SUMTER – Blythewood’s girls basketball program takes some new hardware into the new year – crowned champions of the District 9 Officials Christmas Basketball Tournament.
Junior Chase Thomas was named tournament MVP after tallying her ninth double-double of the season. In the three-game stretch, she averaged 26.6 points, 14.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
The Bengals capped the three-day tournament with a 65-48 title win over Crestwood. Thomas had 29 points, 14 rebounds, four steals and two assists in the win. India Williams put up 23 points and had a team-high seven assists and three blocks. Daniella Bosmans had 11 points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Blythewood downed Laurence Manning Academy 81-34 in day two of the tournament.
Thomas and Williams combined for 49 of the Bengals’ points in the win. Thomas had 16 rebounds, four steals and two assists. Kaila Spain, a sophomore, had 11 rebounds. Senior Sherron Waters had a team-high 13 assists and five steals. She also chipped in five points.
The Bengals opened tournament play with a 63-25 win over Dillon High School. Thomas had 24 points, 13 rebounds and five steals. Aniya Guerrero had 14 points, nine rebounds and two steals. Williams and Bosmans had 10 points and four rebounds apiece. Williams had a team-high five assists.
The championship win was number 13 of the season for the Bengals – their 11th double-digit win of the season. At the midway point in the season, Blythewood is averaging 87.9 points, 16.1 assists and 14.8 steals per game.
Blythewood opens the 2025 portion of the season on the road tomorrow. They’ll travel across I-77 to take on Westwood at the Castle. Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m.
