Indians improve to 2-0 in region to set up showdown with Northside Christian on Thursday

Indians take 7-6 record into spring break

OP's Payton Schurlknight tosses 1-hit shutout

Warriors to face 5-time defending champion Hilton Head Christian on Saturday

Greenwood Christian tops Hilton Head Christian 72-66

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR Photos from the SCISA Basketball Tournament, from the Hilton Head Prep vs Spartanburg Day School boys in their elimination basketball game on Tuesday. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Sumter — In SCISA AAA girls’ basketball action on Monday in Sumter, Palmetto Christian (16-6) defeated Pee Dee Academy , 52-48 while Orangeburg Prep remained undefeated (26-0) with a 47-28 win over Christian Academy from Myrtle Beach. Palmetto Christian advances to play defending state champion Hilton Head Christian at 3:30 on Thursday (Feb., 22) while Orangeburg Prep will be challenged by John Paul II at 5 p. m. in the same venue. Palmetto Christian had a very competitive game against the Lady Golden Eagles and they actually trailed the game, 34-33, entering the final period. PC talented junior forward Cokey Suddeth took over the final period for her team, when she scored 16 of her game high 33-points including making 10-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter. Suddeth also had 13 rebounds. PC took the lead for good with 5:20 left in the game when Suddeth recovered a turnover and drove to the basket to make it a 39-38 game. She scored the final 8 points of the game for her team, all from the free throw line. Senior guard Lizzie McCaskil l ed Pee Dee with a career high 22 points and her defense helped keep the game close. Rebecca Hammond chipped in 12 points for Pee Dee while Katie Estes and Sydney King contributed six each. PC got additional scoring help from Audrey Bright , Scotty Wrenn , and freshman Adelaide Suddeth . After the game head PC coach Raygon Jordan told the HSSR, “We played this team earlier and won by 25 so I knew they would come into this game seeking revenge,” said Coach Jordan who played college basketball at Erskine College after earning AAA Player of the Year honors at Pinewood Prep her senior year. “We let them hang with us too close today but I am proud of how we got things going in the fourth quarter with the game on the line.” Coach Jordan was very proud of the play of Suddeth. “She’s my girl and she has been averaging a double-double all season (26 pts, 10 reb) and she is such a talented player and could not ask of anymore from her,” said Coach Jordan. “I am assuming Hilton Head Christian won today and we are going to go at them as hard as we can on Thursday.” Pee Dee Academy (15-10) is head coached by Megan Thomas who concluded her third season with the team after this game. “Finishing 15-10 was not what we had in mind when we started the season but all-in-all it was a good season and we are pleased to finish with a winning record. “We won our region tournament and we are really going to miss our only senior starter Lizzie McCaskill, ” said Coach Thomas. “Se has been a great leader on both sides of the ball for a long time.” Orangeburg Prep Dominated Second half In Big Win Over Christian Academy After leading Christian Academy by only 20-17 at the half, the Orangeburg Prep (26-0) Lady Indians stepped up their play on both sides of the ball in the second half and won easily 47-28 by the final buzzer. After the game, 40-plus year O-P coaching veteran Jan Stoudenmire , told the HSSR, “Having been around for 40 years, we have had some good teams but I do not ever remember being 26-0 before,” she said after the game at The Sumter Civic Center. “I recall finishing 27-2 once and would you believe we only returned four players from our very successful team of last season. We have a very deep roster with this year’s team and our feeder program has been helping us a lot also. “In the first half we just couldn’t get the ball to go into the basket,” said Coach Stoudenmire. “We just kept getting after it and we tried to keep the pressure on their point guard. In the second half our shots finally started dropping and I felt like our man-to-man defense got to them also.” One factor that helped O-P was their dominance on the boards, both offense and defense. They got two and three shots at the basket most of the second half. The team’s two returning starters for the 2023-24 season are senior point guard Katherine Lambrecht and inside player Jane Walker Yonce who led her team with 10 points in the game. Lambrecht contributed 9 points and numerous assists from her point guard position. Izzy Exum also had seven points in the win. “We have had balanced scoring all season,” said Coach Stoudenmre. “Katherine Lambrecht makes everything go for us and she is a confident leader on the court and she has been around the program for along time. I am just glad she is in an Indian jersey. “Also, very proud of the play of Yonce and she is a good inside rebounder who can shoot well also,” said Coach Stoudenmire. “We are 10 deep and our entire team has contributed to our success.” Coach Stoudenmire said she does not know a thing about John Paul II who they play on Thursday. “We just hope to play our style of basketball and keep working hard,” said Coach Stoudenmire. “Any team you play this deep in the playoffs is very good.” Other starters for O-P include Annabelle Hunter and Grayson Garrick . The rest of the team consists of senior Peyton Schurlknight and sophomore Preston Schurlknight along with sophomore Kate Holstein , sophomore Hannah Lambrecht , sophomore Jayme Culler and freshman Mary Legare Delaney . Christian Academy was led in scoring by Carly Belle Jackson and Payton Rumley with 8 points each. Head Christian Academy coach Jason Warren told the HSSR after the game, “We have five seniors we are saying good bye too and they were all a vital part of our success,” said Coach Warren. “Two weeks ago, Grace Owens tore her ACL so we lost her for the remainder of the season. Payton Rumley , Mary Claire McDonald , Sydney Wittschen and Carly Belle Jackson will all be missed. “We have been building with this senior group since I became the head coach three years ago,” said Coach Warren. “We were 17-2 two years ago and we were the region co-champs last season before the flu bug wiped us out. This season we set a school record with 23 wins so we have been building the team and look forward to the future.”

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR Photos from the SCISA Basketball Tournament, from the Orangeburg Prep vs Christian Academy girls in their elimination basketball game on Monday. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.

Indians will face Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach on Tuesday at 8 p.m.