Region 2-AAAAA Preview: Gaffney, Riverside and Spartanburg County

Conventional wisdom tells us that basketball, being a traditionally indoor sport, is typically a fall and winter athletic pursuit.    Ask any of the many high school girls hoops prospects around the state – or the country for that matter – and they will mention how it is a year-round grind.    This includes the travel and showcase schedules throughout the spring and summer. Much of what happens during those months prepares those names for the high school season – which is right around the corner.    Throughout the last several weeks, we at Prep Girls Hoops have unveiled comprehensive previews of the state's many regions.    We continue our deep dive into the 5A realm with a look at Region 2-AAAAA.    Gaffney (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 25-3, 12-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_23-11-2024_06-56-35-5250AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1067193" style="width:683px;height:auto" /></figure>   When a team can say that the only team that gave it trouble during the regular season was region rival Dorman, it likely did a lot of things correct.    For much of last season, a strong case could be made that Gaffney was the team to beat among 5A Division 2 squads. After all, there was a reason why it was one of the eight teams that earned automatic byes to the second round.    Gaffney prevailed over Woodmont in that second round before being on the receiving end of a surprising upset at the hands of Greenville. During the offseason, Julian Wright was tapped as the new coach at Gaffney, serving in the stead of Mark Huff.    Key Players:   The 2025-26 season will be the final one for [player_tooltip player_id='567026' first='Shiriah' last='Harris'] who will take her talents to Gardner-Webb following graduation. Harris played in 26 games last season and averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.6 steals.   The play of [player_tooltip player_id='637610' first='Tianah' last='Hopper'] also contributed heavily to the season Gaffney managed to put together in 2024-25. A force to be reckoned with on both ends of the floor, Hopper averaged 14.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 1.6 blocks in 25 games.   Gaffney's cause was aided greatly by another who is part of this year's graduating class. [player_tooltip player_id='567025' first='Korbyn' last='Lydia'] took to the court in 26 games last season and averaged 9.8 points, 2.4 assists and 1.3 steals.   Another noteworthy junior on Gaffney's roster is [player_tooltip player_id='567023' first='Lauren' last='Mathis']. She is a multi-sport athlete who also competes in tennis alongside what she gets accomplished on the basketball court. Mathis averaged 7.2 points, four assists and 1.4 steals per game.   Riverside (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 20-8, 11-3)   <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_11-02-30-0800PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1092938" style="width:653px;height:auto" /></figure>   Riverside concluded its time in the 4A ranks by prevailing over A.C. Flora two seasons ago in the state championship game.    The Warriors, who previously played in the 5A field as recently as 2021-22 made its return to 5A last season. Last season was the third consecutive year where Riverside won at least 20 games. The Warriors were one of the eight teams that earned automatic byes into the second round. Riverside pulled off a close victory over T.L. Hanna but its season ended in a six-point defeat to Greenwood.    Riverside plucked from a region rival to fill its head coaching position. Former Byrnes assistant Kevin Wyatt is assuming the reins with the Warriors. The team did lose one of its key players to another 5A Division 2 school in North Myrtle Beach.   Key Players:   Returning for one more season at Riverside is [player_tooltip player_id='371196' first='Kyndal' last='Haroski'] who recently announced her commitment to Middle Georgia State. Haroski, because of injury, only played in 12 games last season but still averaged 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1049391' first='Marley' last='Mangum'], who primarily plays as a shooting guard, will soon begin her junior season with the Warriors. Her AAU career has included a stint with [program_tooltip program_id='715412' first='SC' last='Eagles']. Mangum averaged 5.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 27 games in 2024-25.   Byrnes (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 19-9, 11-3)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7717.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1258445" style="width:597px;height:auto" /></figure>   During the course of the last several years, Byrnes has established itself as one of the toughest outs in the state.    Prior to last season, the previous two Rebels campaigns had concluded with Byrnes finishing 6-2 in region in both. A larger created more chances at region victories, hence why the Rebels concluded last season having gone 11-3 against region adversaries.    The 2024-25 version of Byrnes defeated region rival Spartanburg in the first round of the 5A Division 1 tournament but was eliminated in the ensuing contest against eventual state champion Blythewood. The Rebels may have lost a longtime assistant coach to Riverside but Missy Fowler is also returning as head coach.    