Region 8-AAAAA Preview: Redemption Tour for Ashley Ridge?

Blythewood, Berkeley, North Augusta, Walhalla, Andrew Jackson and Military Magnet.    These were the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL) teams that departed from the Florence Center with state championship hardware. Since then, every team that was not among the aforementioned six was looking how to get to that respective point in their respective classes.    That journey for those teams – as well as for the aforementioned six to repeat – begins this month.    Throughout the last few weeks, we at Prep Girls Hoops has released in-depth previews of every region in the state, shining a light on teams and players that Palmetto State aficionados can keep in mind from the early season tournaments to February's frenzy.    Our final SCHSL keeps us in the Lowcountry as we preview Region 8-AAAAA – whose six teams are all in Division 1 of 5A.    Ashley Ridge (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 27-1, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7773.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1257988" style="width:622px;height:auto" /></figure>   The phrase “dream season” can at times get thrown around a bit too loosely, but Ashley Ridge, by all accounts, was in the throes of a dream season.    The only loss the Swamp Foxes suffered was at the hands of fellow 5A Division 1 combatant Spring Valley. That was the first game of the season for Ashley Ridge. The Swamp Foxes then reeled off 27 consecutive victories, earned a first-round bye in the state tournament and earned wins over James Island and Ridge View in the playoffs.    An eleventh-hour eligibility issue then denied coach Jimmy Brown's team what would have been a date with Summerville in the Lower State championship. It was an inauspicious way for Ashley Ridge's season to end – and an inauspicious way for the careers of the eight Swamp Foxes seniors to conclude.    Key Players:   This year's Swamp Foxes will look to finish the business that went unceremoniously unfinished last season. They include [player_tooltip player_id='761890' first='Andrea' last='Kelly'] who is a force to be reckoned with in the Swamp Foxes' frontcourt. Kelly averaged 6.6 points and 3.8 rebounds in 26 games.   Also returning to Ashley Ridge is [player_tooltip player_id='875527' first='Jameson' last='Foley'] who saw playing time in 25 games last season. A product of FBC Reign 2027, the junior four forward averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. Expect those numbers for both Kelly and Foley to increase.   Another formidable presence in the Ashley Ridge frontcourt is [player_tooltip player_id='925565' first='Samiah' last='Boatwright'] who stands at 5-foot-9. During the grassroots months of the spring and summer, Boatwright wears the [program_tooltip program_id='988463' first='Mosch' last='Ball'] uniform.   Ashley Ridge's 2026 graduating class includes [player_tooltip player_id='778131' first='LaChar' last='Lawrence'] who is listed at 5-foot-6 and can give a team productive minutes either as a small forward, power forward or shooting guard. Lawrence runs with [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] on the grassroots circuit.   That 2026 graduating class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='365207' first='Logan' last='Hardy'] who is listed at 5-foot-3. Hardy took to the court in 15 games last season for the Swamp Foxes and primarily operates in the backcourt, adding guard depth.   Summerville (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 24-4, 8-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/06/IMG_7732.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1258442" style="width:653px;height:auto" /></figure>   This decade, the Green Wave have been involved in two state championship games. Summerville was in the loss column on both occasions – last season to Blythewood and in 2021-22 to Rock Hill. The Green Wave also had four near-misses in the 1990s.    The quest for coach Calvin Davis and his Green Wave to bring that first girls basketball championship to the Fire House resumes this month. Summerville earned a bye to the second round of the tournament followed by wins over Spring Valley and Carolina Forest prior to the defeat to the Bengals.    Four seniors graduated from last season's Green Wave team.    Key Players:   Those seniors were the nucleus of last season's team, meaning a “next woman up” mentality will guide Summerville through this season. One of those next women up is [player_tooltip player_id='493652' first='Jayden' last='Bennett']. She played in 25 games last season for the Green Wave.   Another of those next women up is [player_tooltip player_id='919884' first='Jordan' last='Espinal']. She is advancing into her junior season following a sophomore year where she played in 24 games in Summerville green and gold. Espinal is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball.   Destinee Grant provides frontcourt depth as she can play as either a three or a four in the frontcourt. A skilled 2027, Grant was one of the leading rebounders for Summerville last season, averaging 3.9 boards per game.   A greater role is expected for [player_tooltip player_id='770242' first='Madelyn' last='Marsaa'] after playing in 22 games last season for the Green Wave. During the grassroots months of the spring and summer, Marsaa runs with [program_tooltip program_id='988463' first='Mosch' last='Ball'].   West Ashley (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 14-13, 5-5)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/eZy-Watermark_21-11-2024_07-20-16-9140PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1060714" style="width:629px;height:auto" /></figure>   Last season commenced for West Ashley with the distinction that the Wildcats had not put together a season with a double-digit win total since 2018-19. That was when West Ashley finished 18-16.    What set last season's team apart from that 2018-19 assembling is the 2024-25 Wildcats won a tournament game. James Island eliminated West Ashley seven years ago, but the most recent version of Wildcats earned a victory over Fort Dorchester before falling in the second round to Carolina Forest.    Coach Maria Williams graduated three seniors from last season, but West Ashley's successful season last year appears to be indicative of bigger things to come.    Key Players:   West Ashley boasts one of the most dangerous backcourts of any team in the state. That backcourt includes [player_tooltip player_id='847614' first='Destiny' last='Ladson'] who is moving into her junior season. Ladson averaged 14 points, 3.6 steals and three rebounds per game.   