State championship matchups set for SCISA AAAA boys, AAAA girls

         Sumter – Porter-Gaud will be meeting Augusta Christian School for the SCISA AAAA boys basketball state title, while Trinity Collegiate will face off with First Baptist for the AAAA girls crown.

       That’s because P-G defeated Hammond 49-45 and ACS took down Pinewood Prep 82-71 in overtime in the boys semifinal games on Wednesday at Sumter County Civic Center. The girls semis saw First Baptist score on a basket at the buzzer by junior Ellie Blitch to defeat defending state champion Heathwood Hall 54-52, while Trinity topped Northwood Academy 49-41.

       The championship games will be played on Friday at Sumter County Civic Center. After Curtis Baptist takes on Wardlaw Academy for the Class A girls title at 4 p.m., First Baptist and Trinity Collegiate will do battle for the AAAA girls crown beginning at 6 p.m. The boys game will follow, scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.

       The semifinals for AAA boys and girls will be played on Thursday at the civic center, while the AA boys and girls semis and the Class A boys semis will take place at Wilson Hall’s Nash Student Center in Sumter on Thursday.

       The AAA girls will have Pee Dee Academy taking on Spartanburg Christian at 3:30 p.m., while Orangeburg Prep and Hilton Head Prep will tangle at 6:30 p.m. On the boys ledger, Pee Dee will take on Spartanburg Day at 5 p.m. while OP and HHP will tangle in the boys game as well beginning at 8 p.m.

       In AA boys, defending state champion Cathedral Academy will take on Thomas Heyward at 7:30 p.m. in Gym B, while Bethesda Academy will take on Andrew Jackson Academy at 7 p.m. in Gym A.

       The AA girls will see Dorchester Academy meeting Laurens Academy at 6 p.m. in Gym B, while Cross Schools will take on Lee Academy at 5:30 p.m. in Gym A.

       The Class A boys semis will see Ragin Prep meeting Marlboro Academy at 4 p.m. in Gym A, and defending state champion Curtis Baptist facing Richard Winn Academy in Gym B starting at 4:30 p.m.

        The state championship games for each of those five classes will be played on Saturday at Sumter County Civic Center. The first game will be the Class A boys starting at 11 a.m. That will be followed by the AA girls at 1 p.m. and the 2A boys at 2:30 p.m. The AAA girls contest is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. with the AAA boys contest set for a 6:30 p.m. start.

       GIRLS

       First Baptist 54

       Heathwood Hall 52

       While it may not have necessarily looked like it, Hurricanes head coach Presley Singleton said it was a designed play that saw sophomore Gabby Moore get the ball to Blitch, who put it in the basket as time expired for the victory.

       “What we drew up was we’re going to hold it for one,” said Singleton, whose team improved to 27-2 on the season and will be playing its first championship game since winning a title in 1980. “She had been getting by her man pretty much at will tonight. I said if a guard steps over find your shooter, if your post steps over hit your opposite block. Post stepped over to help, she trusted the sixth man on our team and Ellie delivered.”

       After the Highlanders’ SaBraya Monsanto missed two free throws in a 52-52 tie with 25 seconds remaining in the game, Trinity grabbed the rebound and called a timeout with 19 seconds left once it got across halfcourt. Moore dribbled the ball and didn’t start to try and penetrate until nine seconds were left. Against strong defense, Moore finally got to the basket on the right side of the lane. She drew a double team and found Blitch open underneath the basket on the left side. She put it in just before the buzzer sounded, setting off a wild celebration by the Hurricanes while many of the Heathwood players fell to the ground in despair.

       “I could not be any prouder of this group of girls,” said Singleton, whose team lost to Heathwood in overtime in the semis last year. “We have talked all season long about playing together, and we’re not just one-dimensional. If we move he ball, share he ball, we’ve got enough weapsons where we-re going to be hard to beat. They proved it tonight.”

Moore was one of three First Baptist players to score in double figures, leading the way with 18 points Ava Rush and Paige Pouyat both had 10 points. Maddy Pojani finished with seven and Blitch had four.

       Heathwood Hall, which finished the year with a 17-3 record, were led by senior standout Lauren Jacobs with 17 points. Monsanto, also a senior, followed with 15 points, and senior Camiliea Gore had 13.

       The Highlanders held a 21-12 lead after one quarter. However, First Baptist recovered in the second quarter and took a 28-27 into halftime. The Hurricanes led 46-43 entering the final stanza.

       Trinity Collegiate 49

       Northwood 41

       Trinity Collegiate rallied from a 9-point deficit in the third quarter to forge a 36-36 tie entering the fourth quarter. The Titans then outscored Northwood 13-5 in the final stanza to come away with the 8-point triumph.

       “I’m proud of everyone,” said TC head coach Bree Goodson, who is in her first year with the school. “They fought to the end today. They had to ight back from a 9-point deficit, but they came together and won it in the end.”

