HHCA Varsity Girls Earn Sixth Consecutive State Title 68-44 Championship Victory

Okatie, SC -- South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) basketball State Championship tournaments have been played in Sumter, SC for well over 30 years. Hilton Head Christian Academy (HHCA) Varsity Girls basketball team had won their fifth straight SCISA State Championship title at the Sumter County Civic Center just one year ago.

This year was different.

Since both teams that made it to the final game call the Lowcountry home, the decision was made to play the championship game at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Student Recreation Center. It was a venue that did not disappoint, and the stands were packed with hometown fans who wanted to see their team raise the trophy.

On Friday, February 24, 2024, the HHCA Varsity Girls Basketball, led by Head Coach Bobby Thompson and Assistant Coach Mike Kenan, earned another State Championship title with a 68-44 win over John Paul II (JPII).

Undefeated in their SCISA AAA region, the Eagles received a bye in round one before defeating Hilton Head Prep (71-21) and Palmetto Christian Academy (69-34) in quarter and semi-final games. The team knew John Paul II (JPII) would be competitive. They beat JPII in both regular season games (69-50 and 49-35).

In sports, coaches and analysts sometimes quickly say “It’s hard to beat a team three times.” Others claim this is just a myth. No matter what the sayings and statistics allude, the Eagles {once again} showed how playing with grit, determination, hard work and, playing for an Audience of One, pays off.

​

Coach Thompson engrained a "work harder" work ethic into his players throughout the season, reminding them that "nobody cares" the program had won five titles in a row. And they did just that...working harder every practice, preparing when no one was watching, and leaving it all on the court throughout the year. 

It was evident when Mya Hutchinson shared this in a post-game interview earlier in the playoffs:

We are not coming easy. We are coming hard for anybody in the state playoffs. So just know it won’t be easy. You’re going to have to fight to beat us.

- Mya Hutchinson, Senior Point Guard

The Eagles ended the 2023-2024 season with a 17-7 record, and a sixth straight State Championship.

The team was recognized by SCISA coaches and Athletic Directors when Senior Devon Yarde was named Region Player of the Year, Coach Bobby Thompson was named Coach of the Year, Seniors Mya Hutchinson and Morgan Scott were added to the All-Region First Team, with Junior Macey Langhals named to the All-Region Second Team.

Additional season highlights included Devon Yarde, Morgan Scott, and Mya Hutchinson each being recognized for reaching more than 1000 points in their high school careers. The same three Seniors were named McDonald's All-American nominees, an incredible honor as they were among just 724 girls & boys basketball players selected from across the entire nation.
 

​