Also included in that Wildcats backcourt is [player_tooltip player_id='633406' first='Emma' last='Elliott'] who is now a junior as is Ladson. Elliott played in 24 games last season and averaged 12.7 points, 3.9 steals and 3.2 rebounds per contest.   [player_tooltip player_id='1266871' first='Lily' last='Crowe'] worked her way up from the junior varsity team to the current varsity status she enjoys today. Crowe, in her eighth-grade season last year, took to the court in 13 games last season.   The Wildcats are also sure to present a formidable presence in the interior in the form of [player_tooltip player_id='891597' first='Ramiyah' last='Simmons']. She previously played her middle school at C.E. Williams MS and has ran with [program_tooltip program_id='713840' first='Charleston' last='Raptors'] on the grassroots circuit.   James Island (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 11-15, 4-6)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/IMG_1610.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1099720" style="width:637px;height:auto" /></figure>   Despite a valiant effort by James Island to remain as a 4A school, the Trojans were instead placed back into the 5A ranks. James Island previously played as a 5A team from 2016-17 to 2019-20.    Its first season back as a 5A team yielded mixed results at best. The Trojans had a seven-game drop-off in terms of wins. James Island did earn a first round 5A Division 1 state tournament win over Sumter before running into the buzzsaw that was Ashley Ridge in the second round.    One distinction of the Trojans is they did not say “So Long, Seniors” to anyone on their roster last season.    Key Players:   The Trojans' 2026 graduating class is headlined by [player_tooltip player_id='635481' first='Tiana' last='Graf']. She played in 25 games last season for James Island. In those 25 contests, Graf averaged 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.6 steals per contest.   Also a marquee name among that senior graduating class is [player_tooltip player_id='320743' first='Madisyn' last='Smith']. She is a multi-sport athlete who also is part of the James Island soccer team. Smith averaged 8.1 points, 4.4 steals, 3.9 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1318797' first='Sarah' last='Ross'] played in 24 of James Island's 26 contests as a sophomore. Ross averaged 5.9 points and 2.5 steals per game. Ross primarily operates in the backcourt either as a two or playing point.   James Island's efforts on the glass were spearheaded by Alexa Lehr who is beginning her junior season with the Trojans. Lehr, who is listed at 5-foot-8 and primarily plays as a four forward, averaged 6.2 rebounds per game in 22 games.   Olivia Morris is also beginning her junior season in Trojans blue and orange. Morris is a multi-sport athlete who also plays volleyball alongside her basketball accomplishments. She averaged 4.7 rebounds per game – second on the team in 2024-25.   [player_tooltip player_id='674371' first='Zoe' last='Hilyer'] played in seven games last season for the Trojans but is looking to be a name to watch in upcoming seasons. Hilyer is another multi-sport athlete with her second athletic discipline of choice being volleyball.   Fort Dorchester (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 11-18, 3-7)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_20-12-2024_10-06-48-3260PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1116779" style="width:605px;height:auto" /></figure>   One aspect of Fort Dorchester's 2024-25 campaign encapsulates its season – how the Patriots performed on its home floor and how the Patriots fared while on the road.    Fort Dorchester played .500 basketball at home but was a forgettable 2-9 as a visiting team. Fortunately, for Fort Dorchester, those two wins on the road occurred during its region schedule at the expense of Stall and James Island. The Patriots did qualify for the 5A Division 1 state tournament but suffered through an early exit courtesy of West Ashley.    Katrina McClain is entering her third season as Fort Dorchester's head coach. She graduated five seniors from her team last season.    Key Players:   The Patriots have a pair of promising freshmen on their team. One of those 2029s is [player_tooltip player_id='1115730' first='Kylee' last='Clarke']. She stands at 5-foot-7 and primarily operates as a point guard. Clarke runs with Team Unleashed South Carolina during her club slate.   Layla Guillory headlines Fort Dorchester's 2026 graduating class. Guillory can give a team worthwhile minutes in the backcourt as either a shooting guard or as a point guard. She stands at 5-foot-3 and can also play as a wing.   Another of the intriguing 2029s Fort Dorchester has on its roster is [player_tooltip player_id='1230487' first='Sophie' last='Webber']. She stands at 5-foot-6 and typically operates as a four in the frontcourt. Webber runs with Lowcountry Premier during the months of AAU ball.   Stall (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 6-17, 0-10)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_16-12-2024_08-49-48-1100PM-1.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1111435" style="width:683px;height:auto" /></figure>   Stall's 2024-25 season was the textbook definition of a rollercoaster campaign.    Through its first six games, its only win occurred via forfeit (1A Cross). Then the latter half of its non-region slate happened, and Stall won five of six games with its lone loss occurring on the road at 4A Beaufort in mid-December.    Then, the Warriors' region schedule occurred. Stall not only lost every game in its Region 8-AAAAA slate, but the Warriors also dropped those contests by wide margins. Stall's slimmest margin of defeat during its region ledger was against Fort Dorchester in late-January – by 28 points.    Only two seniors graduated from coach Donta' Brown's team last season.    Key Players:   Stall's 2026 graduating class includes [player_tooltip player_id='1045454' first='Tamiyah' last='Spillers'] who played in 20 games last season. In those 20 games, the veteran guard averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.8 steals per matchup.   That graduating class also includes JaNia Griffin. She also competed in 20 games in the Warriors' uniform. Griffin is listed at 5-foot-7 and averaged 6.2 points, three rebounds and 1.4 steals per contest.

Blythewood, Berkeley, North Augusta, Walhalla, Andrew Jackson and Military Magnet.