SCISA 1A Championship: Laurens Academy vs. Cambridge Academy

Championship Saturday at the Sumter Civic Center commenced with the 1A girls championship game featuring the Crusaders of Laurens Academy and the Cougars from Cambridge Academy.   Both are regional rivals as well and have met three times this season. On two of their previous occasions, games have been decided by single digits.    Would single digits once again be the margin for Laurens Academy and Cambridge Academy on Saturday morning? The answer was yes but where it counted was who got more points. The answer to that question was the Cougars as they defeated the Crusaders by a final of 41-34 to claim the 2022-23 SCISA 1A crown.    Cambridge Academy's record concludes at 15-8 while that of Laurens Academy concludes at 19-11.    What Happened Last Time?   As mentioned earlier, Laurens Academy and Cambridge Academy have seen each other on three earlier occasions with all three going the way of the Crusaders. On Jan. 10, Laurens Academy defeated Cambridge Academy by a final of 42-26 on the Cougars' home court.    The scene shifted to Laurens Academy on Feb. 3 where they earned a 36-31 win over the Cougars.    On Feb. 11, in a region tournament game, the Crusaders once again were victorious with the final score being 42-33.    How Things Progressed   It was an evenly matched first quarter to begin the full day's worth of hoops at Sumter County Civic Center. The first eight minutes moved by quickly but with the scoreboard showing both teams in single digits. With one in the books, it was 6-4 in favor of the Crusaders.    The ensuing few minutes as the second quarter commenced were a far distance from the first as Cambridge Academy embarked on a 9-0 run. All of Laurens Academy's points in the second quarter came via free throws. The Cougars entered halftime leading 16-11.    Sixteen minutes remained to determine a 2022-23 1A champion. Following the first eight of those 16, it was still advantage Cougars as they extended their lead – albeit, not by much. It was 27-20 in favor of Cambridge Academy with three complete.    With around three minutes left to play, it was 38-32 in the Cougars' favor which prompted a timeout from Cambridge Academy as Laurens Academy remained firmly in the game. When all was said and done, the designated road team was the first to claim victory on championship Saturday as the Cougars prevailed by seven points.    Primetime Performers   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4832-crop-3226x2118-1677352023.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604640" width="355" height="232" /></figure>   The Cougars' leading scorer was a junior – Indya Southerland. She led the Cambridge Academy attack with a 10-point performance. She also spearheaded what the Cougars got accomplished from deep as she had all three of the team's made 3-pointers.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4835-crop-3484x2288-1677352127.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604642" width="360" height="236" /></figure>   Another Southerland – specifically Izzy Southerland - also had herself a big game with nine points. She has completed her freshman campaign at Cambridge Academy. Southerland has no issues drawing contact and getting to the free throw line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4829-crop-3226x2118-1677352214.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604646" width="368" height="242" /></figure>   The Cougars were also the beneficiaries of a nine-point outing courtesy of another of its juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='256831' first='Jillian' last='Mapes']. She proved to be an important piece in what Cambridge Academy managed to do later in the game when they began to put distance between themselves and the Crusaders.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4837-crop-3833x2517-1677352296.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604649" width="374" height="245" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='256852' first='Faith' last='Harvley'] finished her morning with an eight-point outing. It was later in the game when the senior began to find her shot near the rim. Harvley also absorbs plenty of contact near the rim and she did notably foul out in the fourth quarter.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4526-crop-2800x1839-1677352458.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604651" width="375" height="246" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='529134' first='Olivia' last='Huck'] led all point-getters with 17 points. Among the many strong points of Huck's multi-talented skillset includes the ability to attack the basket and draw contact which can give her opportunities at the free throw line.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4639-crop-2040x1340-1677352536.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604653" width="373" height="245" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='529135' first='Rylee' last='Ballard'] chimed in with a nine-point performance. The Crusaders as a team had three successful 3-pointers for Saturday morning's contest. All three of those departed from Ballard's hands.   All-Tournament Team   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2023/02/IMG_4962-crop-2835x1862-1677352693.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-604655" width="378" height="248" /></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='256831' first='Jillian' last='Mapes'] – Cambridge Academy   Indya Southerland – Cambridge Academy   [player_tooltip player_id='529135' first='Rylee' last='Ballard'] – Laurens Academy   [player_tooltip player_id='529134' first='Olivia' last='Huck'] – Laurens Academy   Reaghan Whitlock – Wardlaw Academy   Angel Tilton – Curtis Baptist

Championship Saturday at the Sumter Civic Center commenced with the 1A girls championship game featuring the Crusaders of Laurens Academy and the Cougars from Cambridge Academy.