The Observer’s girls’ high school basketball preview for York and Lancaster counties
The Observer’s preview for girls’ basketball in York and Lancaster counties.
Teams to watch
South Pointe: The Stallions have many key players returning from a team that went 25-3 a year ago before suffering an upset loss in the second round of the 4A state playoffs. There’s a mix of experienced players, like senior and all-state contender Victoria Morris (14.3 ppg, 8.6 rpg), along with talented younger players like eighth-grader Kaleigh Lucas (9.7 ppg). The Stallions will be tested early, opening against Lower Richland in a Thanksgiving tournament and facing defending N.C. 4A state runner-up Lake Norman in early December. Then comes a pair of games against Rock Hill.
Rock Hill: A first-round state playoff loss to Lexington last season was a bitter pill to swallow for a team that won the 5A state title in 2022. But coach Kenny Orr’s Bearcats are loaded with talent, led by all-state senior guard De’Ashai Crawford and sophomore guard Chloe Hudson (15.2 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 3.3 3-pointers per game). Other returning starters are 6-2 senior forward Sarah Wildy (5.1 rpg) and 5-6 senior guard Lavia Jones (2.3 steals per game). Add in 5-7 junior point guard Aubrey Stevenson, a newcomer who has 13 college offers, and you have a team ready to make a big run.
Andrew Jackson: The Volunteers reached the 2A state semifinals last year, losing by a point to Bishop England. Their top four scorers return, including a pair of outstanding sophomores in Ayona Alexander (17.6 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 2.1 blocks per game) and Ni’Yonna Asbelle (14.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg). Junior Emiley McCall (9.9 ppg, 4.0 assists per game) and freshman Trinity Delly (9.0 ppg, 3.0 steals per game) also return. And 6-2 junior Tamia Watkins has transferred in from Legion Collegiate. It looks like another big winter in southern Lancaster County.
Lancaster: The Bruins look best-suited to chase South Pointe in the Region 3 4A race. One key reason is 5-10 junior forward KeMarja Peay, an all-region selection last season who averaged 12.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. Providing the backcourt leadership is 5-8 junior guard Eliza Baskins, who averaged 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists last season. Zatyra Walls, a 5-11 center, averaged 1.7 points and 4.5 rebounds a game last season, but look for her to take a big step up.
Players to watch
Ayona Alexander, Andrew Jackson: Alexander, a 6-0 sophomore center, averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds a game as a freshman, helping carry her team to the 2A state Final Four.
De’Ashai Crawford, Rock Hill: Crawford, a 5-6 senior guard, was an all-state pick last season after averaging 15.9 points, 4.3 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals a contest.
Morgan Davis, Catawba Ridge: A 5-11 senior center, Davis led the Copperheads last season with 11.1 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. She shoots 50 percent from the floor.
Jaylen McMurray, Legion Collegiate: McMurray, a 5-6 sophomore point guard, is a transfer from Darlington High. She was a standout on the summer AAU circuit.
Victoria Morris, South Pointe: A 5-11 senior forward, Morris averaged 14.3 points and 8.6 rebounds a game last season and has been an all-region selection the last two years. She also earned all-state honors as a junior.
KeMarja Peay, Lancaster: A 5-10 junior forward, Peay averaged 12.1 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.4 assists a game last season in earning all-region honors. She is getting attention from several Division I colleges.
Players on the rise
Aubrey Barney, Nation Ford: As a sophomore, Barney averaged 4.0 steals and 3.0 assists per game. On a team with a freshman and an eighth-grader expected to start, she could play a key role.
Kaleigh Lucas, South Pointe: Not many people start on the varsity of a state-ranked team as a seventh-grader. Lucas did last year, averaging 9.7 points a game. She’s a 5-6 guard.
Reagan Reyes, Fort Mill: A 5-6 senior forward, Reyes flew a bit under the radar last season with 7.0 points and 4.0 rebounds a game. Yet she was picked to the all-region team and should be a bigger force this season.
Aubrey Stevenson, Rock Hill: This 5-7 junior point guard is the No. 2-ranked junior in the state and has more than a dozen college offers. She averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 assists last season at Legion Collegiate.
Amelia Williams, Legion Collegiate: Williams, a 5-6 freshman point guard, played varsity ball as an eighth-grader at Indian Land.
Skylar Young, Indian Land: A 5-6 sophomore guard, Young emerged late last season as a player to contend with and finished with a 10.0-points-per-game average.
Preseason All-Upper State S.C. team
Ayona Alexander, Andrew Jackson, 6-0, sophomore
De’Ashai Crawford, Rock Hill, 5-6, senior
Ja’Nyla Cunningham, South Pointe, 6-0, sophomore
Chloe Hudson, Rock Hill, 5-9, sophomore
Victoria Morris, South Pointe, 5-11, senior
KeMarja Peay, Lancaster, 5-10 junior
Upper State S.C. Girls’ Preseason Player of the Year
Victoria Morris, South Pointe, 5-11, senior, forward
Notes
▪ After a 20-5 season, Catawba Ridge is inexperienced this time around, and coach Sheridan Pressley said the Copperheads will run a lot. Center Morgan Davis is the only senior on the team.
▪ Region 3-5A produces some of the Palmetto State’s best girls’ basketball. A team from the region has reached the Upper State finals three years ago, with two teams (Clover and Rock Hill) winning state titles.
▪ Fort Mill started seven different players at one time or another last season. Six return.
▪ Count Indian Land among the large number of area teams that will be young. The Warriors might not have a senior starter this season.
▪ Legion Collegiate has a new girls’ basketball coaching staff, headed by Johnathan Edwards, who coached a number of years in Texas. Most of the staff has some college coaching experience.
▪ Northwestern is another young team with sophomores Autumn Linen (a guard) and McKenzie Gramby (a forward) expected to play key roles.
▪ Rock Hill coach Kenny Orr, who guided the Bearcats to a 5A state crown in 2022, got his 200th career victory last season.
▪ Westminster Catawba senior forward Natalia Salas won $5,000 last year in an audio podcast contest sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives. Students were asked to produce podcasts about how teens can help their communities in turbulent times.
Conference predictions
Region 3 5A: Rock Hill; Blythewood; Spring Valley; Fort Mill; Clover; Nation Ford
Region 3 4A: South Pointe; Catawba Ridge; Lancaster; Indian Land; Northwestern; York
Region 5 2A: Andrew Jackson; Cheraw; Chesterfield; York Prep; Buford; Central Pageland; North Central
Metrolina Athletic: Concord Academy; Northside Christian; Gaston Christian; Metrolina Christian; Hickory Grove Christian; Westminster Catawba; SouthLake Christian; Gaston Day.
