St. Albans' Samyah Riggan (right) shoots while guarded by Spring Valley's Ella Giles during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring Valley players Sophi Hutchison (3), Ava Robertson (5), Charlee Harris (10), Brooklyn Ellis (23), Dria Parker (33) and Allie Daniels (34) celebrate as a teammate scores a basket during their playoff game against St. Albans in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring Valley's Sophi Hutchison (left) tries not to lose the ball while guarded by St. Albans' Triniti Austin-Russell (15) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' Samyah Riggan (right) shoots while guarded by Spring Valley's Ella Giles during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring ValleyƵs Allie Daniels (34) dribbles the ball while guarded by St. AlbansƵ JayCee Elzy and Samyah Riggan (15) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. AlbansƵ JayCee Elzy (left) shoots as Spring ValleyƵs Sophi Hutchison tries to block the shot and Allie Daniels (center) looks on during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' JayCee Elzy (5), Taylor Reed (25), and Jaelyn Vance (0) get ready to return to their game against Spring Valley in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans Seniors Samyah Riggan (15) and Jaycee Elzy (5) walk off the court with their teammates after losing to Spring Valley 83-49 in the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring ValleyƵs Sophi Hutchison (left) tries to drive around St. AlbansƵ Jaelyn Vance (0) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' Jaelyn Vance (left), Spring Valley's Ella Giles (center) and Savannah Davis (right) chase after a loose ball during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' JayCee Elzy (5), Taylor Reed (25), and Jaelyn Vance (0) get ready to return to their game against Spring Valley in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans Seniors Samyah Riggan (15) and Jaycee Elzy (5) walk off the court with their teammates after losing to Spring Valley 83-49 in the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' Samyah Riggan (right) shoots while guarded by Spring Valley's Ella Giles during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring Valley players Sophi Hutchison (3), Ava Robertson (5), Charlee Harris (10), Brooklyn Ellis (23), Dria Parker (33) and Allie Daniels (34) celebrate as a teammate scores a basket during their playoff game against St. Albans in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring Valley's Sophi Hutchison (left) tries not to lose the ball while guarded by St. Albans' Triniti Austin-Russell (15) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' Samyah Riggan (right) shoots while guarded by Spring Valley's Ella Giles during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring ValleyƵs Allie Daniels (34) dribbles the ball while guarded by St. AlbansƵ JayCee Elzy and Samyah Riggan (15) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. AlbansƵ JayCee Elzy (left) shoots as Spring ValleyƵs Sophi Hutchison tries to block the shot and Allie Daniels (center) looks on during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' JayCee Elzy (5), Taylor Reed (25), and Jaelyn Vance (0) get ready to return to their game against Spring Valley in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans Seniors Samyah Riggan (15) and Jaycee Elzy (5) walk off the court with their teammates after losing to Spring Valley 83-49 in the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
Spring ValleyƵs Sophi Hutchison (left) tries to drive around St. AlbansƵ Jaelyn Vance (0) during their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' Jaelyn Vance (left), Spring Valley's Ella Giles (center) and Savannah Davis (right) chase after a loose ball during the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans' JayCee Elzy (5), Taylor Reed (25), and Jaelyn Vance (0) get ready to return to their game against Spring Valley in their ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
St. Albans Seniors Samyah Riggan (15) and Jaycee Elzy (5) walk off the court with their teammates after losing to Spring Valley 83-49 in the ƵSSAC State Class AAAA Semifinal Basketball Tournament game played at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center Friday, March 14, 2025.
CHARLESTON Ƶ Bo Miller said had he known how close Sophi Hutchison was to a triple-double, he might have left her in a little longer.
St. Albans was thankful Miller, Spring ValleyƵs girls basketball coach, pulled the talented junior guard when he did. The Red Dragons had seen all of her they wanted in an 83-49 Timberwolves victory in the ƵSSAC Class AAAA state tournament semifinals on Friday afternoon at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center.
