Pinewood Prep Boys in action against the Porter-Gaud Cyclones.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher  Summerville - Pinewood Prep (19-6) tuned up for their region championship basketball game with Porter Gaud this Friday night by defeating Cathedral 72-49 at home on Tuesday. The Panthers placed four players in double figures led by Jayden Alexander's 23 points, along with additional offensive support from Tre Green (13), Kais Parrish (11) and Jon Slawson (11 points). Sophomore center Trip Eidson (6-8) contributed six points and led the team in rebounding during the win. Pinewood Prep led only 31-17 at the half but the Panthers came out on fire in third period out-scoring Cathedral 26-9 to take a 58-38 lead in to the final period. "Slawson is the guy who took our lead from a four-point lead, to a 15-point lead, with his offense in the third period," said Coach Eidson. "Actually, I think it was good defense that helped us in the third period when they only scored 11 points. We started dropping three's also." Coach Eidson, and the team, became focused on the upcoming Porter Gaud game from the conclusion of this game. What does he hope the team continues to do well going into the huge game on Friday night that will be televised locally. "We didn't shoot it very well in the second period, but we stayed with it, and sure enough it came back around, " said Coach Eidson. "We need to shoot the ball more consistently against Porter Gaud on Friday and maintain our strong defense. "Over our last six games we have been playing wide-open basketball, and pushing the shots to go in while playing hard-nosed defense so we just hope to continue playing like we did tonight when we host Porter Gaud on Friday, " said Coach Eidson. Cathedral, (23-11) head coached by former HSSR-SCISA Class A Player of the Year, Blake Ferguson , was led in scoring by senior guard Kaden Rutledge with 13 points while senior guard Josh Simmons and senior guard Dominic Felix each contributed 10 points.

Jayden Alexander scores a bucket on a break Dec. 30 during the Roundball Classic showcase.

In the SCISA Class AAA State Championship, it was a well fought out by both teams until the bitter end. Pinewood Prep earns the State Champion title with a 24-21 win over Wilson Hall . All image copyright Larry Gamble and The High Sports Report. 

