Class AA State Championship: Philip Simmons vs High Point

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>USE CODE “baxley30” FOR 30% OFF THE FIRST PURCHASE OF ANY SUBSCRIPTION</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All roads have led to the Columbia and the last two teams standing in SCHSL Class 2A are Philip Simmons High School and High Point Academy. Prep Hoops SC was at the Colonial Life Arena on Friday for this game and will be there to cover the other five classifications as well. Check out my game recap from the 2026 SCHSL Class 2A State Championship Game:&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Final Score: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Philip Simmons 50, High Point 46</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Performers: </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2709017' first='Hopper' last='Afman'] (Philip Simmons) - 15 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dylan Morris</strong> (Philip Simmons) - 13 points on 3-9 3FG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1537909' first='Jack' last='Mevold'] (Philip Simmons) - 9 points</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2692025' first='Joc' last='Miller'] (High Point) - 15 points on 3-7 3FG</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1679972' first='J'sean' last='Sanders'] (High Point) - 14 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 block</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2885526' first='Deylen' last='Whitaker'] (High Point) - 7 points, 8 assists, and 5 steals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Game Recap:</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first State Championship to be decided was Class AA. High Point Academy returned to this game after losing to Atlantic Collegiate a season ago, but this was the first appearance in school history for Philip Simmons. However, for most of the game, the Iron Horses looked like the team that had been there before. Other than an early 8-0 run from [player_tooltip player_id='2692025' first='Joc' last='Miller'], the Grizzlies really struggled to get any sort of consistent offensive rhythm. [player_tooltip player_id='2885526' first='Deylen' last='Whitaker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1679972' first='J'sean' last='Sanders'] were also impactful in the opening stages, but [player_tooltip player_id='2709017' first='Hopper' last='Afman'] hit a couple of important shots in the first quarter to keep the Iron Horses in range. <strong>Dylan Morris</strong> got going in the second quarter, knocking down all three of his threes to give Philip Simmons a halftime lead. It was a much tighter, scrappier third quarter, and one defined by foul trouble for a lot of important players. One of those players was [player_tooltip player_id='1537909' first='Jack' last='Mevold'], a guy who was able to battle through his foul situation with a couple of fourth-quarter buckets and a key drawn charge. Afman did much of the same, including a driving layup to go up three with two minutes left. Miller hit the first High Point three of the second half with 1:07 left to cut down the lead, but <strong>Palmer Driggers</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='2967940' first='Travis' last='Freeman'] took care of business at the free throw line to give Coach Garrett Campbell and the Iron Horses the Class AA crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->