Key Players:   There is a case to be made that [player_tooltip player_id='925560' first='Ashlyn' last='Evans'] is the best 2029 in the Palmetto State. She has already garnered a plethora of Division I interest. Last season, Evans averaged 14 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.4 steals in 26 games.   Returning for one more season with the Rebels is [player_tooltip player_id='567027' first='Jaida' last='Johnson'] who played in 25 games last season for Byrnes. She averaged a double-double of 10.8 rebounds and 10.6 points along with 2.2 blocks and 1.4 steals in 25 games.   Teams that have played Byrnes have to game plan for [player_tooltip player_id='902211' first='Ellison' last='Silver']. The skilled 2027 5-foot-7 shooting guard averaged 10.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, three assists and 1.6 steals per contest. Silver ran with [program_tooltip program_id='713005' first='Upward' last='Stars'] on the Adidas circuit during AAU ball.   Depth in the interior is a huge reason why the Rebels are such a difficult squad to defeat. [player_tooltip player_id='567028' first='Caroline' last='Turner'] provides that. She played in 25 games last season averaging 6.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.   Makayla Barnes played in 26 games last season for Byrnes. In those 26 games, the talented Rebels junior averaged 6.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and one steal per game. Barnes is listed at 5-foot-5.   Dorman (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 20-8, 10-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_04-01-2025_03-28-25-2670AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1125733" style="width:662px;height:auto" /></figure>   Throughout much of the 2000s when Dorman was a 4A school, the Cavaliers were the team to beat as evidenced by the three state championships it won during that decade.    For most of the time since then, Dorman has been a consistent contender – including last season the Cavaliers reached the 20-win plateau. In the 5A Division 1 state tournament, the Cavaliers earned a first-round playoff victory over Mauldin only to be on the bad end of a 67-63 decision to Dutch Fork.    Coach Ashlen Dorn is beginning her fourth season at the helm of the Cavaliers and is returning virtually her entire team from last year.    Key Players:   The Cavaliers may not have graduated any seniors last year but Dorman will graduate them this season. One of them is [player_tooltip player_id='405529' first='Morgan' last='White'] who committed to UNC-Wilmington over the offseason. She averaged 18.2 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game.   Also part of the Dorman 2026 graduating class is guard [player_tooltip player_id='305511' first='Rihanna' last='Wallace']. She played in 26 games last season for the Cavaliers. In those 26 games, she averaged 12.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 2.7 steals.   The junior season awaits for [player_tooltip player_id='739945' first='Makayla' last='Moore'] following a sophomore campaign where she played in 23 games. Moore averaged 11.9 points, 5.2 assists, four steals and 3.2 rebounds per contest.   Returning to that 2026 graduating class, it includes Autumn Dawkins who, similar to Moore, also took to the court in 23 of Dorman's 28 games last season. Dawkins averaged six points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per matchup last season.   Another name who saw playing time in 26 of the Cavaliers' 28 matchups last season was [player_tooltip player_id='1125423' first='Kamira' last='Gibson']. She is heading into her junior season and primarily plays in the frontcourt as a power forward.   Spartanburg (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 13-15, 6-8)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/02/IMG_5050.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1173191" style="width:625px;height:auto" /></figure>   At one point early in last season, Spartanburg's record was 1-5. Then a four-game winning streak ensued and the Vikings were back to .500   The .500 mark would be where Spartanburg would hover around for much of last season. And the Vikings did improve its play throughout its region schedule as opposed to the dreadful 2-6 showing it had two years ago. Spartanburg's season would see an abrupt end in the first round of the 5A Division 1 state tournament as the Vikings were eliminated by Byrnes.    This season will be the third for Leslie Boyd as head coach of the Vikings.    Key Players:   The nucleus of this year's Spartanburg team is comprised of juniors. One of them is [player_tooltip player_id='1318786' first='De'Asia' last='Bridges'] who played in 27 games last season as a sophomore. Bridges averaged 10.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 2.6 assists per game.   Another noteworthy 2027 who wears the Vikings colors is [player_tooltip player_id='674610' first='Azaria' last='Sims'] who played in 26 games last season at Spartanburg. In those 26 games, Sims averaged 10.2 points, 3.3 rebounds and two steals a contest.   