Class 2A State Championship: Saluda HS vs Silver Bluff HS

The first of five SCHSL girls state championship games at USC-Aiken Convocation Center featured two teams based only a hop, skip and a jump from the arena. One of those teams would make the short trip back to its high school as 2020-21 Class 2A state champions. This year, Saluda was that team by virtue of its 61-41 victory over Silver Bluff. “I told (our assistant coaches), I think, with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, I said the game is not over until that buzzer sounds. The game is not over until that buzzer sounds,” Tigers coach Jeanette Wilder said. “And we talk about playing until the end, don’t take plays off even if you feel like you’re ahead, keep your foot on the gas.” Prep Girls Hoops was on hand at the convocation center in Aiken for Wednesday’s championship game. Here is a look at who shined for both teams. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259982" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/86096A92-59D7-4098-9A98-CC941A435DAB.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171749" first="Kalisha" last="Hill"] – 2021 – Saluda High School</strong> – At or near the top of the to-do list for coach Chasten Redd’s Silver Bluff Bulldogs team had to be “Keep [player_tooltip player_id="171749" first="Kalisha" last="Hill"] in check.” Hill caught the Bulldogs defense playing checkers while she was playing chess. Much of the work she did was near the rim and if she was not scoring, she was rebounding. If Hill was not either putting up points or excelling on the glass, she was blocking shots or deflecting passes or making her free throws. The Tigers senior finished her high school career at Saluda with an exclamation point – 34 points and 20 rebounds. Hill is one of the highest ranked seniors in the Palmetto State according to Prep Girls Hoops that is not committed to a college for next year. Hill is ranked #9 in the Palmetto State rankings. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259983" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/888DD1B7-85FC-4698-B603-D3AADCD491BB.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="175386" first="Aaliyah" last="Lawrence"] – 2023 – Silver Bluff High School</strong> – Lawrence was one of two starters for the Bulldogs that went all 32 minutes. She took on the assignment of defending Hill – not an easy task. Lawrence, even at 6 feet, can get the ball from one end of the floor to the other as if she were a 5-foot-6 point guard. She too is a rebounder and shot blocker who will draw a fair amount of contact near the rim and putting her at the free throw line. Lawrence concluded the game with a double-double of 13 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Bulldogs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="245730" first="Mya" last="Carroll"] – 2022 – Saluda High School</strong> – Carroll was the only player for the Tigers that played the full compliment of 32 minutes. She established herself early when Saluda raced out to 6-0 lead in the first quarter and she scored four of those six points. Carroll will make things difficult for whoever she is guarding. She will either receive passes that put her in position to score or will dish the ball out to teammates to put them in position to create shots – as evidenced by the four assists she compiled. Carroll concluded her game with 10 points – which included a pair of made free throws. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="243447" first="Kalyn" last="Glover"] – 2021 – Silver Bluff High School</strong> – The Bulldogs only made four from behind the arc this game – but two of those makes from downtown came by way of Glover. If she misses a shot, defenses may want to box her out because she can and will get her own rebounds. Glover will play effective defense that can put opposing ball handlers in precarious scenarios. She first got Silver Bluff on the board with just over two minutes remaining to play in the first quarter and will find teammates to put them in position to aid the team’s scoring efforts. Glover scored 10 points for the Bulldogs in her last high school game. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-259984" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/03/CB75E414-E7B5-49E2-AD45-8FC10E3CF7C9.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="171751" first="Tiara" last="Daniels"] – 2021 – Saluda High School</strong> – Wilder said after the game that the value of players such as Daniels are to take pressure off of its primary scorer in Hill. Daniels did just that – particularly near the close of the first quarter when she drained a pair of 3-pointers which aided what was a lopsided opening stanza for the Tigers. Daniels displayed impressive ball handling skills as well as showcasing defensive prowess plus an ability to make tough shots near the rim in traffic. She is another senior that closed out her high school career the way every senior envisions – as a state champion – and she tallied nine points. <strong>Mya Cribbs – 2022 – Silver Bluff High School</strong> – Cribbs managed to make sure no whistles would be called against her – in fact, she was the only player for either team that managed not to have a single personal foul called against her while playing the full 32 minutes. Cribbs will collect rebounds, fearlessly find her way to the rim and made an early second-quarter trey that helped the Bulldogs efforts as it appeared as if a comeback trail was being blazed. She is also very tough on defense as well. Cribbs concluded the game with six points (which included a pair of made 3s) to go along with five rebounds.