On a mission: Camden girls basketball returns to state championship game

The Camden Bulldogs have been on a mission all season to get back to the state championship game.

The Bulldogs accomplished that goal on Saturday with a dominant 50-24 performance over Lower Richland in the Class 3A Lower State championship.

Now, the final piece will be to cap off the year with the school’s second state championship. Camden will face Wren for the 3A title on Friday at USC Aiken. It is the third title appearance for the Bulldogs.

Camden lost last year to Keenan, 60-58, in the state championship game but returned most of the team and has put together one of the best seasons in school history. The Bulldogs are 28-2 and haven’t lost to an in-state opponent all season.

Camden has won every game by double figures including wins over Mauldin (No. 1) in Class 5A and North Augusta (No. 1) in Class 4A. The Bulldogs’ average margin of victory is 35.2 points a game.

Junior standout Joyce Edwards led the way with 18 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley and assistant Lisa Boyer were there to see Edwards, the No. 2-ranked player in the Class of 2024.

Edwards scored 12 of her 18 points in the first half and is 17 points shy of 3,000 in her career.

Tyra Floyd led Lower Richland with nine points. The Diamond Hornets were making their first state semifinal appearance since 2017.