Throughout the high school girls basketball season, we’ll recognize the standouts from the previous week’s action with the Lowco Girls Hoops Spotlight presented by 4M Metals.
We select an offensive and defensive player of the week, as well as a Team of the Week, and highlight the biggest game of the upcoming week.
Here’s this week’s installment of the Lowco Girls Hoops Spotlight presented by 4M Metals.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Layla Warren, BHS
Just when the frustration might have been starting to mount for the Eagles’ senior star, who has fought through double-teams for two years, she went off for a career-high 35 points in a home win over Colleton County on Friday. Despite everyone in the gym knowing she’s the one the Eagles want to shoot it, Warren is putting up 21 points per game to go along with six rebounds, 4.2 steals, and three assists, and she has Beaufort sitting at 2-1 in region with a chance to snag one of two playoff spots.
Honorable Mention: Abby Peduzzi, HHCA; Ari Bevans, MRHS; Taylor Michael, JPII; Kynew Barnwell, WB; Samari Mitchell, BLHS
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DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tacoya Heyward, BLHS
OK, the Bobcats technically didn’t play last week, but since we didn’t hand out awards we’re grandfathering in Heyward’s previous work since returning from holiday break, and it has been impressive. Bluffton has limited its last two opponents to 14 and 13 points, holding May River to 12 percent shooting and pitching shutouts in the second AND third quarters of a win over Colleton County.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Bigham, MRHS; Maddie Heathcott, JPII; Jayla Daise, BHS; Dior Shelton, HHCA; Layla Love, WB
TEAM OF THE WEEK
Whale Branch (2-0 last week, 7-0 overall)
So much for rust coming off a nearly month-long break. The Warriors came out of their hibernation with a flair, blasting region opponents Palmetto Scholars and Cross — the No. 9 team in Class 1A — to maintain their perfect record. Oh, by the way, they did it without their starting center, who averages a double-double. Sophomore Layla Love stepped up in place of Erin Rivers, and Kynew Barnwell, Zhani Thompson, and Jazmin Diaz did their thing, and the Warriors kept rolling.
Honorable Mention: Hilton Head Christian Academy; Beaufort High
GAME OF THE WEEK
Beaufort High at Bluffton, Friday
The Bobcats have rolled through region play without incident thus far (though they had a close call at Hilton Head High) but if any team has emerged as a potential threat, it’s the Eagles. Layla Warren can light up anyone in a flash, and as tough as the Bobcats are in the half-court set, there’s only so much you can do about a shooter. Bluffton took the first meeting with relative ease, winning by 15, but Warren’s supporting cast has grown a good bit since then, so it will be a good measure of how far the Bobcats’ young stars have come since the first matchup.
PAST WINNERS
(Offensive, Defensive, Team)
Week 1: Mike’Ala Washington, BA; Erin Rivers, WB; HHCA
Week 2: Kynew Barnwell, WB; Jazmin Diaz, WB; HHP
Week 3: Dior Shelton, HHCA; Tacoya Heyward, BLHS; BLHS
Week 4: Layla Warren, BHS; Tacoya Heyward, BLHS; WB