SCISA 1A Championship: Faith Christian vs. Richard Winn Academy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The declaration of a victor in the boys' 1A final on Saturday meant that we were halfway home in terms of determining SCISA champions for the 2022-23 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Said final featured a team out of the Midlands in Richard Winn taking on a team from the [program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='[program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last='']' last=''] in Faith Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With both teams having lost a combined total of five games this season, something had to give between two teams that have established themselves as teams to beat in the SCISA 1A ranks.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Early Saturday afternoon, the team from the [program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='[program_tooltip program_id='2078736' first='Lowcountry' last='']' last=''] prevailed over the representatives from the Midlands as the Knights claimed the 1A SCISA championship with a 54-40 victory over the Eagles.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The victory improved Faith Christian's record to 27-2 while that of Richard Winn Academy concludes at 22-4.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>How Things Progressed</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first quarter would see plenty of up-tempo basketball – and plenty of accuracy from long range. The opening stanza resembled a 3-point shooting contest a total of four treys were splashed home between the two teams. It was 14-8 in favor of Faith Christian after one quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights continued to pad its lead in the second quarter as they began the period with a 9-0 run prior to a Eagles 3-pointer temporarily halting the Faith Christian scoring binge. Fittingly, a 3-pointer was how the Knights closed out the first half as they went into halftime leading 30-11.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two teams appeared to be more evenly matched in the third quarter as Richard Winn managed to trim its deficit ever so slightly. At the conclusion of three frames, it was 39-24 with Faith Christian ahead.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles showed signs of life early in the fourth quarter, but the more time elapsed, the more said clock acted as a sixth man for the Knights. The first boys championship of the day was bestowed upon Faith Christian by virtue of a 14-point margin.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Primetime Performers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817818,"width":295,"height":193,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4915-crop-2141x1406-1677353731.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4915-crop-2141x1406-1677353731.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817818" width="295" height="193" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights were keyed by a balanced scoring push that saw four from Faith Christian finish with double-digit efforts. One of those was senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497939' first='Matterius' last='Bell']</strong>. The 5-foot-11 standout who shares team captaincy duties tallied 12 points. He can display accuracy from behind the 3-point arc and is a skilled rim attacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817820,"width":294,"height":193,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4893-crop-1833x1204-1677353875.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4893-crop-1833x1204-1677353875.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817820" width="294" height="193" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With 11 points, <strong>Elijah Brown</strong> put an exclamation point on his sophomore campaign at Faith Christian. He led the Knights efforts from behind the 3-point arc as he had three of the team's five successful attempts from deep. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817826,"width":296,"height":193,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4924-crop-2141x1406-1677354333.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4924-crop-2141x1406-1677354333.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817826" width="296" height="193" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497940' first='Omari' last='Johnson']</strong>, another one of the team captains, finished with a 10-point outing. Johnson also left Sumter with All-Tournament honors in addition to championship hardware. He stands at 5-foot-10. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817829,"width":306,"height":201,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4930-crop-3226x2118-1677354460.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4930-crop-3226x2118-1677354460.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817829" width="306" height="201" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Will Watts</strong> also placed 10 points on the board to bring a close to his 2022-23 season. The standout sophomore forward who stands at 6-foot-4 saved his best for last as all 10 of his points came in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817832,"width":310,"height":203,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4863-crop-3226x2118-1677354594.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4863-crop-3226x2118-1677354594.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817832" width="310" height="203" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Eagles, <strong>Lawson's Wade</strong>'s season – and his high school career – came to an end with a 15-point performance. Wade is a skilled 6-foot-5 veteran who can deliver strong finishes at the rim and can draw contact to get to the free throw line. Unfortunately for Wade and his team, he was injured late in the fourth quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817836,"width":313,"height":205,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4842-crop-2291x1504-1677354736.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4842-crop-2291x1504-1677354736.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817836" width="313" height="205" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Miller Stuck</strong> added nine points to the Richard Winn cause. Stuck stands at 6-foot-3 and scored six of his nine points in the second half. He primarily operates as a point guard but will also garner playing time as a wing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>So Long, Seniors</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Eric McClary</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497939' first='Matterius' last='Bell']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497940' first='Omari' last='Johnson']</strong>, <strong>Josiah Ortiz</strong> and <strong>Josh Balogh</strong> are among the seniors graduating for the Knights. As for the Eagles, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1135937' first='Lawson' last='Wade']</strong>, <strong>Rob Wilson</strong>, <strong>Landon Caulder</strong>, <strong>Kitt Nicholson</strong>, <strong>Travis Bonds</strong> and <strong>Jacob Chaisson</strong> are graduating from the program. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1817840,"width":353,"height":232,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4980-crop-2954x1940-1677354939.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/02/IMG_4980-crop-2954x1940-1677354939.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1817840" width="353" height="232" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>All-Tournament Team</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497940' first='Omari' last='Johnson']</strong> – Faith Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497939' first='Matterius' last='Bell']</strong> – Faith Christian</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Drew Spires</strong> – Richard Winn</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1135937' first='Lawson' last='Wade']</strong> – Richard Winn</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Mason Hawes</strong> – Charleston Collegiate</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Colton List</strong> – King Academy</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->