Spartanburg's efforts in its frontcourt are keyed by [player_tooltip player_id='1273413' first='Kaylee' last='Nelson'] who stands at 5-foot-7 and can be placed into a team's lineup either at the three or the four. Nelson averaged 8.1 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals par matchup last season.   Boiling Springs (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 8-18, 3-11)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_3054-crop-2152x1413-1735414271.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1121441" style="width:622px;height:auto" /></figure>   Prior to last season, Boiling Springs had been mired in seven-win territory. The previous three seasons had seen the Bulldogs conclude with the same number of wins – seven – in each.    Boiling Springs broke its streak of consecutive seasons with seven wins by earning an eighth win last season. Two of the Bulldogs' region victories were at the expense of Wade Hampton and the other was a home contest against Eastside.    It was in 1977-78 when Boiling Springs last won a state championship when the school was in 3A. The Bulldogs last had finished a season with a winning record in 2018-19 and the following season was the most recent season where Boiling Springs won at least 10 games.    Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='1068009' first='Makenzie' last='Kinard'] wasted no time putting herself on the map in her seventh-grade season. Kinard played in all 26 games last season in Boiling Springs red and black averaging 14.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and three steals.   Providing a veteran presence to this year's Bulldogs is [player_tooltip player_id='1318783' first='Brynn' last='Tipton'] who is part of Boiling Springs' 2026 graduating class. Tipton also played in all 26 games last season and averaged 8.8 points, four rebounds and 1.6 assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='1318834' first='Karina' last='Tsisun'] brings plenty of height to Boiling Springs. She stands at 6-foot-2 and is a multi-sport athlete who plays volleyball as a middle blocker. Tsisun averaged 9.5 rebounds, 5.6 points and 2.4 blocks per game.   Boiling Springs also landed a transfer from region rival Byrnes. That transfer is [player_tooltip player_id='903219' first='Cherish' last='Dukes']. She played in 20 games last season for the Rebels. Dukes is a 2027 who stands at 5-foot-7 and can operate as a wing.   Eastside (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 6-19, 3-11)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/IMG_1248-2.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1092482" style="width:677px;height:auto" /></figure>   Even though Region 2-AAAAA is one of the larger ones in 5A, three teams in this region were reclassified into 5A. Riverside and Wade Hampton were two. Eastside was the third.     The Eagles certainly encountered their fair share of growing pains with the move. The 2-0 start with wins over Stratford and Georgetown was promising before a seven-game losing streak ensued. Outside of two victories over Wade Hampton, the only other region victory Eastside had last season was against Boiling Springs.    Coach Nikki Young's team did qualify for last season's 5A Division 2 tournament but its season came to an end following an elimination by Nation Ford.   Key Players:   [player_tooltip player_id='850202' first='Laila' last='Harvey'] is beginning her senior season at Eastside. Harvey is a multi-sport athlete who also participates on the swim team at Eastside – a swim team that won a state championship this year. Harvey averaged 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 blocks and 1.2 steals last season.   Playing her first season last year in the varsity ranks was [player_tooltip player_id='975803' first='Taryah' last='Humbert']. She played in 24 games last season as an eighth grader. Humbert, a 5-foot-3 guard, averaged 8.4 points per matchup in 2024-25.   Speaking guards, [player_tooltip player_id='884938' first='Emma' last='Johnson'] is another notable backcourt beast that is on Eastside's roster. A combo guard that stands at 5-foot-9, she participated in 24 games last season and averaged 6.3 points per game.   The Eagles' 2026 graduating class includes Kristen McBride. She stands at 5-foot-3 and can be placed in a team's lineup either as a point guard or as a shooting guard. McBride also participates in track. She averaged 6.3 points and 1.6 steals last season.   Wade Hampton (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 1-19, 0-14)   It was not that long ago that Wade Hampton was a participant in a 4A Upper State championship game.    The Generals were reclassified from 4A into 5A beginning with this past season – 5A Division 2 to be exact. The lone victory Wade Hampton earned last season occurred on Nov. 23 when the Generals earned a 32-19 victory over Mountain View Prep.    Outside of that, Wade Hampton's slimmest margin of defeat occurred during its region schedule. That happened on Feb. 7 when the Generals were on the bad end of a 37-29 decision hosting Eastside. Last season's team was comprised entirely of freshmen and juniors.

Conventional wisdom tells us that basketball, being a traditionally indoor sport, is typically a fall and winter athletic pursuit.