South Carolina H 5436: A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE HEBRON ZION PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) OF JOHNS ISLAND ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF ITS MERGER AND TO COMMEND THE CHURCH FOR A CENTURY AND A HALF OF SERVICE TO GOD AND THE COMMUNITY.

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5436 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 26, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5436

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE Blythewood High School 
girls basketball TEAM, COACHES, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS FOR AN OUTSTANDING SEASON 
AND TO CONGRATULATE THEM FOR WINNING THE 2026 SOUTH CAROLINA CLASS AAAAA 
Division I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE.

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives is pleased to learn that the members of the Blythewood 
High basketball team of Richland County captured the state title at the state championship 
held at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia on Friday, March 6, 2026; and

Whereas, to the thrill 
of their exuberant fans, the Blythewood Lady Bengals defeated a fine, 
competitive Wando High School 68-44 and claimed back-to-back state 
championships. The team finished the season with a 24-5 record after starting 
the season with three losses in the first four games; and 

Whereas, Blythewood's path 
to state finals was grinding after the Lady Bengals' second-round victory over 
Clover High School. The fourth seeded Lady Bengals tackled No. 1 ranked Dorman 
High School on February 27, a team which had defeated Blythewood 61-49 in the 
second game of the season. Blythewood held on to the lead in the fourth quarter, 
in spite of a strong Dorman rally, to win 54-52. That victory led the team to 
the Upper State championship to face No. 2 Mauldin High School. Blythewood battled 
Mauldin through three quarters and posted a 60-54 victory to advance to the 
state final; and

Whereas, in the first 
quarter of the state championship game, Blythewood fell behind against Wando, 
but the 17-9 deficit at the end of the quarter did not ruffle the Lady Bengals. 
Hayley Hightower made three of four free throws, and Chase Thomas sank a 
3-pointer to get Blythewood to within 17-15 with 6:36 left in the second 
quarter. The game stayed tight up to halftime. India Williams broke a 27-27 tie 
with a 3-pointer with 23 seconds left to put the Lady Bengals ahead 30-27 at the 
end of the half; and 

Whereas, Blythewood continued 
to sail through the third quarter, adding 18 points to Wando's 9. The Lady 
Bengals scored seven points in quick succession in the space of a minute. After 
the 5-minute mark of the third, India Williams made one of two foul shots, Chase 
Thomas drained a 3, and India Williams returned to the basket for a 3-point 
play with 4:04 left in the third quarter. Blythewood overcame the Wando Lady 
Warriors' lead by using their successful pressure defense. More of the same continued 
in the final quarter, outscoring Wando 20-8, to clinch the 68-44 victory; and

Whereas, seniors Chase 
Thomas, who has signed to play for South Carolina State University next season, 
finished the night with 28 points and 11 rebounds, and India Williams, who signed 
with USC Aiken, led the way for the Lady Bengals, scored 20 points and pulled 
down 10 boards. Two other seniors were key in securing the state championship victory. 
Hayley Hightower, the veteran point guard and a sprinter for Blythewood's state 
champion girls track and field team, signed to run for Purdue. She has sparked 
the defensive effort for years and had 8 steals and 5 assists on top of 5 
points. Madison Thomas, Chase's sister, had 2 steals and 2 assists with 4 
points; and 

Whereas, in a sport 
that exacts speed, strength, and precision, Head Coach Emily McElveen-Schaeffer 
and her dedicated coaching staff maximized their own athletic ability and 
training to hone a repeat championship team and teach these athletes life 
principles that will endure beyond the court; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives values the pride and recognition that the Blythewood 
basketball players have brought to their school and their community, and the 
members continue to look forward to the team's continued accomplishments in the 
days to come. 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 Blythewood High School girls basketball 
team, coaches, and school officials for an outstanding season and congratulate 
them for winning the 2026 South Carolina Class AAAAA Division I State 
Championship title.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Principal Ralph Schmidt and 
Coach Emily McElveen-Schaeffer. 

----XX----

This web page was last updated on March 26, 2026 at 11:56 AM