Berkeley tops Greenwood 60-54 to win AAAAA Division II girls basketball state title

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • March 10, 2025

Stags become first AAAAA Division II champion with first ever state crown

        Florence – The first AAAAA Division II girls basketball state champion was crowned on Saturday at Florence Center. And the first champion is an older school that won the first state title in program history.

 

       Berkeley High School wrestled control of the game away from Greenwood in the waning minutes of an exciting back-and-forth affair that ended in a 60-54 triumph.

 

       “The fact we were able to put some numbers on the banner for (winning) Lower State (for the first time ever) and then the state championship is tremendous,” said Stags hed coach Crystal Peace, who is a native of Moncks Corner where Berkeley opened in 1912. “You’re in the middle of a lot of history being made.”

 

       BHS finished the season with a 24-4 record, while the Eagles, who won the Upper State crown, finished with an 18-10 record.

 

“It’s pretty exciting,” sophomore forward Amani McCray said of winning state. “I think we all kind of felt we were going to get here. That’s because of all the work that we put in.”

 

       The game was a tight one from beginning to end. GHS led by a point at the end of the first quarter and at halftime, 12-11 and 32-31, respectively. The Eagles managed to “expand” the lead after three quarters, taking a 45-42 advantage into the final eight minutes.

 

       And the tenacity and intensity of the game grew even greater down the stretch. Greenwood had the alternate possession to start the fourth quarter and immediately turned the ball over. Berkeley’s Madison Thomas drained a 3-point basket to tie the game just 26 seconds into the final stanza.

       

       Imani Levey hit one of two free throws to give the Stags a 46-45 lead beore Greenwood’s Danielle Oliver sank a trey to make it 48-46. A basket by BHS freshman guard Alaina Carter tied the game at 48-48 before Tykeria Johnson sank a jumper to make it 50-48 in favor of the Eagles with 5:26 tyo go.

 

       Thomas tied the game at 50 with a basket before Oliver gave GHS its final lead at 52-50 with 4:41 remaining. This is when Berkeley took control of the game.

 

       Aiyanna Moses hit a jumper 15 secods to tie the game. Carter immediately came up with a steal out of the pressure defense and drove in for a layup with 4:17 left to give the Stags the lead for good at 54-52. After a couple of possession changes, Carter got loose and drained a 3 to make it 57-52 with 3:27 remaining.

 

       “The coaches told me to play good defense and it was an easy steal,” said Carter, who is in her second season as a starter, on the play that put BHS in the lead for good. “ I got lined up for the (3-point) shot and I was able to hit it.”

 

       There was no scoring for almost two minutes before Oliver came up with a steal and hit a layup to make it 57-54 with 1:45 left. Greenwood grabbed the rebound after a quick shot by BHS, but it missed two shots. McCray hit a jumper with 34 seconds left to make it 59-54.

 

       “We missed some defensive assignments down the stretch that we failed to make,” said GHS head coach LaShonda Chiles. ”They were able to pull away and get the cushion they needed.”

 

       A Moses free throw with four seconds left accounted for the final margin – and the largest lead by either team – of the game.

 

       Peace said her team was able to step up on both ends of the floor down the stretch.

 

       “We had to hit some shots down the stretch,” said Peace, who just completed her 14th season as Berkeley head coach. “We let their shooters off a bit too much for my liking, especially in the first half. They missed a couple of shots down the stretch, we were able to get the rebounds and take care of the basketball.

 

“I fussed a good bit at halftime about the way we played defense in the first half. We picked it up a bit in the second half.”

 

“The second half we knew who their players were so we just had to pay attention to them,” McCray said.

 

       McCray, a 5-foot-7-inch forward, had a double-double to lead the Stags. She had a team high 10 rebounds and shared the lead in points with 15 and assists with four. She also had two steals. She connected on 6 of 9 shots.

 

       Thomas also had 15 points, hitting on 6 of 13 shots, including 3 of 5 on 3-point attempts. She also had two steals. Carter was also 3-for-5 from behind the arc while finishing with 13 points. She also had three rebounds.

 

       Moses finished with seven points, four rebounds and four assists, while Demi Gray had six points. Levey had three points and Natalia Madison-Ladson had one point.

 

       Greenwood also had three players score in double figures. Danielle Oliver led the way with 22, connecting on three treys along the way. She also had a team high five steals to go with five rebounds.

 

       Johnson followed with 14 poits and a team high nine rebouns. Cameron Oliver finished with 13 poits to go with a team high three assists and two assists.

 

Camryn Fuller hd two ppoints and four rebounds, whle Nariah Carroll had two points. A’nya Johnson had one point.

 

       Fuller, Carroll, Mengeh Nyane and Zariah Hamilton are the only seniors on the Greenwood roster. That has Chiles thinking her squad could make a return.

 

       "Experience is the best teacher, so hopefully next time we’ll get a different outcome,” said Chiles, who said her team was easily playing its best in the postseason..

 

       The only thing is Berkeley has just two seniors in Riley Guerry nd Ta’Lia Porchia, The Stags are going to enjoy the fruits of their labor and then get back to the labor.

 

       “We’re going to embrace this moment a little bit then we’re going to get back to work," Peace said.