       Trinity, which won its 20^th game of the season in 23 outings, was led by Natalie Pitts with 17 points. Autumn Kind added 13, while Makayla Leggette had seven. and Grant Correy and Saleese Kind both had six points.

       The Chargers, who finished with a 17-9 record, were led by Maliyah Birch with 10 points. Ava Reyes had nine followed by Alyvia Tocco with seven and Ryland Dundon and Navaeh Mathews with five apiece.

        BOYS

       Augusta Christian 82

       Pinewood Prep 71

       Augusta Christian reached its fourth consecutive state championship contest, but it took 39 points from Bryce Reynierson and outscoring Pinewood Prep 13-2 in overtime to do so.

ACS was the AAAA runner-up last year after winning the crown in 2023. It won the the AAA title in 2022.

       The Panthers, who finished 23-7, jumped out to a 22-12 lead after one quarter and led 36-33 at halftime. They pushed the lead back to nine at 50-41 entering the final stanza. However, the Lions outscored them 28-19 to force the overtime. They continued to pour on the points in the 4-minute overtime for the 11-point triumph.

      Reynierson, a 6-foot-5-inch senior, scored eight points in the overtime to lead ACS, which improved to 27-2. Ty Shine hit on five of six free throws in overtime and finished with 19 points.

       Uzziah Morton finished with 12, Aamore Tolbert had eight and Malachi Jones had six.

       Leading the way for Pinewood Prep was Jonathan Slawson Jr. with 28. Kais Parris had 19, Tre Green 13 and Jayden Alexander nine.

       Porter-Gaud 49

       Hammond 45

       Porter-Gaud reached a state championship game foor the first time since 2016 with the 4-point win in the nip-and-tuck affair with Hammond.

       The Cyclones will be going for their third state championship in the 19-year tenure of head coach John Pearson.

       “I haven’t really processed it yet,” Pearson said of getting to the title game. “It’s big. You have to beat some really good teams to get here. Once you get here, you just soak in the atmosphere and take advantage of the moment.

       “I thought my kids did about as good a job as they could do. We’re very fortunate to be able to win this game. I’m surprised. From the summer, we kept working and now we’re here so we’re going to ride i 

       P-G, which improved to 21-5, led 12-10 after one quartrer and 23-21 at halftime. It led 40-36 entering the fourth quarter and maintained that margin.

       John-Michael Jenkins and Griff Ferraro led Porter=Gaud with 15 points apiece. Kateaux Miller had eight, Banks Butler seven and Griff Domm four.

       Junior Daylin Haltiwanger led the Skyhawks, who finished 19-6, with 17 points. Senior Jaiden Haltiwanger had 15, Mehki Smith-Brown had seven, and John Stokes finished with six.

       TOURNAMENT BRACKETS

AAAA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 -- Northside Christian 68, Laurence Manning 54

Game 2 -- Pinewood Prep 68, First Baptist 38

Game 3 -- Wilson Hall 69, Cardinal Newman 33

Lower Bracket

Game 4 -- Porter-Gaud 72, Hilton Head Christian 28

Game 5 -- Heathwood Hall 45, John Paul II 28

Game 6 -- Hammond 76, Northwood Academy 45

Game 7 -- Ben Lippen 64, Trinity Collegiate 52

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Augusta Christian 94, Northside Christiani 60

Game 9 – Pinewood Prep 66, Wilson Hall 58

Game 10 – Porter-Gaud 64, Heathwood Hall 51

Game 11 – Hammond 60, Ben Lippen 41

Semifinals

Wednesday, February. 19

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 12 – Augusta Christian 82, Pinewood Prep 71 (OT)

Lower Bracket

Game 13 – Porter-Gaud 49, Hammond 45

Championship

Friday, February 21

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 – Augusta Christian vs. Porter-Gaud, 7:30 p.m.

AAAA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Heathwood Hall beat Ashley Hall by forfeit

Game 2 – Porter-Gaud 47, John Paul II 30

Game 3 – First Baptist 68, Hilton Head Christian 19

Game 4 – Augusta Christian 52, Wilson Hall 35

Lower Bracket

Game 5 – Ben Lippen 43, Palmetto Christian 31

Game 6 – Northwood 57, Carinal Newman 15

Game 7 – Northside Christian 74, Laurence Manning 41

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Heathwood Hall 62 Porter-Gaud 22

Game 9 – First Baptist 75, Augusta Christian 48

Lower Bracket

Game 10 -- Trinity Collegiate 53, Ben Lippen 42

Game 11 – Northwood Academy 61, Northside Christian 35

Semifinals

Wednesday, February. 19

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 12 – First Baptist 54, Heathwood Hall 52

Lower Bracket

Game 13 – Trinity Collegiate 49, Northwood Academy 41

Championship

Friday, February 21

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 – First Baptist vs. Trinity Collegiate, 6 p.m.

