The Stars of SCISA’s Championship Weekend

<!-- 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>The 2025-26 South Carolina Independent School Association Boys Basketball Season came to a close this weekend with four State Championship Games at the Sumter County Civic Center. "Championship Weekend", as it's known, is one of the most highly-anticipated and important weekends of the year. These six players were the stars of the weekend, stepping up with big performances on the brightest stage to help lead their schools to glory:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2854669"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacd8ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2854669' first='Malachi' last='Scott'] begins my list of SCISA Championship Weekend Stars. Despite being one of the team's best players and leading scorers all season long, I wasn't super familiar with Scott's game coming into the day. However, he quickly opened my eyes by taking over the second quarter with 8 points on a 13-0 General run. Malachi has an excellent finishing package and was a dominant scorer at speed and through contact. He also made a few athletic plays defensively, putting up 21 points, 4 steals, and 3 assists to help pull out the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["3530257"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacd927"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another Cathedral Academy General who starred in their third-straight State Championship win is Joel. Lockard had the best spot-up shooting display I saw this weekend in Sumter, connecting on four of his five attempts from three. He efficiently punished the Charleston Collegiate zone by staying shot-ready in the corners with a quick and pretty release. It was more than just shooting for him, though, because he racked up a handful of steals and rebounds and had a nice right-handed finish in transition. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1806931"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacd979"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The biggest thing that made Scott-Palacios one of the stars of championship weekend was his pure toughness. Isaiah tore his ACL a little over 6 months ago, yet was still able to suit up and play all 44 minutes for the Eagles. Although he clearly wasn't 100%, he battled on the floor for loose balls, on the defensive end for rebounds, and at the rim for tough buckets. Scott-Palacios had 10 points in a key third-quarter turnaround for Greenwood Christian and went on to finish with 23 points and 10 rebounds in the triple-overtime win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2674162"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacd9c6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='2674162' first='Tre' last='Green'] absolutely took over the second half of Pinewood Prep's Class 4A State Championship. After struggling with only 5 points over the first 16 minutes, he completely turned it around with 19 points over the final 16 minutes to help lead the Panthers to the promised land. Tre was much more effective getting to the basket in the second half, which was an adjustment because his jumpers weren't falling at their usual rate. In championship games like this, you have to work with what you have, but when Green is able to balance his scoring at all three levels, he is a really difficult guard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2279025"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacda10"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of the most intriguing and high-level prospects in SCISA this season was Kais. His combination of length and fluid movement is what has many in the Charleston area excited about his future, but he was ready this season to contribute. Parris was a defensive difference maker in Friday's 4A State Championship, racking up 13 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block. Several of his rebounds came on the offensive end of the floor as well - an area that was a huge advantage for the Panthers. His jump shooting also stood out, knocking down a pair of mid-range jumpers and a three to go for 15 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Kayshaun Rutherford","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ragin Prep","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a5c9cacdac3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rounding out the stars of championship weekend is <strong>Kayshaun Rutherford</strong>. Rutherford was impactful from the jump for Ragin Prep, knocking down an early left-wing three and helping out on both sides of the glass. 7 of his 17 points came in the opening quarter as the Rams began to build a comfortable lead with second-chance points and points off turnovers. Kayshaun's size on the wing was something Newberry Academy did not have an answer for, nor has most of their opponents throughout the season. It was more than just scoring with Rutherford, though; he also tallied 4 steals and 2 blocks in Sumter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->