South Carolina H 5341: Florence Christian School girls basketball champs

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5341 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 11, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5341

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Indicates New Matter

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A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND 
HONOR THE FLORENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL 
OFFICIALS FOR A REMARKABLE SEASON AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2026 
SOUTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT SCHOOL ASSOCIATION CLASS 3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
TITLE.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Florence 
Christian girls basketball team captured the South Carolina Independent School 
Association (SCISA) state title at the state tournament held at the Sumter 
Civic Center on February 28, 2026; and

Whereas, to the thrill 
of their exuberant fans, the Florence Christian Eagles defeated a competitive Orangeburg 
Prep Indians 42-35, to take the program's first-ever state title and finish the 
season with a 24-2 record, also avenging a loss to Orangeburg Prep earlier in 
the season; and

Whereas, Florence 
Christian was able to hit shots against the strong triangle-and-two defense of 
Orangeburg Prep, leading at the half 19-14. In the third period, the Indians 
outscored Florence Christian 12-9 points to shave the Eagles' lead to 28-26, 
but Florence Christian outscored Orangeburg Prep 14-9 in the final period to 
bring home the state trophy; and

Whereas, Emerson Poston 
led the Eagles in scoring with 19 points in the championship game, while Bailey 
Johnson added 8, Charlotte Granger chipped in 5, Leah Lambert netted 4, and 
Anna Kate Huggins and Demi Green each contributed 3. The SCISA 3A girl's 
all-tournament team included three players from Florence Christian: Anna Kate 
Huggins, Bailey Johnson, and Emerson Poston; and

Whereas, Florence 
Christian head coach Neil Minton, credited the victory to hard work, 
determination, and his team just getting after it, summing it up by saying, "We 
had more people playing with confidence and they were stronger with the ball… 
All the little stuff we worked on helped us improve and we rely on our defense. 
I thought we played great half-court defense…."; and

Whereas, the Eagles' 
roster included three senior starters, Leah Lambert, one of the team's better 
passing post players, Anna Kate Huggins, one of the team's most important 
players defensively, and Demi Green, a strong leader who plays well on both 
sides of the ball, whose combined leadership next year's team will miss, and teammates 
Bailey Johnson, Raegan Claire Watson, Bethany Starr, Lareen Rishmawi, Lyla 
Broach, Lana Claire Jordan, Charlotte Granger, and Emerson Poston. Winning 
seventeen straight games, the Eagles benefited from each player's effort during 
the season, or as Coach Minton put it, this team "chopped wood and carried 
water" all the way to the school's first ever girls basketball state 
championship; and

Whereas, in a sport 
that demands strength, agility, and accuracy, Coach Minton and his staff 
maximized their own athletic ability and training to hone a championship-caliber 
team and teach these athletes life principles that will endure beyond the 
court; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is grateful for the pride and recognition 
that the Florence Christian basketball players have brought to their school and 
their community, and the members look forward to following their continued 
achievements in the days ahead. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, recognize and honor the Florence Christian School girls 
varsity basketball team, coaches, and school officials for a remarkable season 
and congratulate them for winning the 2026 South Carolina Independent School 
Association Class 3A State Championship title.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Jim Berry and Coach Neil 
Minton of Florence Christian School.

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This web page was last updated on March 11, 2026 at 10:45 AM