Earlier this week, the top five boys teams were profiled. Here’s a snapshot of the top five girls teams.
Josey Eagles (8-2, 0-0 Region 4)
2024 finish: 28-4, 2A runners-up
2025 outlook: The top-ranked Eagles came within seven points of a championship against Mount Paran Christian, a private-school powerhouse that dominated every other 2A school it played. With Mount Paran and other private schools splitting off to the 3A-A tournament under the new GHSA format, the Eagles find themselves in pole position to take home the state championship. If they can accomplish that tall order would be their first since 2021 and the second in program history, the first coming in 1998. Junior Kerri Fluellen is averaging 15.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 7.6 steals. Senior Shaniya Sanders is averaging 12.9 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.6 steals. Junior Za’Miyah Jenkins is averaging 11.9 points, 16.5 rebounds, two steals and 3.6 blocks. They are 2-2 against ranked teams, beating 4A’s No. 5 Kell and 2A No. 7 Washington County, and losing to 3A-A’s No. 2 St. Francis and North Augusta, ranked No. 2 in South Carolina’s Division 4A. Their next two games they play a pair of unranked South Carolina teams, South Aiken on Saturday and Ridge View Jan. 4, then open region play hosting No. 3 Butler (9-1, 0-0) Jan. 7.
Thomson Bulldogs (11-1, 0-0 Region 4)
2024 finish: 22-5, 2A playoff appearance
2025 outlook: The No. 2 Bulldogs look to rebound from a disappointing first-round loss to Sumter County in last year’s playoffs, and back on the track that saw them reach the 2023 quarterfinals as underclassmen. Senior Jada Kendrick averages 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.3 blocks, followed by senior Ty’Leishiah Latimore (11.2 points, 4.3 steals), junior Paris Rosser (10.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 4.9 steals) and junior Janiyah Scott (9.5 points, 2.4 steals). The rest of the roster is juniors and underclassmen, a possible indicator off success well beyond this season. They are 4-1 against ranked teams. They beat 3A No. 2 Baldwin 64-54, 5A’s No. 7 Bradwell Institute, 3A’s No. 5 Fayette County and No. 9 Columbia. Their only loss was 46-44 to 3A-A’s No. 1 Hebron Christian, which is chasing a third straight championship. The Bulldogs’ last game of 2024, was a 54-8 win over Emanuel County Institute on Dec. 23. They resume action with Warren County on Jan. 3, and Cedar Shoals the next day, then their region opener hosting Laney (6-6, 0-0).
Butler Bulldogs (9-1, 0-0 Region 4)
2024 finish: 21-10, 2A quarterfinals
2025 outlook: With the Bulldogs ranked No. 1, Region 4 is home to the top three teams. The Bulldogs, who reached the 2A quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons, are led by senior Brayla Harris (19.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.8 steals), junior Paris Floyd (13.3 points, 7.2 steals) and senior Rania Curry (11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 5.8 steals, 1.4 blocks). Their only loss is to 6A’s No. 6 Cherokee, 60-51. They close 2024 on Saturday against Osborne and open the new year Jan. 4 against Gray Collegiate, No. 10 in South Carolina Division 4A. Their region opener is Jan. 7 at No. 1 Josey.
Murray County Indians (12-0, 7-0 Region 7)
2024 finish: 24-7, 2A semifinals
2025 outlook: The No. 4 Indians’ Final Four appearance last year topped the previous year’s quarterfinals appearance, and was good for their best finish since 1966. The Indians entered the playoffs last season unranked, but pollsters aren’t sleeping on them this year. Their leaders from last year, Callan Ledford, Emma Blaylock and Miley McClure, return and none are seniors. More than half their games have been against 7-2A teams, including No. 7 Sonoraville, No. 8 Ringgold and No. 10 Union County. Their next game is Dec. 30 against 3A-A private’s No. 6 Greenforest. They open 2025 resuming region play, starting with LFO (2-9, 2-3), the only 7-2A opponent they’ve yet to face.
Hardaway Hawks (6-5, 2-0 Region 1)
2024 finish: 27-5, 4A semifinals
2025 outlook: The Hawks are the only team in this group that wasn’t in 2A last year. Though theye’re in 2A now, the only 2A schools they’ve played have been from their region, a 79-24 win over Columbus, and a 70-10 win over Kendrick. Their losses came to 5A’s No. 1 Langston Hughes, 6A’s No. 3 North Paulding, 6A’s No. 5 Carrollton, 3A-A’s No. 5 Holy Innocents’, and to St. Anne-Pacelli, ranked No. 3 in the GIAA 4A rankings, in their final game of 2024, played on Dec. 20. After a long layoff, they’ll resume play Jan. 7 in a region game hosting Jordan (1-7, 1-1). Sophomore Rhianna Boynton leads the team with 15.3 points, 12.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.9 blocks, followed by senior Mikayla Johnson (13 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 steals) and senior Akilah Shelton (9.9 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 2.8 blocks).
Sources: MaxPreps, GHSA.net, Georgia High School Basketball Project
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