SCISA 1A Championship: Curtis Baptist vs. Ragin Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Saturday at the Sumter County Civic Center was, in many ways, a continuation of championship Friday where a 1A girls championship was claimed by Curtis Baptist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday's action began with the 1A boys title game. Curtis Baptist was one of two schools on hand that had the distinction of having both their girls and boys teams vie for state hardware (Pee Dee Academy in the 3A ranks was the other). The Crusaders were one of four teams that earned a bye into the quarterfinals prior to earning wins over Holly Hill Academy and Richard Winn en route to the championship game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ragin Prep – only a 10 minute drive from the Sumter County Civic Center – also earned a bye into the quarterfinals. The Rams then followed it up with victories over Mead Hall and Marlboro Academy to earn the privilege of playing for a state championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785773,"width":"612px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9762-crop-3830x2515-1740249207.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9762-crop-3830x2515-1740249207.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785773" style="width:612px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Saturday at the Sumter County Civic Center commenced with Ragin Prep notching the 57-52 victory over Curtis Baptist.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Records</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ragin Prep's final record for the 2024-25 season will be 14-14 on top of its region showing of 3-0. While the result was not what Curtis Baptist was in search of, it can still be proud of its appearance on top of a 15-10 record plus a region record of 5-1.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Remember What Happened Last Time? </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A high-scoring affair ensued the last time these two schools exchanged pleasantries in February of last year. That contest went the way of Curtis Baptist with the final score being 79-69.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Quarter-By-Quarter</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Curtis Baptist was looking to ensure Crusaders teams went 2-0 following the girls team's 1A championship victory over Wardlaw Academy the previous day. So far, so good for the Crusaders as they built a 14-6 lead on Ragin Prep after the first eight minutes.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One had to expect that the Rams – playing in their own backyard – would not make it easy on Curtis Baptist. What was an eight-point margin after one stanza was only two at the half as the Crusaders would lead the Rams by a margin of 30-28.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In large part because of clutch interior offensive play, Ragin Prep managed to pull ahead of Curtis Baptist in the third quarter. Eight minutes remained to determine a 1A state champion with the Rams ahead of the Crusaders by a slim margin of 42-40.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rams would maintain that lead through the fourth quarter. As the minutes ticked off the clock, Ragin Prep's advantage grew and its lead looked bigger than it was. The Rams were indeed successful in holding off a tough Curtis Baptist team en route to the 1A crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785775,"width":"561px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9658-crop-2689x1766-1740249526.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9658-crop-2689x1766-1740249526.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785775" style="width:561px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was too much<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2693904' first='Kavontay' last='Rose']</strong> for the Curtis Baptist defense to handle. Rose particularly stepped up with big plays in the second half and would conclude his day with an 18-point performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785777,"width":"561px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9714-crop-2103x1381-1740249666.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9714-crop-2103x1381-1740249666.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785777" style="width:561px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 14 points that <strong>K'Den Shannon</strong> contributed to the Ragin Prep effort also were key in the Rams win. Shannon gave a long range dimension to the Rams offensive efforts as he connected on three from deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785779,"width":"573px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9726-crop-1935x1271-1740249828.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9726-crop-1935x1271-1740249828.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785779" style="width:573px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The same applied to the 10 points that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693903' first='Omari' last='Myers']</strong> added to the Ragin Prep cause. Myers, being a senior, was playing his final game in the Rams colors. He was also one of three team captains on this season's rendition of the Rams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785781,"width":"572px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9683-crop-2061x1353-1740250022.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9683-crop-2061x1353-1740250022.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785781" style="width:572px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 21-point performance courtesy of freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2783932' first='Trez' last='Mincey']</strong> led the efforts for Curtis Baptist. Mincey is willing to draw plenty of contact and get to the free throw line – he was at that charity stripe on plenty of occasions on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785786,"width":"571px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9753-crop-2361x1550-1740250183.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9753-crop-2361x1550-1740250183.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785786" style="width:571px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of 12-point scorers also played major roles in keeping Curtis Baptist in the contest from the opening tip to the final buzzer. One of them was <strong>Kaleb Burnette</strong>. He is listed at 5-foot-10 on the Crusaders roster. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785791,"width":"566px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9702-crop-1833x1204-1740250325.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9702-crop-1833x1204-1740250325.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785791" style="width:566px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other who added 12 points was <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2782636' first='Treivan' last='Wright']</strong>. While versatility is a hallmark of his game, he especially thrives at playing point – including with his passing proficiency. Wright is one of six 2028s on this season's Curtis Baptist team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2785793,"width":"555px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9767-crop-3226x2118-1740250548.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/IMG_9767-crop-3226x2118-1740250548.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2785793" style="width:555px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693904' first='Kavontay' last='Rose']</strong> – Ragin Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Kayshaun Rutherford </strong>– Ragin Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1806930' first='Zymir' last='Robinson-Hill'] –</strong> Ragin Prep</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2783932' first='Trez' last='Mincey'] –</strong> Curtis Baptist</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2782636' first='Treivan' last='Wright']</strong> – Curtis Baptist</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353146' first='Charlie' last='Bonds'] </strong>– Richard Winn</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Bee and Jonathan Bailey have worn Curtis Baptist's uniform one final time. The same applies to Joseph Wright, [player_tooltip player_id='1806905' first='Cordell' last='Sims'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2693903' first='Omari' last='Myers'] at Ragin Prep.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->