Cathderal Wins Back-to-Back SCISA AA Girls Basketball Title with Win over Clarendon Hall

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Sumter — Converting 15-of-18 free throws, and winning the turnovers battle, were two key reasons Cathedral Academy won their second straight SCISA AA girls’ basketball championship, with a 54-43 win over Clarendon Hall at the Sumter Civic Center on February, 24.

After the game Cathedral head coach Isaac Brown told the HSSR, “I will take 15-of-18 on free throws any day of the week,” said Coach Brown. “So proud of the entire team but Jalyn Almeida has been in our program since the 7th grade and she reached over 2,000 points this season. I give her a lot a credit for our success on and off the court. She is a great young lady and it is great top have her on our team.”

Coach Brown said winning two in a row made for many proud moments. “I am extremely proud of our players, our support community, our fans, our school administration, and these girls have worked very hard to be back-to-back state champions,” said Coach Brown. “I don’t even want to talk about the great senior players we are losing because we all want to spend some time enjoying what we accomplished today.”

Almeida, guarded closely the entire game, was all smiles after the win. “My feelings right now are indescribable,” said Almedia. “At the half I was thinking the score was like 0-0 and that we all had to step up in the second half and work a little harder. I wish I had more years to play but going out with two straight state titles is a wonderful feeling. 

The two teams battled to a 22-all tie at the half. Cathedral outscored the Lady Saints 14-8 in the third quarter, converting the majority of those points off turnovers, or second chance shots. Senior Jalyn Almeida led the lady Generals with 24 points in the game, and her 8 points in the third period gave her team momentum entering the final period.

Cathedral entered the final quarter up 36-30. They began the quarter on an 8-0 run to lead 44-30 with 4:19 left when the lady Saints scored their first basket of the period on a basket by Mandy Wells. During the 8-0 run the Lady Generals got a basket from Almeida, a three-point shot by Julie DeSouza, a basket by junior Madison Jackson, and a free throw from Claire Griffin.

Over the final four minutes of the game, Cathedral converted 9-of-10 free throws while Clarendon Hall converted 7-of-12 over the same period. All total, the Saints made 17-of-30 free throws during the game.

Clarendon Hall came into the play-offs as a four-seed, won two play-off games, and the Lady Saints were playing for their first state title since the 1970’s. The team started one senior, all-state performer Sydney Berry who had 15 points in the game, along with four underclassmen (Macie McIntosh, Ashley Berry, Zoree Pritcher, and junior Mandy Wells). Maggie Harrington was a key player off the bench as well.

After the game, Clarendon Hall head coach Johhny Horton told the HSSR, “We felt pretty good going into the half, but our whole game plan was built around taking care of the basketball and the turnovers, especially in the third quarter, really hurt us,” said Coach Horton. “We also had a horrible game at the free throw line.

“Still, I am very proud of this team,” said Coach Horton. “It is not often a four-seed makes it to a state championship. I credit that to the toughness of our region. Several teams could have been here as well.”

Coach Horton also had special praise for four- year performer and senior leader Sydney Berry. “She is the heart-and-soul of this team,” said Coach Horton. “Everything starts and ends with her and the girls on this team follow her leadership. She was a great senior leader for us.”

 Coach Horton said he will have four juniors and one 8th grader back for next season who contributed a lot to the success of the program. “This season, and this game was good experience for all of them,” he said. “Hopefully, we will keep building and growing the program.”   

Behind Berry on the Lady Saints scoring index were McIntosh with 8 points, Wells contributed seven points, Ashley Berry had five points, Harrington four points, and Pritcher contributed two points.

Cathedral has been led by Almeida and seniors Claire Griffin and Julie DeSouza. Almeida came into the title game averaging 17.2 points a game while Griffin was at 16.4 points a game. DeSouza was averaging 6.7 points and she was leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots in the paint.

Behind Almeida’s 24 points were Griffin (13 points), Jackson (7 points), DeSouza (6 points) and Trinity McClam had two points.