By Billy G. Baker Publisher North Charleston —Dynasties begin somewhere, often rooted in the deep seeds of hard-work, commitment, and among teams who embrace the culture of winning. The Dynasty Maker might say, “We first believed, before we achieved.” Looking back, in a few years, those of us who help record the statistics, and great moments in prep sports in South Carolina, just might point to Pinewood Prep’s game with Wilson Hall as a defining moment in the growth of Pinewood Prep football. A state championship victory will define this for sure. Should the Panthers capture a SCISA AAA title with a win over Wilson Hall (1-1) at Charleston Southern tonight, head coach Devonte Hollomon , a former star player at South Carolina , before being drafted into the NFL, will forever be remembered as the coach who got the dynasty going. Pinewood Prep comes into the game tonight, 9-2, and they were the region champions of SCISA 1-AAA, defeating teams 436-200 during the 2024 season. On offense, the team has seen seven different ball carriers collectively gain 2,648 yards rushing on 282 carries and 39 TD’s. Through the air the Panthers have completed 121-of-182 passes for 2,020 yards and 27 TD’s. Big plays have fueled the Panthers success all season. The Panthers defeated Trinity Collegiate, 49-13 in the first round of the play-offs, and followed up with a big semi-final- round win over Northside Christian, 35-21 to advance to the gold medal round. After last week’s game, Coach Hollomon said, “It was a fight tonight and our kids love the game and they kept battling,” said Coach Holloman. “This is the spot we had hoped to be in when we started the season. “I love these players, and I love coaching them, and they competed hard for all four quarters tonight, and coming out on top makes all the hard-work worth it,” said Coach Hollomon. “I felt like we wore them down in the second half. We had a complete team effort tonight from the entire team.” Against Northside Christian, senior running back Jeremiah Singleton, the Region 1-AAA Offensive Player of the Year, ran for 232 yards on 20 carries while rushing for four touchdowns. Singleton comes into the game against the Barons having rushed for 1,771 yards on 178 carries and 28 touchdowns. He is averaging an impressive 9.95 yards a carry. Senior all-region quarterback Asa Windham has been a good field general all season. Windham has completed 110-of-160 passes for 1,801 yards and 24 TD’s with just four interceptions this season. He has also added 423 rushing yards on 46 carries and he has four rushing touchdowns. The go-too receiver has been all-region senior Terrence Stallworth who has 35 catches for 655 yards and 12 TD’s this season. Junior WR Jayden Alexander has caught 26 passes for 421 yards and six TD’s while senior WR Jaden Bellish has contributed with 18 catches for 403 yards and six TD’s. At all-levels of football, you might think it is only a few talented horses that pull the wagon of success, but this not so. Football is also about the Jimmies and the “Joe’s”. For example, after the Panther offense rushed for 358 yards last week, even the public address announcer cited the play of the offensive line. They include seniors Jackson Spafford and Sami Abuhakema , along with junior MacGregor Tuten and three up and coming sophomores in Jacob Sweet , David Harper , and Kenneth Robbins . The top six tacklers on defense coming into the game tonight include senior MLB Connor White with 67 total tackles and he has been named the Region Defensive Player of the Year. Senior CB Daniel Wiggins has 51 tackles, and three interceptions to date. Soph LB Jaydon Parrott has 48 tackles along with junior DE prospect JT King who (6-4,235), who also plays TE on offense, comes into the game tonight with 34 tackles and a team leading 6.5 sacks. Junior MLB Dawson Wilson has contributed 30 tackles while freshman Marion Summers has 30 tackles followed by soph DL Jacob Sweet (6-3-245) who has played well with 26 total tackles. Other defensive players with 18, or more tackles on the hit index include DL Arden Murray (21), junior CB Grady Fuller (20), highly regarded junior baseball prospect Will Watson is a Free Safety for the Panthers (18) and he plays a Wildcat on offense some later in games. Watson might be the fastest player on the team. Watson has completed 12-of-23 passes for 242 yards and two TD’s while adding 200 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Windham also has 18 tackles on defense. One notable flip of a player to defense in the finals will be soph David Harper (6-2, 235), who could start, or play a lot in the defensive front against Wilson Hall. Alex Hylton has also been a very effect combo-kicker-punter for the Panthers this season. Late on Thursday, just before taking the practice field, Coach Hollomon told the HSSR, “Last year when we lost out to Hilton Head Christian, in the semi-final round, we felt like they were stronger than we were. and we made a commitment to get in the weight room and get stronger,” said Coach Hollomon. “I hung a picture of a championship ring in our locker room, with a note on it, implying that winning a state title was a serious goal of our team this season. “I do not think this team is over-confident because we beat them (49-7) in early October and gave them their only loss of the season,” said Coach Hollomon. “We have had very good practices this week and we know we are going to get Wilson hall’s best shot.” In an e mail to the HSSR Monday night, Coach Hollomon said, “With history on the line, the Panthers are confident, excited, and hungry!”  Probable Offensive Starters QB Asa Windham Sr. #4 RB Jeremiah Singleton Sr. @1 LT Sami Abuhakema Sr. #56 LG Jackson Spafford Sr. #75 C Kenny Robbins Soph #78 RG Cameron Wren Jr. #50 RT Macgregor Tuten Jr. #71 WR Terrence Stakkworth Sr, #2 S-WR Jaden Bellush Sr. #3 O-WR Jayden Alexander Jr. #8 TE Heyward Moore Soph #11 or TE McKinley Bilton Sr. #32 PK Alex Hylton Sr. #6 Probable Defensive Starters DE JT King Jr. #17 DT Jacob Sweet Soph #54 DT Preston Holiday Soph #99 or DT David Harper Soph #71 DE Arden Murray Sr. #24 LB Connor White Sr. #34 LB Jayden Parrott Soph #42 CB Daniel Wiggins Sr. #0 CB Grady Fuller Jr #15 FS Will Watson Jr. #7 FS Mason Sumners Fr. #30 FS Carson Good Jr. #21 P Alex Hylton Sr. #6

