Girls’ high school basketball 2024-25 preview for York, Lancaster counties
Here is a look at girls’ high school basketball in York and Lancaster counties ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Teams to watch
Andrew Jackson: Why not? The Volunteers were 27-4 last season and won the 2A state championship. And they did it with no seniors on the team, which means most of the leading players will be back for coach Steve Fair, in his third season. Elon commit Tamia Watkins averaged 18.6 points, 12 rebounds and 5.1 assists last season, and she’ll anchor the front court. Also back are a pair of top-notch guards, in 5-foot-11 Ni’Vonna Asbelle (14.6 ppg) and 5-4 Emiley McCall. The Vols are athletic, experienced and deep.
Clover: The Blue Eagles are coming off a 15-11 season and a first-round loss in the 5A playoffs. But coach Shakkia Walker has outstanding returnees in 5-9 forwards Samara Lucas (11.2 ppg, 9.1 rpg) and Clara Powell (8.7 ppg, 1.5 steals per game). Add in Fort Mill transfers Jada and Julie Chambliss, and you have a team ready to make a deep run in the playoffs. Jada Chambliss is a two-time all-region player.
Rock Hill: The Bearcats went 27-4 last season under coach Kennan Orr and lost to Sumter in the 5A state championship game. Among the returnees are 5-9 wing Chloe Hudson (16.3 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 5-7 point guard Aubrey Stevenson, a Charleston commit. The junior varsity was good last season, so Rock Hill should be deep and loaded again this season.
South Pointe: It starts with the region preseason player of the year — Ja’Nyia Cunningham, who averaged 17.4 ppg and 9.7 rpg on a team that went 26-3. The Stallions suffered a disappointing playoff quarterfinals loss to eventual 4A state champion Riverside, but coach Stephanie Butler-Graham has several returning standouts to join Cunningham — including 5-4 point guard Kaleigh Lucas (12.6 ppg, 71 percent free-throw shooter) and 5-6 guard Serenity Woods (10.0 ppg, 2.3 assists per game).
Westminster Catawba: After a 19-11 season, Westminster Catawba is expected to give traditional Metrolina Athletic Conference powerhouse Concord Academy a battle in the title race. Bolstering the effort will be a pair of returning all-conference players, in point guard Myana Fore (18.5 ppg, 3.9 assists per game) and shooting guard Leah Ross (11.1 ppg).
Players to watch
Eliza Baskins, Lancaster: A 5-7 senior guard, she earned all-region honors a year ago when she averaged 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds a game.
Emily Callahan, Indian Land: Callahan is a 5-8 junior who earned all-region honors a year ago, averaging 9.2 points and 9.0 rebounds. She is part of a team with several returning standouts.
Ja’Nyia Cunningham, South Pointe: A 6-0 post player, Cunningham is the preseason Region 3 4A player of the year. She averaged 17.4 points and 9.6 rebounds last year and shot 54 percent from the floor.
Samara Lucas, Clover: She is a 5-9 senior forward who averaged 11.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals a contest.
Aubrey Stevenson, Rock Hill: A 5-7 point guard, Stevenson had more than 20 Division I offers before committing to Charleston. She averaged 10.4 points and 6.3 rebounds last season. She also had a 4.43 grade-point average in the classroom.
Tamia Watkins, Andrew Jackson: An Elon commit, Watkins, a senior, averaged 18.6 points, 12 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 4.7 steals last season on a state championship team.
Players on the rise
Syraiah Blair, Andrew Jackson: She is a 5-4 point guard who was leading scorer on a strong junior varsity team last season.
Vivian Bunting, Fort Mill: The Yellow Jackets lost most of their key players from a year ago, which gives Bunting, a 5-6 sophomore, a chance to step up. She is an accurate shooter, especially from the corners.
Brianna Elks, York: A 5-10 sophomore, Elks is a key for first-year head coach Joshua Palmer, in his bid to point the Cougars in the right direction.
Ava Pensula, Indian Land: A 5-6 sophomore guard, she averaged 3.2 points and 3.0 rebounds in limited varsity time as a freshman.
Kaydence Woods, Northwestern: She averaged 11 points a game with the junior varsity and could play a big role for the Trojans as a 5-6 freshman guard.
Preseason All-Upper S.C. team
Eliza Baskins, Lancaster, 5-7 senior
Jada Chambliss, Clover, 5-6 junior
Ja’Niya Cunningham, South Pointe, 6-0 senior
Aubrey Stevenson, Rock Hill, 5-7 senior
Tamia Watkins, Andrew Jackson, 6-2 senior
Preseason players of the year
Aubrey Stevenson, Rock Hill, 5-7 senior
Tamia Watkins, Andrew Jackson, 6-2, senior
Noteworthy
▪ Among the biggest transfers this year are sisters Jada and Julie Chambliss moving from Fort Mill to Clover. They will be a big boost in the Blue Eagles’ bid to compete with powerhouse Rock Hill.
▪ The new head coaching faces this year include John Habovick at Northwestern. “We had a great summer and played some really competitive games,” he said.
▪ Many of the key performers from last season are gone, but don’t count out the Fort Mill girls. Coach Nathan Wruble has one of his biggest teams, and the Yellow Jackets should be strong from outside the 3-point arc.
▪ Lancaster’s hopes of competing with South Pointe and A.C. Flora in Region 3 4A should be bolstered by a new “old” face. Senior forward KeMarja Peay, a strong shooter and rebounder, returns after missing last season with an injury.
▪ The Metrolina Athletic Conference, of which Westminster Catawba is a member, dropped from eight to seven teams this season, with the closing of Northside Christian School in north Charlotte.
Upper S.C. conference predictions
Region 3 5A: 1. Rock Hill; 2. Clover; 3. Nation Ford; 4. Fort Mill; 5. Northwestern; 6. Indian Land; 7. Catawba Ridge.
Region 3 4A: 1. South Pointe; 2. A.C. Flora; 3. Camden; 4. Lancaster; 5. Richland Northeast; 6. York; 7. Dreher.
Region 4 2A: 1. Andrew Jackson; 2. Cheraw; 3. York Prep; 4. Chesterfield; 5. North Central; 6. Buford; 7. Pageland Central.
Metrolina Athletic Conference: 1. Concord Academy; 2. Westminster Catawba; 3. Gaston Christian; 4. Hickory Grove Christian; 5. Metrolina Christian; 6. SouthLake Christian; 7. Gaston Day