Rock Hill girls to lean on experience heading into state championship basketball game

De’Ashaj Crawford was a sophomore when Rock Hill won its first girls basketball state championship in 2022, only scoring four points total the entire postseason.

Now, as a senior and the team’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game, Crawford looks to lead the team this year the same way she saw the seniors lead two years ago.

“The first time we went to state, I was moreso learning and watching Jada (Jones, a former Rock Hill standout) of how she led the team to win,” Crawford said. “Just knowing that I have the opportunity to lead my team to get a ring this year means a lot because I had to work twice as hard. I feel like I put in more work this time.”

Crawford isn’t alone.

Seniors Sarah Anderson-Wildy and Layla Jones, junior Imani Sterling and sophomore Chloe Hudson also played during that 2022 state championship season.

These players are a huge part of the established core for the Bearcats this year, each supplying a unique skill set that has helped Rock Hill get this far.

Jones, for example, creates most of her impact on the defensive side of the basketball.

She often takes the responsibility of guarding the opposing team’s best guard, using her speed and quickness to keep up with ballhandlers while also displaying the discipline to not get baited into easy fouls.

“I think it is really just mental for me,” Jones said. “Ever since I was a freshman watching my sister (Jada) play, we’ve really focused on defense because that wins a lot our games. For us, a big principle of our program is that defense is very important. If you can lock down the other team’s main scorer, your team just has to do the rest. I just want to do my part and do what I need to do on Friday.”

However, Jones and the Bearcats are going to have their work cut out for them against Sumter.

Sumter, Rock Hill’s opponent on Friday night, is the lone undefeated team in the state and boasts two three-time all-state players on its roster in the senior-guard duo of Rickell Brown and 5A player of the year Kiara Croskey. The two combine for more than 35 points per game for the 24-0 Gamecocks.

However, Rock Hill coach Kenny Orr expected this level of competition. He also saw it two years ago.

“To get what you want to get, you got to beat the best,” Orr said. “I wouldn’t want to have it any other type of way. So there can’t be any discussion later on down the road; if we happen to win, we can say we beat (the other top teams in the state). (Sumter is) a very good team. (Sumter head coach) Jeff Schaffer does a good job with them. They’re not 24-0 for no reason. They’re a stout opponent.”

Rock Hill has an all-state guard duo of its own in two-timer Crawford and first-timer Hudson.

Hudson is the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.5 points per game, able to score points in bunches thanks to her 3-point shooting ability.

Hudson believes that Rock Hill matches up well with Sumter and hopes that she’ll be able to make her shots when the opportunity arises.

“I just have to do what comes and not force anything,” the 5-foot-9 guard said. “If it comes to me, I have to make it count.”

A key player for the Bearcats who was not on the championship team from two years ago is starting point guard Aubrey Stevenson.

Stevenson spent her previous two years at Legion Collegiate Academy before joining the Bearcats this year. Her 6.2 assists per game rank third in the state.

The junior came to Rock Hill to play in these big games, and it doesn’t get much bigger than the state championship.

“I’m going to have to create for my team,” Stevenson said. “Find the shots that are open for them, facilitate, bring the energy, play defense because it’s going to be a guard game. I feel like our offense is through guards. I’m the point guard, so I have to facilitate first.”

Despite a lot of the attention being focused on the guards from both schools, the play on the interior will still be a major determing factor in who comes away with the trophy.

Forwards Anderson-Wildy and Sterling made their impact known against J.L. Mann, especially on the defensive side, and the Bearcats look to see a similar performance against Sumter.

“My mindset has been the same throughout this whole season,” Anderson-Wildy said. “Rebound, block shots, finish when I can. Really, there is no switching up. There’s no need to switch up what I’m doing. As long as the guards produce, we’ll be fine.”

“Offensively, I’m here to help them out,” Anderson-Wildy continued. “Whenever they’re driving, I’m there on the block ready to help them if they get stuck or with offensive rebounding, getting more opportunities for shots or getting the ball and kicking it out. As long as I’m helping, I’m helping. It’s a team game.”

Rock Hill has seen its playoff run go a lot of different ways.

From taking a 31-point halftime lead against Byrnes to overcoming a second-half deficit against Mauldin to trailing 10-0 within the first two minutes against J.L. Mann, Rock Hill still stands tall.

And that variety will bode well for the team regardless of what happens against Sumter.

“I think it’s just all about our confidence,” Sterling said. “We have had talks and conversations, and we’ve prepared. Our schedule this year has prepared us for games like this, so when we are down, we don’t get nervous or scared. We just come out and perform and execute our game plan.”

The Rock Hill community has come out in loud support of the Bearcats during their playoff run. Its presence was definitely felt in Rock Hill’s game at Mauldin and in Florence for the state semifinals despite the 2 p.m. start time.

Orr said that the community being behind them is exciting, and he knows that support benefits his players as well.

“We appreciate it,” Orr said. “That Mauldin game was a big thing where we saw a lot of support from the community. (Last) Friday was a little different. We probably could have had a lot more people there if it was a different time. But the ones that did come, they showed out, they screamed, they got to see a good game. Just knowing that we’re going to have the support of the city of Rock Hill, it means a lot to these girls.”

Rock Hill and Sumter meet at 6 p.m. Friday in the SCHSL 5A girls’ final at the Florence Center.

Tickets are available for purchase at the school. Per athletic director Eric Rollings, there are about 100 left for purchase.