‘At a loss for words’: South Pointe falls one win short of 4A state-title redemption
Just outside her team’s locker room, in the concourse of Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Pointe girls’ basketball coach Stephanie Butler-Graham was in an interview with The Herald when South Pointe principal Dr. Marty Connor tapped her on the shoulder and waved goodbye.
“Sorry,” Butler-Graham told Connor.
“No, no,” Connor said, shaking his head.
Moments ago, South Pointe had walked off the same court it did last year, falling one win short of ultimate glory to the same team it did last year. It lost to North Augusta, 70-57, on Saturday — giving North Augusta its fourth consecutive 4A state title.
“I’m honestly at a loss for words,” Butler-Graham said. “I really didn’t expect this outcome. Even though most folks had us as underdogs, I didn’t think this outcome would be like this because I thought we’d play well enough. ... It’s a tough way to go out.”
This time, the Stallions from Rock Hill had overcome a 10-point deficit at halftime, relying on two of the best players to ever play in the South Pointe girls’ basketball program to lead them back: Randi Neal finished with a team-high 22 points; and Jamia Blake, who will end her career as the leading scorer in program history, nearly had a triple-double — nine points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
But the comeback effort couldn’t top the performance North Augusta put on. The Yellow Jackets shot 56 percent from the 3-point line and got a 33-point performance from senior Tyliah Burns.
Conversely, South Pointe shot 39 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line.
“They connected on their (jump shots),” Butler-Graham said, “and we did not.”
South Pointe’s return to Columbia
South Pointe’s ultimate redemption awaited it on Saturday night. The story seemed too compelling not to come true. On its way to the state finals, South Pointe defeated Ridge View and Westwood — the only two teams to defeat it in the 2019-20 regular season.
If the Stallions would have defeated North Augusta, it would have earned revenge on the last three teams to beat them — and they would have punctuated their redemption tour at the proverbial mountain top.
But, instead, there was this scene after South Pointe’s loss: Coach Butler-Graham scanning a final box score in disbelief, receiving hugs from her players who got so close again.
4A state final against North Augusta
South Pointe fell behind 9-2 in the game’s first five minutes, and junior Trinity Adams got in foul trouble and had to sit out a substantial chunk of the first half — but the Stallions were still in it at halftime, only down 35-25.
And in the second half, they came out firing, busting out a 10-2 run to start and eventually overtaking North Augusta in the third quarter.
But an 8-0 fourth-quarter run spawned by Burns and senior guard J’Mani Ingram seemed to put the Stallions behind for good.
In addition to Neal and Blake, the Stallions were helped by Trinity Adams (seven points), Makayla Jamerson (eight points, 13 rebounds), Jaliyah Gaiton (seven points) and Naja Lane (four points, two steals).
Out on the concourse in Colonial Life Arena, where Butler-Graham had just bid her school’s principal goodbye, a reporter asked Butler-Graham why she said she was sorry.
Butler-Graham said: “I wanted this. I wanted it for our school. I wanted it for our admin, for our family. (Former South Pointe principal) Dr. (Al) Leonard gave me an opportunity, and we just couldn’t get it done ...
“I just really wanted us to make history.”
Butler was understandably despondent. But as she gave more hugs to more departing players — a group that is part of South Pointe’s first and second state championship appearances — perhaps Butler-Graham was reminded of all the uplifting history this South Pointe team had already made.
This story was originally published March 7, 2020 at 8:18 PM.
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