Photo by Mike Maddock Hammond's Ali Hymson looks for help as Heathwood Hall's Kristen Dickerson drives to the basket. Heathwood Hall girls' coach Jack Warren called his team's quest for a region championship a "process that we have been building for three years." On Tuesday, February 19, the Lady Highlanders saw that process completed as they defeated Hammond, 49- 43, to capture the SCISA Region II-AAA basketball tournament title.

Hammond jumped out to a quick 7- 2 lead en route to a 13- 11 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Skyhawks had a balanced attack, with six players scoring at least one point. The Lady Highlanders stayed in the game behind junior Arayael Brandner, who scored seven of her 12 points and grabbed five of her game- high 14 rebounds in the stanza. Heathwood, however, claimed the halftime lead, with tournament MVP Kristen Dickerson scoring eight of her 14 points in the second. The Lady Highlanders went into the break leading 23- 15.

Hammond would not go down without a fight. The third quarter saw the Lady Skyhawks close to within one, as Elaine Epting, the previous night's heroine, score six of her team- high 13 points in the quarter. But the fourth belonged to the Lady Highlanders, who would outscore Hammond 15- 10 in the final frame to win by six.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood's Asia Dozier gets a lay up. Region Player of the Year Asia Dozier, an eighth grader, led Heathwood with 15 points and eight rebounds.

Senior Lauren Smith added 13 points for Hammond. Senior Ali Hymson, the Lady Skyhawks' bundle of energy at point guard, finished with a disappointing eight points on 3- of- 15 shooting.

The All- Tournament team consisted of Dozier, Dickerson, Smith, Molly Rainwater of Cardinal Newman, Amaura Brandt from Augusta Christian, Jena Mohr from St. Joseph's, and Lolly Christy of Ben Lippen, who scored her 1,000th career point in the semifinal loss to Heathwood.