It's a big weekend for high school football. SCISA holds their Championship Weekend starting tonight with two games in different parts of the state. And, the SCHSL playoff round gets one step closer the final playoff round before their big Championship Weekend. SCISA's state title games for Friday night: At W.W. King Academy with kickoff at 7:30pm , the 8-man title game pits Laurens Academy vs. Richard Winn At Charleston Southern with kickoff at 7pm , the Class AAAA title game pits Hammond vs Porter Gaud SCISA's state title games for Saturday : all games at Charleston Southern University Kicking off at 12-Noon , Class A featuring Thomas Heyward vs. Williamsburg Academy Kicking off at 3:30pm , Class AA featuring Pee Dee vs. Bethesda Academy Kicking off at 7:30pm , Class AAA featuring Wilson Hall vs. Pinewood Prep The SCHSL will hold their Championship Weekend Dec 14th and 15th at South Carolina State's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg, SC. If there is a time for upsets, it's this weekend. See how your team stacks up this week in our exclusive prognostication feature, Doodles Doodles . This season the predictions are right 78.6% of the time with a record of 1089-313-2 .

Pinewood Prep's running back sensation Jeremiah Singleton, photo by Roger Lee

Important Information For Schools, Parents, & Fans Concerning The Upcoming SCISA State Football Championship Games Moncks Corner -- The “ High School Sports Report” will be devoting our time, energy and resources this week towards producing individual full-color keepsake souvenir state championship football programs for the 10 teams competing for state titles on Friday (Nov. 22) and Saturday (Nov. 23). All four of the SCISA AAAA, AAA, AA and Class A games will be hosted by Charleston Southern University located in North Charleston at the I-26 205 exit. The SCISA 8-man championship game will be played at W.W. King Academy (near Saluda ) at 7:30 on Friday night. The Hammond School (12-0) will face Porter Gaud (11-1) at Charleston Southern at 7 p.m. Friday night. Then on Saturday, the Class A state title game between Williamsburg Academy (9-1) and Thomas Heyward Academy (11-1) begins at noon. The SCISA AA title game between Pee Dee Academy (11-0) and Bethesda Academy (9-3) follows at 3:30. The night-cap AAA title game on Saturday night is at 7 p.m. between Pinewood Prep (9-2) and Wilson Hall (11-1). Ther HSSR would like to inform all schools involved to please e mail to hsreport@aol.com your varsity football and cheer team pictures by 6 p.m. on Monday. Every team will have their respective football team on the cover of their edition, and your cheer squad will be pictured inside your respective edition. (Important) Each Head of School is offered a free “Welcome Letter” page geared towards your team, fans and community. We need your “Welcome Letter” in at hsreport@aol.com by 7 p.m. on Tuesday (Nov., 19). Please include a picture of yourself and a school logo. The HSSR has four marketing reps assigned to market programs. Should you have interest in supporting your team, along with your favorite player, or cheerleader reps include: Swift Bethea is assigned to market Pee Dee Academy and he can be reached at 843-774-3482. Larry Gamble will be marketing the Hammond School and Wilson Hall’s programs and he can be reached at 414-699-9061. Neill Kirkpatrick will be marketing the Porter - Guad championship program and he can be reached at 704-996-3333. The remaining five schools will be marketed by HSSR Publisher Billy G. Baker and he can be reached at 843-200-9555. Baker will be in Kingstree on Monday with the WA program, Ridgeland on Tuesday with the THA program, and in Summerville on Wednesday wrapping up the Pinewood Prep program. However, feel free to call him or any marketing rep on this list anytime Monday-Thursday. We hope to have the majority of the best wishes ads in house by 9 p.m. on Wednesday night, due to a tight print schedule, but 6 p.m. on Thursday is the final deadline. Fans are asked to follow instructions on the attached official state championship form. Feel free to send your ad information to hsreport@aol.com and Berna Noll will be available at the HSSR “home office” between 9 am and 9 pm to take payment for sponsor ads, or answer any questions. The one request is that once you have all the content for your best wishes ad, please send just one e-mail, and not three or four e mails, so we make sure everything gets in your ad. Participating schools are asked to forward this attached team football program ad order form to the parents and boosters of your team! Good luck to all teams competing for SCISA football championships this weekend!

Pinewood quarterback Asa Windham completed 73 passes for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns and rushed for three TDs this season.