Following Richard Winn Academy’s Feb. 12 region title win over Spartanburg Christian, 34-17, four Lady Eagles received All-Region honors: Anna Cooke, Jaycie Johnson, Jessie Stidham and Carson Justice. Justice was also named SCISA 2A Region III Player of the Year, while head coach Jason Haltiwanger was named Girls’ Region Coach of the Year.
Justice, a junior, had an outstanding year for the Lady Eagles, heading into last weekend’s state title game with 459 points on the season. Justice shot 42 percent from the floor from 2-point range and 28 percent from beyond the arch. She also shot 63 percent from the free-throw line. Justice also notched 143 assists while pulling down 40 offensive rebounds and 110 defensive rebounds. She also blocked 45 of her opponents’ shots, deflected 95 shots and snatched 113 steals. In Saturday’s state title win over Marlboro Academy, Justice put up 25 points and had one steal.
Johnson, a freshman, had 278 points for the Lady Eagles going into Saturday’s final, with 42 blocked shots, 61 steals and 152 total rebounds. Stidham, a sophomore, contributed 234 points for the Lady Eagles, shooting 62 percent from the foul stripe while pulling down 167 total rebounds. Cooke, a junior, added 44 total rebounds for RWA with 28 steals on the season. Haltiwanger’s squad finished the year with a 29-1 record, their only blemish a 52-35 loss at Class 2A public school Mid-Carolina on Jan. 10. It was a loss they would avenge on Jan. 31, 48-26, at home.