SC girls basketball state championship guide: How to watch, ticket info, predictions
The South Carolina High School League’s girls basketball state championships will take place at the USC Aiken Convocation Center on Thursday through Saturday.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday
▪ Class 4A Girls: Westwood vs. North Augusta, 5 p.m.
Friday
▪ Class 3A Girls: Camden vs. Wren, noon
▪ Class 2A Girls: Bishop England vs. Gray Collegiate, 6 p.m.
Saturday
▪ Class A Girls: Military Magnet vs. Denmark-Olar, noon
▪ Class 5A Girls: Mauldin vs. Stratford, 6 p.m.
THE GAMES, PREDICTIONS
▪ Class 4A: Westwood (26-4) vs. North Augusta (25-3), 5 p.m. Thursday
Game Notes/Players to Watch: Westwood is making its first championship game appearance in any team sport. Westwood’s lone in-state loss this year came against Keenan in January. Westwood guard Jessica Woods, a Campbell signee, leads the Redhawks in points per game (12.4) and assists (3.4). NA is making its sixth state title appearance in last seven years. ... North Augusta won four straight championships from 2017-20. North Augusta leads the all-time series, 2-1, with two wins coming in the playoffs. Freshman Celena Grant leads NA in scoring (13.1) and rebounds (8.7). She had 24 points in the state semifinal.
Prediction: Westwood
▪ Class 3A Girls: Camden (28-2) vs. Wren (26-5), noon Friday
Game Notes/Players to Watch: Camden is making its second straight championship appearance and third in school history. The Bulldogs won the 1982 Class 4A title. Camden has won 26 straight games and hasn’t lost to an in-state opponent all season. Camden junior Joyce Edwards leads the team in scoring (28.6 ppg), rebounds (13.7) and blocks (2.7). Edwards needs just 17 points for 3,000 in her career. ... This is the second state championship appearance for Wren, which won the 1967 Class A title. Riley Stack returned to action in the state semifinal after missing three games with a health concern. She is averaging 13.1 points, 6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. The Coastal Carolina signee is the daughter of former South Carolina forward Ryan Stack. Raina McGowens leads the team in scoring (18.1 ppg, 4 assists). She’s the daughter of head coach Pam McGowens and the younger sister of Bryce McGowens, who plays for the Charlotte Hornets.
Prediction: Camden
▪ Class 2A Girls: Bishop England (19-11) vs. Gray Collegiate (21-6), 6 p.m. Friday
Game Notes/Players to Watch: Gray Collegiate is making its first championship appearance in program history. The game will be a homecoming for Gray coach and former USC standout Brandon Wallace, who played at nearby Silver Bluff. Senior Maliyah Mayson leads the team at 10.5 ppg and 8.0 rebounds per game. Mason missed most of last season with a torn ACL. ... Bishop England held Andrew Jackson to four points in the second half in the 39-38 win in the 2A Lower State semifinal. Izzy Woods leads BE in scoring (12.3 ppg) and steals (3.9).
Prediction: Gray Collegiate
▪ Class A: Military Magnet (24-6) vs. Denmark-Olar (27-2), noon Saturday
Game Notes/Players to Watch: Rematch of last year’s state championship won by Military Magnet. The Eagles are going for their third straight Class A title. Military Magnet has four players averaging double figures in Kaelin Davis (14.1), Dream Watson (13.8), Chazmin Bradley (11.7) and Sabri Mitchell (11.0). ... Dyneka Roberts leads Denmark-Olar in scoring (15.1) and rebounding (10.1). Aveion Walker is second on the team in scoring at 14.1 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Prediction: Military Magnet
▪ Class 5A: Stratford (25-4) vs. Mauldin (23-5), 6 p.m. Saturday
Game Notes/Players to Watch: Stratford is making its first state championship appearance. Senior Yasmine Cook leads the team in scoring at 13.9 points per game. Stratford has allowed 41 points or less in the last 11 games. ... Mauldin is making its second state championship appearance and first since 1997. The Mavericks have a starting lineup made up of three sophomores, a freshman and an eighth-grader. Mauldin is led by its backcourt duo of Trinity Jones (14.7 ppg) and Zara Leamon (12.5).
Prediction: Mauldin
Tickets, directions, how to watch championship games
The address: 2049 Champion Way, Graniteville, SC 29829
Tickets: All tickets can be purchased at: https://gofan.co/app/school/SCHSL and are $15 per session. Each classification (girls and boys) will be one session. At the conclusion of each session, the facility will be cleared and a new ticket will be needed to enter the next session.
There will be no tickets sold at the door. No pass outs and you will need a new ticket to re-enter. General Admission tickets will go on sale March 2 at 2 p.m.
Parking: Parking is $5 per car, cash only.
TV: All games will be carried on Sinclair Broadcasting stations across South Carolina. Affiliates are WMYA (My40 Asheville-Greenville), WACH (57.2/1250/Columbia), WCIV (MyTV Charleston) and WWMB (CW21, Florence/Myrtle Beach).
Internet: All games will be streamed on www.nfhsnetwork.com. A subscription ($11.99) is required and is good for a whole month.
Radio: The Camden-Wren girls game will be carried locally on KOOL 102.7 FM and streamed on https://onlineradiobox.com/us/wpubfm/?cs=us.wpubfm&played=1