Hutchison scored 29 points and made nine assists and eight steals to send top-seeded Spring Valley (21-2) to the championship game at 5 p.m. Saturday.
ƵIf Sophi Hutchison was on any other team, sheƵd probably be the player of the year each of the last two years,Ƶ St. Albans coach Elias Gregory said. ƵI didnƵt realize how good she was, and weƵve played her three times.Ƶ
Hutchison made 10 of 13 shots, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and sank 6 of 8 free throws. She grabbed one rebound and blocked one shot.
ƵIt was just another game,Ƶ Hutchison said. ƵI know every game IƵm going to give it all I have, especially on the defensive side. Defense carries over to offense.Ƶ
The Timberwolves scored 22 points off turnovers and 17 on fast breaks to pair with 34 in the paint and 14 on second chances. They led by 37 points after a Hutchison bucket with 5:07 to play.
St. AlbansƵ goal was to use 5-foot-8 Taylor Reed to limit 6-2 senior center Allie Daniels, who took just three shots in scoring seven points. Daniels also grabbed 13 rebounds to go with four assists and a pair of blocks.
ƵThe game plan was to take Allie away, and we did a very good job of that,Ƶ Gregory said. ƵThe problem with that is, if you take Allie away, you still have Sophi and Brooklyn (Ellis), who had 15 points.
ƵBrooklyn might be the best player in the state if you put her on a different team. We took something away, but we couldnƵt take everything away.Ƶ
Daniels said she was fine with not meeting her 11.5 points-per-game average if it meant dishing the ball to others who scored. She did that as Dria Parker backed Hutchison and Ellis with 15 points.
Miller said Spring Valley is superb at sharing the ball without regard as to who scores.
ƵOn any given night, any of them can score 20,Ƶ Miller said. ƵToday it just happened to be Sophi. They were collapsing on Allie and she was catching it and kicking it out. We got several open looks off that.Ƶ
By halftime, the Timberwolves scored as many points as the Red Dragons did the entire game, taking a 49-26 lead, sparked by a 25-12 first quarter.
That St. Albans lost Triniti Austin-Russell to injury 1:57 into the game didnƵt help the Red Dragons, but the way Spring Valley played, sheƵd likely not have made enough difference to keep St. Albans close.
The Timberwolves used a 17-2 run to break a 4-4 tie and take control early.
ƵWe came out and played very aggressively on defense and slowed them down a lot,Ƶ Miller said. ƵI thought if we rebounded and played defense, weƵd win.Ƶ
Spring Valley performed well in both those phases, outrebounding St. Albans 45-33, creating 15 turnovers and holding the Red Dragons to 19-for-58 shooting (32.8%).
The TimberwolvesƵ press caused problems as they made 12 steals and converted several to layups. Spring Valley held St. Albans stars JayCee Elzy and Samyah Riggan to a combined 12 for 42 from the floor.
Spring Valley committed just seven turnovers. Miller credited all the Timberwolves, but particularly Hutchison, for that stat.
ƵWhen Sophi has the ball in her hands, that makes us much better,Ƶ Miller said. ƵWhen she shares the ball, weƵre hard to stop.Ƶ
Elzy led the Red Dragons (17-7) with 19 points and seven rebounds. Austin-Russell and Riggan each tallied 10 points.
ST. ALBANS 12 14 13 10 Ƶ 49: Vance 0, Austin-Russell 10, Elzy 19, Riggan 10, Reed 3, White 3, Russell 0, Binion 0, Bowman 0, Barker 2, White 0, Gibson 0, Hermensdorfer 2.
SPRING VALLEY 25 24 17 17 Ƶ 83: Hutchison 29, Giles 6, Ellis 15, Parker 15, Daniels 7, Davis 3, Cook 2, Robertson 0, Harris 2, Riddle 0, Evans 2, Edwards 2, Mathis 0, Jackson 0, Baisden 0.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.