Ashley Ridge, Gaffney No. 1s for AAAAA girls as playoffs draw nigh

Sumter – The Sumter High School girls basketball team will not have an opportunity to defend

its AAAAA state championship when the South Carolina High School League playoffs begin next

week.

That doesn’t mean the Lady Gamecocks won’t make the AAAAA playoffs. It will just have the

words Division I following it. And there will be a AAAAA Division II state champion crowned for the

first time as well with the expansion of the classification via reclassification.

Let’s take a quick look at each of the top 10 teams in each division, according to the respective

High School Sports Report polls.

DIVISION I

1. ASHLEY RIDGE

Ashley Ridge lost to Spring Valley 69-68 in its season opener. It has since reeled off 22 straight

victories. The Swamp Foxes are a potent offensive unit, averaging almost 65 points a contest.

They are led by 5-foot-11-inch senior Skyla Tuthill, who was selected as one of the Top 5

Seniors in AAAAA by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association prior to the season. She is

averaging 21.6 points per game along with 5.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocked shots.

2. BLYTHEWOOD

Like Ashley Ridge, Blythewood has suffered just one loss in 25 games That came to Dutch Fork,

the No. 6 team in Division I, over the Christmas holidays.

The Bengals are led by junior Chase Thomas. She is averaging a double-double of 23.5 points

and 11.0 rebounds to go with 3.5 steals.

3. CLOVER

Clover is “struggling” a bit compared to the other two as it has suffered two losses in 23 games.

The Eagles are undefeated in Region 3 in 10 games.

CHS has a balanced attack with three players averaging double-figure points. Leading the way is

senior Samara Lucas at 12.1, and she is also the leading rebounder at 8.0

4. SUMMERVILLE

The records continue to take a dive with Summerville standing “just” 19-3. However, two of

those losses came to Region 8 foe Ashley Ridge.

The Green Wave are led by senior Molly Daughtery, who was named one of the SCBCA Elite

Girls regardless of class or classification. She is averaging 14.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1

steals.

Her twin sister, Emma Daugherty, is second in scoring at 9.4.

5. LEXINGTON

Lexington is 14-4 and second in Region 4 behind the next team in this poll, Dutch Fork.

Senior Izzy Saville leads in scoring at 13.9. Junior Sydni Anderson is right behind at 13.1 and is

just missing a double-double with 9.4 rebounds.

6. DUTCH FORK

Dutch Fork is 19-2 and 7-1 in Region 4. The Silver Foxes are led by Top 5 Senior Michaela

Fairwell. She is averaging 18.4 points and 4.1 steals.

7. CAROLINA FOREST

Carolina Forest is dominating the Grand Strand with a 21-3 record. It is led by Miracle

McLean, who is averaging 14.3 points and 8.9 boards.

8. WANDO

`Wando is 18-4 and second in Region 7 to Berkeley, the No. 5 team in the DII poll. Senior Isabel

Waits leads in scoring (q2.7), assists (2.5) and steals (4.2).

9. DORMAN

Dorman is 15-7 and is led by talented junior Morgan White. She is scoring at an 18.6 clip while

grabbing 8.9 rebounds.

10. ROCK HILL

The defending AAAAA state runner-up, Rock Hill is 17-6. Aubrey Stevenson is an SCBCA

Elite Girl. She averages 15.7 points, 7.2 assists and 3.7 steals.

Chloe Hudson leads the Bearcats with a 17.2 scoring average and 7.3 rebounds.

DIVISION II

GAFFNEY

Gaffney is 21-2 and is leading the difficult Region 2 with a 10-2 record. The Indians are led by

underclassmen Shiriah Harris and Tianah “TT” Hopper.

Harris, a junior, is the leading scorer at 20.4 to go with 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.5 steals.

Hopper, a sophomore, leads in rebounding at 9.4 and steals at 3.1 while scoring at a 15.8 clip.

2. NORTH MYRTLE BEACH

North Myrtle Beach is 18-2 with both of the losses coming to region foe Carolina Forest. Faith

Farmer is a Top 5 Senior averaging 20.6 points, 3.5 assists and 3.5 steals.

3. RIVERSIDE

Riverside is 17-6 overall and 9-2 in Region 2. The Warriors are led by Top 5 Senior Elly

Trickett. She’s just missing on a double-double, scoring at a 16.1 clip to go with 9.6 rebounds.

4. WHITE KNOLL

White Knoll owns a 15-8 overall record and is 5-2 in Region 4. Top 5 Senior Emory Waters.

Inman averages 12.3 points and 9.0 rebounds.

5. BERKELEY

Berkeley is 17-4 and leads Region 7 with a 6-1 record. Freshman Alaina Carter is the leading

scorer at 12.6 on a team that has just two seniors.

6. ST. JAMES

St. James is 13-11 overall but has struggled of late with three straight losses.

`7. FORT MILL

Fort Mill is 14-10 overall and 7-3 in Region 3. Sophomore Colbie Wolf is the leading scorer at

10.1.

8. GREENWOOD

Greenwood is 14-8 and is second in Region 1. Junior Danielle Oliver leads in scoring (21.4) and

steals (5.3).

9. RMO

Irmo is 11-10 overall and is fifth in the tough Region 4. Sophomore Abby Livingston averages

17.5 points, 3.5 assists and 5.3 steals.

10. SOCASTEE

Socastee owns a 13-11 record. The Braves are led in scoring by junior Bri Smith at 12.5.

6.St. James