By Gerald Doolittle April 16, 2025
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By Billy Baker April 16, 2025
Barnwell Track Teams Busy Preparing For Upcoming Region Championship Meet By Billy G. Baker Publisher Barnwell —As the Barnwell boy’s and girl’s track team prepares for the upcoming region track meet 14- year coaching veteran Thomas Davis is focused on getting both teams ready for their best performances of the season. The region meet will be hosted at Whale Branch High on April, 30. “I've been the head track coach at Barnwell for the past 14 years, and it's been a rewarding experience watching our athletes grow and succeed,” said Coach Thomas. “Regarding the upcoming region meet, we are a young team, and while it will be challenging to win a region title, we are hopeful and will give it our best effort.” Some of the better times and performances turned in from Barnwell’s better track athletes this season include: Tavion Johnson has run a 21.75 in the 200 meters and he has jumped 22-5 in the long jump. . Kazeer Wesley has jumped over 20 feet in the long jump.  Damaijah Devoe , a football prospect at defensive back, has jumped over 21 feet in the broad jump. Ashley Barret has jumped over 15 feet in the long jump from the girl’s team. Johnson is the lone returning All-region champion from Barnwell last year. Johnson is a strong contender to place first in the region in both the 200 and the long jump events. The Barnwell boy’s 4x100 meter relay team has been clocked a time of 44.1. They have a chance to place at region and are represented by Wesley, Jayden Peoples , Jordan Peoples , and Johnson. The girls' 4x100 relay team has run a 52.4 and will be represented at the region meet by . Danasia Smoaks , Madeline Brown , Zachariah Devoe , and Zaniya Williams and they have a chance to finish at the top of the region in this event. Coach Thomas is pleased to have 38 girls and 33 boys as members of the 2025 track program at Barnwell High. “We have competed in meets at Calhoun County , Edisto , and Bamberg-Ehrhardt this season ,” said Coach Thomas . “ Our top three performers at these meets have been Tavion Johnson , Jordan Peoples , and Madeline Brown. “While no school records have been established this season so far, every time you enter competition the opportunity to establish new records at your school exists,” said Coach Thomas. Coach Thomas is assisted by Rokeem Williams .
By Gerald Doolittle April 16, 2025
SCISA SOFTBALL TEAMS SEEKING PLAYOFF SPOTS  By: Gerald Doolittle Goose Creek, S.C. - With most schools returning from spring break SCISA softball teams will be working hard to clinch playoff spots for the 2025 season. Will Laurence Manning (4A), Pee Dee Academy (3A), Clarendon Hall (2A) and Jefferson Davis Academy (1A) defend their 2024 titles? Can Hammond (4A), Orangeburg Prep (3A), Colleton Prep (2A) and Cross Schools (1A) make another run for the title? At this writing the top contenders in Class 4A are Laurence Manning (14-2), First Baptist (5-1), Augusta Christian (6-4) and Hammond (6-3). The top contenders in Class 3A are Pee Dee Academy (13-1), Dillon Christian (12-4), Calhoun Academy (8-0), Orangeburg Prep (8-5) and Clarendon Hall (5-2). The top contenders in Class 2A are Dorchester Academy (9-1), Carolina Academy (4-1), Marlboro Academy (6-5) and King’s Academy (3-2). The top contenders in Class 1A are W.W. King Academy (6-0), Holly Hill Academy (8-2), Cross Schools (7-4), Richard Winn Academy (4-5) and Jefferson Davis Academy (4-6). Class 4A offensive leaders are Bailey Brown of Augusta Christian batting .778, Mckenzie Krebs of Augusta Christian batting .556, Claire Hamm and Avery Schwarz of Augusta Christian batting .500 and Lyra Pricklemeyer of Laurence Manning batting .500 . Other 4A leaders are Laini Kosinski and Marlee Black of Laurence Manning batting .479, Ava Miller of Hammond batting .476 and Gabby Heathcott and Ellie Heathcott of John Paul ll batting .462. Emory Glass of Augusta Christian is batting .429 and Kaylee Parmenter Avins of Laurence Manning batting .417 . Class 3A offensive leaders are Prestan Schurlknight of Orangeburg Prep batting .750, Anslea Aaron of Calhoun Academy batting .667, Hannah Iambrecht of Orangeburg Prep batting .619, Coker Carson of Calhoun Academy batting .619, Adalynne Fallaw of Calhoun Academy batting .577. Other 3A leaders are Mandy Wells of Clarendon Hall batting .571, Maggie Harrington of Clarendon Hall batting .500, Cailin Shirer of Calhoun Academy batting .478, Molly Andrews of Dillon Christian batting .463, Addison Nivens of Orangeburg Prep batting .444, Lauren Ballew of Orangeburg Prep batting .435, Lilli Shooter of Dillon Christian batting .429, Sherrilynn Shannon of Calhoun Academy and Brynli Brewer of Clarendon Hall batting .429. Class 2A and 1A leaders are Madelyn Roscoe of Marlboro Academy batting .667, Ryan Mayers of Cross Schools batting .667, Alaysia Hollings of Cross Schools batting .629, Ansley Nesbit of Lee Academy batting .553, Emery McClure of Dorchester Academy batting .543, Braylee Burke of Laurens Academy batting .517, Sydney Hollings of Cross Schools batting .516, Jameson Collins of Lee Academy batting .500 and Kate Leslie of Marlboro academy batting .500. Other 2A and 1A leaders are Lyla Owens of Dorchester Academy batting .483, Alyssa Grooms of Dorchester Academy batting .469, Lily Canady of Dorchester Academy batting .462, Savannah Hollings of Cross Schools batting .462, MacKenzie Runyans of Laurens Academy batting .448 and Morgan Bolding of Laurens Academy batting .421.
By David Shelton April 16, 2025
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