AAA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Florence Christian 52, Spartanburg Christian 46

Game 2 – Greenwood Christian beat. St. John’s Christian

Lower Bracket

Game 3 – Spartanburg Day 76, Dillon Christian 62

Game 4 – Calhoun Academy 71, Patrick Henry 68

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Hilton Head Prep 56, Florence Christian 23

Game 6 – Orangeburg Prep 73, Greenwood Christian 68

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Spartanburg Day 52, Christian Academy 49

Game 8 – Pee Dee Academy 55, Calhoun Academy 50

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 9 – Hilton Head Prep vs. Orangeburg Prep, 8 p.m.

 Lower Bracket

Game 10 – Spartanburg Day vs. Pee Dee Academy, 5 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 6:30 p.m.

AAA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Greenwood Christian 50, Thomas Sumter 46

Game 2 – Florence Christian 36, Calhoun Academy 21

Lower Bracket

Game 4 – Patrick Henry 56, Spartanburg Day 39

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Orangeburg Prep 47, Greenwood Christian 14

Game 6 – Hilton Head Prep 43, Florence Christian 38

Lower State.

Game 7 – Pee Dee Academy 47, First Presbyterian 27

Game 8 – Spartanburg Christian 62, Patrick Henry 48

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

At Sumter County Civic Center

Upper Bracket

Game 9 – Orangeburg Prep vs. Hilton Head Prep, 6:30 p.m.

 Lower Bracket

Game 10 – Pee Dee Academy vs. Spartanburg Christian, 3:30 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 5 p.m.

AA

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper State

Game 1 -- Oakbrook Prep 51, Beaufort Academy 43

Game 2 -- Thomas Heyward beat Conway Christian

Game 3 -- Carolina Academy 64, Dorchester Academy 53

Lower Bracket

Game 4 – Bethesda Academy 64, Cross Schools 46

Game 5 – Charleston Collegiate 72, Our Lady of the Rosary 30

Game 6 – Andrew Jackson 57, Lee Academy 28

Game 7 – Faith Christian 57, Laurens Academy 39

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 8 – Cathedral Academy 59, Oakbrook Prep 20

Game 9 – Thomas Heyward 43, Carolina Academy

Lower State

Game 10 -- Bethesda Academy 64, Charleston Collegiate 56

Game 11 – Andrew Jackson 60, Faith Christian 47

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 12 – Cathedral Academy vs. Thomas Heyward

Lower Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 13 – Bethesda Academy vs. Andrew Jackson, 7 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 14 -- Semifinal Winners, 2:30 p.m.

AA

Girls

First Round

Friday, February 14

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Oakbrook Prep 36, Carolina Academy 23

Game 2 – Our Lady of the Rosary 33, Cathedral Academy 29

Lower Bracket

Game 3 – Andrew Jackson 34, Conway Christian 33

Game 4 – Charleston Collegiate beat Holy Trinity

Quarterfinals

Monday, February 17

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Cross Schools 62, Oakbrook Prep 24

Game 6 – Lee Academy 38, Our Lady of the Rosary 28

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Dorchester Academy 51, Andrew Jackson 19

Game 8 – Laurens Academy 49, Charleston Collegiate 43

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 9 – Cross Schools vs. Lee Academy, 5:30 p.m.

Lower Bracket

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 10 – Dorchester Academy vs. Laurens Academy, 6 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 1 p.m.

Class A

Boys

First Round

Saturday, February 15

Upper Bracket

Game 1 – Mead Hall 54, Wardlaw Academy 33

Game 2 – Marlboro Academy 53, Cambridge 33

Lower Bracket

Game 3 -- Holly Hill Academy 57, Anderson Christian 45

Game 4 – Newberry Academy 65, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 13

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, February 18

Upper Bracket

Game 5 – Ragin Prep 52, Mead Hall 37

Game 6 – Marlboro Academy 54, Jefferson Davis 44

Lower Bracket

Game 7 – Curtis Baptist 81, Holly Hill Academy 59

Game 8 – Richard Winn 33, Newberry Academy, 19

Semifinals

Thursday, February 20

Upper Bracket

at Wilson Hall Gym A

Game 9 – Ragin Prep vs. Marlboro Academy, 4 p.m.

Lower Bracket

at Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 10 – Curtis Baptist vs. Richard Winn, 4:30 p.m.

Championship

Saturday, February 22

At Sumter County Civic Center

Game 11 -- Semifinal Winners, 11 a.m.

Class A

Girls

Quarterfinals

Friday, February 14

Game 1 – Holly Hill Academy 40, Jefferson Davis 27

Game 2 – Richard Winn 56, Mead Hall 21

Semifinals

Tuesday, February 18

Game 3 -- Curtis Baptist 62, Holly Hill Academy 33

At Wilson Hall Gym B

Game 4 -- Wardlaw 33, Richard Winn 22

Championship

Friday, February 21

at Sumter County Civic Center

Game 5 -- Curtis Baptist vs. Wardlaw, 4 p.m.