“Rewarding” is perhaps the best way to describle the last 48 hours for Danae McNeal.

The 3-time S.C. Basketball Coaches Association Class 3A Player of the Year and Clemson University signee added to her trophy case when she was named Gatorade’s South Carolina Girls’ Player of the Year. She became the 3rd Lexington County player to receive the honor, joining current Batesburg-Leesville girls’ basketball coach Jessica Barr and former Dutch Fork and University of South Carolina center Alaina Coates.

Saturday afternoon at Heathwood Hall, McNeal was named the S.C. Hoops Festival Senior Showcase Girls’ Player of the Game. She scored 12 of her 18 points in the 2nd half for the Dark team, which rallied to defeat the White team 111-98.

“I’m very honored to have received these awards,” McNeal said.

Coached by Lexington’s Molly Goodrich, the White team had a 59-49 advantage. Lady Wildcat guard and University of South Carolina commit Olivia Thompson had 12 of her 14 points in the 1st half and finished with a team-high 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

The Dark team’s offense awakened in the 2nd half. It outscored the White team 62-39 sparked by the scoring of McNeal, Destiny Coleman of Spring Valley who had a game-high 19 points and Chapin’s Emma Fabry, who finished with 11 points.

The White team briefly reclaimed the lead, thanks in part to Brookland-Cayce’s Aa’Breah Keitt who finished with 14 points. The Dark team answered with 10 unanswered points and close the game with a 19-6 run.

“We knew we had to play together as a team,” McNeal said. “Just sharing the ball, finding the open person and driving to the basket.”

White Knoll's Jalisa Squirewell had 7 points, Gray Collegiate’s Kayla Gordan ended up 6 points and Airport’s Myia Jackson added 4 points for the Dark team. Irmo’s Madison Dopico had 7 points and Lexington’s Brooke Foulks finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds for the White team. 

McNeal and Thompson will take part in one more All-Star contest. In 2 weeks, they will join forces on Team South Carolina as part of the Carolinas Classic All-Star Game in Wilmington, N.C. on March 23.

(BOYS GAME)

DARK 155, WHITE 122

Dutch Fork boys’ basketball coach Brett Jones is known for his defensive schemes.

Leading the Dark team, he oversaw a 3-point shooting exhibition which put the game away early. HItting 19 3-pointers, the Dark led as many as 43 points in the 1st half and had 8 players finish in double-figures.

Swansea’s Keenan Coats and River Bluff’s Andrew Robinson were among them, finishing with 13 and 14 points, respectively. Robinson had a perfect afternoon, hiiting 5-5 from the field and 4-4 from 3-point range.

Chico Carter of Cardinal Newman led all scorers with 27 points to earn Player of the Game honors.

Tommy Bruner of 2-time Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate finished with 15 points and 7 assists and teammate Dallaz Corbitt added 8 points along with Lexington’s Bradley Foulks for the White team. It outscored the Dark 75-67 in the second half.