SCHSL 2-A Basketball: Gray Collegiate boys, Andrew Jackson girls win state titles
FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA – Gray Collegiate ended an era with yet another basketball state championship.
Brayhlan Thomas scored 16 points as the War Eagles held off Oceanside Collegiate 44-40 for their third consecutive 2-A state championship.
Gray has won six of the last seven 2-A titles. It will also be their last because the War Eagles (30-6) are moving up to 4-A due to the South Carolina High School League’s attendance multiplier for determining how to classify charter schools.
Carson Jones led Oceanside (22-7) with 11 points while Travis Stickney had 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.
The Land Sharks started strong and led 11-3 after one quarter.
But Gray recovered and got it down to a 20-19 game by halftime.
Darius Carr’s dunk gave Gray a 40-37 lead and then Thomas, who has committed to Georgia Southern, iced it with a pair of free throws.
Tamai Watkins monster double-double leads Andrew Jackson girls
Tamia Watkins dominated play as Andrew Jackson rolled past Landrum 78-60 to win the girls 2-A state championship on Friday.
The 6-foot-1 junior center had 26 points and 19 rebounds.
Ayona Alexander scored 20 points and had 8 rebounds while Ni’yonna Asbelle contributed 19 points.
Kylie Fortner and Savannah Brown each scored 19 points to lead Landrum and Kaylee Cortez added 12.
The Volunteers had a huge edge in the paint, outscoring Landrum 56-26.
Landrum was ahead 21-18 at the end of the first quarter but the Volunteers utilized strong a second quarter and led 37-30 at halftime.