Whale Branch's senior class this season. Her second sport of choice is volleyball. Pryor played in 19 games last season and averaged 8.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 steals.   Another of the multi-sport athletes that is on the Warriors roster is [player_tooltip player_id='1319122' first='Kelis' last='Fields']. In addition to basketball, she also plays softball and volleyball. Fields was Whale Branch's leading rebounder, averaging 8.1 boards plus 5.5 points, 1.4 blocks and 1.3 steals in 2024-25.   Also keeping a busy athletic schedule is Samiya Lee who is entering her junior season with the Warriors. Lee also plays volleyball. She adds rebounding depth to Whale Branch, averaging five boards in 16 games last season.   Barnwell   (2024-25 Record: 4-13, 3-7)   Three seasons ago, Barnwell put together a double-digit winning season when the Warhorses finished the 2023-24 season with 13 victories. Barnwell has won only six games combined since.    Auspiciously for the Warhorses, three of Barnwell's four victories did occur in region and it enabled Barnwell to earn a berth in the 2A state tournament. The lone non-region team that the Warhorses did defeat was 1A Blackville-Hilda in Barnwell's season opener.    The Warhorses were on the receiving end of a blowout loss in the first round of last season's 2A state tournament to eventual champion Andrew Jackson. Three seniors graduated from last year's Barnwell team.    Key Players:   The Warhorses' primary scorer last season was Savannah Rountree who is advancing into her junior season. A stalwart in Barnwell's backcourt, Rountree averaged 8.3 points and just over a steal per matchup last season.   Speaking of backcourt names, Gabrielle Thomas is entering her senior season and can operate as either a two guard or at the point. Thomas averaged 7.3 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 steals per game.   Sa'Mya Ford, as is the case with Rountree, is also entering her junior season. Last season, she averaged 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 points and just over one steal per contest. Ford primarily operates in the frontcourt at the four.   Bridges Prep   (2024-25 Record: 4-15, 3-7)   One of the newer programs in South Carolina, Bridges Prep is still going through its fair share of growing pains.    As was the case with Barnwell, the Buccaneers earned three victories in region. The lone non-region win occurred in mid-December at Lowcountry Leadership. The result of that contest with the NaviGators was 40-19.    There were four seniors that graduated from last season's Bridges Prep team – including two of its three team captains. In the young history of the program, the most wins Bridges Prep has had amassed in a season was five. That occurred in 2023-24 when the Buccaneers finished with a 5-12 and 4-8 in region.   Key Players:   Among the core that made up Bridges Prep last season that is returning for 2025-26 is Makayla Lapp. She is about to embark on her senior season and stands at 5-foot-3. Lapp averaged 9.9 points as she played in all 19 games last season.   Lapp is a signature player for Bridges Prep in the backcourt and Addie Taylor does the same for the Buccaneers in the frontcourt. The sophomore Taylor stands at 6-foot-1 and as Bridges Prep's leading rebounder and shot blocker last season at 12.1 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in addition to 7.5 points.   Zariyah Henry maintains an active athletic schedule as she plays soccer in addition to her basketball achievements. Another of the team's leading rebounders, Henry averaged 8.8 boards and 5.3 points per contest.   Beginning her junior season with the Buccaneers is Raelynn Reeves who can be placed in a team's lineup as either a guard or at the wing. Reeves rebounding depth to Bridges Prep having averaged 4.8 rebounds in 2024-25.   Edisto   (2024-25 Record: 2-18, 0-10)   It was from 2013-14 to 2015-16, Edisto had three consecutive seasons where the Cougars finished with a double-digit win total. Unfortunately for Edisto, it has not been at that point since that 10-5 (6-3) season of 2015-16.   The Cougars' highlights of last season primarily occurred against Branchville. On Dec. 13, Edisto defended its home court against the Yellow Jackets by virtue of a 24-16 victory. A few days later, the Cougars scored another victory over Branchville via forfeit.    Edisto remained a 2A team even following reclassification, but the Cougars moved from one Lower State region in 6-AA to another in 5-AA.

Falling temperatures and falling leaves means one thing – every single basketball player in the Palmetto State and nation is hoping their seasons include many of their and their team's shots falling.