Cross Schools vs. Dorchester Academy: SCISA 2A Championship

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two of the four SCISA girls basketball championships were decided on Friday. The other two would be settled the following day.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first one of the day would feature defending champion Cross Schools and challenger Dorchester Academy. The Stingrays defeated Laurens Academy in last season's 2A state game. This year, after earning a bye to the quarterfinals, Cross Schools defeated King's Academy and – once again – Laurens Academy to punch its ticket to championship Saturday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As for the Raiders, they also earned a bye to the quarterfinals prior to following it up with victories over Andrew Jackson Academy and Lee Academy.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Would Cross Schools win another championship or would Dorchester Academy knock the champions off their perch? The answer was the latter as the Raiders prevailed over the Stingrays in an overtime classic with the final score being 39-37.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We didn't get a chance to play (the Stingrays) last year,” Dorchester Academy coach Callie McClure says. “We lost in overtime by one to Laurens (Academy) in the semifinals. And we wanted that game. We watched that game and we felt like we deserved to be in that game.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorchester Academy's win for the state championship also means its season record concludes at 21-5 in addition to its region mark of 4-0. The 2025-26 book closes on Cross Schools with an overall record of 22-8 along with finishing 4-0 against region foes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Remember What Happened Last Time?&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Outside of a Feb. 4 forfeit that counted as a win for Cross Schools, the Stingrays and Raiders have met on two occasions this season prior to Saturday. The first time was on Dec. 30 where Dorchester Academy got the better of Cross Schools by a final of 53-41 on a neutral site. The second was on Jan. 29 at Cross Schools where the Stingrays defended its home court in a 54-38 decision.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship contests typically are neutral site get-togethers. Raiders fans packed the Sumter County Civic Center en masse, making the venue feel like Dorchester Academy north. Those fans had plenty to cheer for as their Raiders led Cross Schools by a tally of 12-8 with one complete.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We can always count on our fans to show up,” McClure says. “We never go anywhere without a bunch of support.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the second quarter unfolded, it painted a picture of a low-scoring contest between the two 2A finalists. With both teams heading to their respective locker rooms to discuss second half strategy, Dorchester Academy's lead over Cross Schools was 18-16.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The theme of points occurring at a premium continued throughout the third quarter as the Raiders and Stingrays continued to battle. Through the first 24 minutes, Dorchester Academy had 22 points to Cross Schools' 21.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This contest through four quarters could have been brought to us by the number 32 – a 32-minute struggle with both teams all knotted up at 32. Four minutes of overtime would be needed to determine this year's 2A champion. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In that overtime frame, both Stingrays and Raiders would be tied up at 34, then later at 37. Two final points were tallied in that closing stanza – and those two points were placed on the scoreboard by Dorchester Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789504,"width":"535px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_8999-crop-3226x2118-1772310943.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1789504" style="width:535px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of 13-point scorers would pave the way to victory for Dorchester Academy. One of those was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1313486' first='Rylee' last='Weathers']</strong>, who gave the Raiders a formidable deep threat. Dorchester Academy connected on four 3-pointers for the game. Three of them were courtesy of Weathers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I knew it was going to be a battle,” McClure says. “I knew it was going to come down to ball possession, ball protection, the fouls, how the officiating went, and then who got hot and [player_tooltip player_id='1313486' first='Rylee' last='Weathers'] got hot off the start and that helped.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789505,"width":"535px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_9058.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1789505" style="width:535px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other 13-point scorer was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197027' first='Emery' last='McClure']</strong>. Included in her Saturday afternoon at the Sumter County Civic Center were five made free throws. McClure is one of three sophomores on this year's Dorchester Academy assembling.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789507,"width":"532px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_9127-crop-3345x2196-1772311096.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1789507" style="width:532px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders also benefitted from the seven points that were placed on the scoreboard courtesy of junior guard <strong>Palmer Kizer</strong>. She only connected on one try from the field – a 3-pointers – but made important buckets from the free throw line.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789509,"width":"535px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_8985-crop-2369x1555-1772311201.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1789509" style="width:535px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers']</strong> may have played her final game in Stingrays navy blue and red, but she did everything she could to ensure Cross Schools would be the final 2A team standing once again. Mayers led the efforts for the Stingrays with 17 points.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach McClure praised Kizer for taking on the tough defensive assignment of guarding the Stingrays' leading scorer in crunch time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(In) our second half, I put Palmer on (Mayers),” McClure says. “(Mayers) had, not all of their points, but the majority of their points – and she is a very, very good ballplayer. Stopping her is very difficult. So, if you can just, kind of, slow her down, you're doing something. But, she is a remarkable ballplayer.”&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1789531,"width":"526px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/02/IMG_9163-crop-3226x2118-1772313748.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1789531" style="width:526px;height:auto" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197027' first='Emery' last='McClure']</strong> - Dorchester Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1313486' first='Rylee' last='Weathers'] </strong>- Dorchester Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Palmer Kizer </strong>- Dorchester Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers'] </strong>- Cross Schools</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1199459' first='Sydney' last='Hollings']</strong> - Cross Schools</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1197033' first='Sadie' last='Bruyere']</strong> - Laurens Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two 2026s are on both rosters. The two for Cross Schools are <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='856288' first='Ryan' last='Mayers']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1318943' first='Reyannah' last='Maldonado']</strong>. The two for Dorchester Academy are <strong>Rylee Matthews</strong> and <strong>Lyla Owens</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->