Upstate high schools' top performers: Raina McGowens now Wren's all-time leading scorer
Wren basketball is hot right now and a couple of players in particular are leading the way.
Rainia McGowens of the girls team and Abijah Franklin of the boys team put up some impressive numbers as standouts among Upstate high school top performers for the week of Jan 22-28.
McGowens broke the program’s all-time scoring record. Franklin averaged 31.5 points in a pair of wins as both teams improved to 6-0 in Region 2-AAA. Wren’s girls (20-2) are ranked No. 1 in the Upstate Super 25 and No. 2 in the Class AAA coaches’ poll. Wren’s boys (17-5) are No. 6 in the Super 25 and No. 3 in the state.
Here are this week’s top performers, listed alphabetically by school:
Boys basketball
Jacob Gilfillan, Blacksburg: Gilfillan had 21 points in an 81-74 loss to Chesnee.
Tracy Smith, Blacksburg: Smith scored 20 points.
Andrew Hutchens, Brashier Middle College: Hutchens had 15 points and three steals in a 51-38 loss to St. Joseph’s.
Evan Enos, Byrnes: Enos scored 27 points, making 7 of 9 from 3-point range, as Byrnes beat Gaffney, 93-66.
Will Fowler, Byrnes: Fowler helped Byrnes pull out a 58-57 win at Spartanburg by scoring 21 points with six rebounds and four assists.
Brody Poole, Chesnee: Poole had 21 points against Chesnee.
Christian Andrews, Dorman: Andrews scored 23 points in a 58-49 win against Spartanburg.
Justin Ray, Eastside: Ray scored 28 points with three blocked shots in a 64-54 win against Wade Hampton and then led Eastside to a 47-45 win against Riverside with 23 points and three more blocks.
Amare Anderson, Greer: Anderson scored 20 points in a 79-69 win against Laurens.
Isaiah Henry, Greer: Henry also scored 20 points.
Musa Muriithi, Greer Middle College: Muriithi came close to a triple double in a 73-62 win against Liberty. He had 26 points, nine assists and nine rebounds.
Jack Pfister, Greer Middle College: Pfister had 25 points against Liberty.
Braylen Silver, Greer Middle College: In a 67-44 win against Greenville Tech, Silver had 27 points and seven steals.
Kendrick Jackson, Liberty: Jackson scored 19 points against Greer Middle College.
Drew Cannon, Riverside: Cannon had 21 points in a 74-59 win against Greer.
Brogan Poole, St. Joseph’s: Poole scored 19 points against Brashier Middle College.
James Liollio, Spartanburg Day: Liollio scored 16 points in a 41-20 win over Oakbrook Prep.
Kmajay Jenkins, Westside: Jenkins had 11 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 70-58 win against Easley.
Josh Williams, Westside: Williams scored 19.
Jeremiah Campbell, Wren: Campbell had 16 points and five steals in an 89-53 win against Southside.
Abijah Franklin, Wren: In two games, including a 71-43 win against Fountain Inn, Franklin had a combined 63 points, 26 rebounds and 10 assists. He scored 34 on Southside and 29 on Fountain Inn.
Girls basketball
Anya Henderson, Blue Ridge: Henderson had 12 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals in a 66-29 win against Travelers Rest. She had eight assists in a 63-53 win against Eastside.
Zikira Henderson, Blue Ridge: Henderson had 20 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals against Travelers Rest. She scored 21 on Fountain Inn.
Claire Skinner, Blue Ridge: Skinner had 18 points with five rebounds against Travelers Rest and 13 points with seven rebounds against Fountain Inn.
Savannah Brown, Landrum: Brown had 14 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in a 71-40 win against Liberty.
Kaylee Cortez, Landrum: Cortez had 24 points, six steals and three assists.
Kylie Fortner, Landrum: Forter scored 17 and had four assists.
Madison Garrido, Riverside: Garrido scored 29 points (6-for-11 on 3-pointers) in an 83-66 win against Greer.
Kyndal Haroski, Riverside: Haroski had 19 points and four assists.
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Evie Adams, St. Joseph’s: Adams scored 17 points in a 52-32 win against High Point.
Carlee Mason, Spartanburg Day: Mason scored 24 points in a 59-42 win against Oakbrook Prep.
Quinasia Abercrombie, Wade Hampton: Abercrombie had 25 points, 17 rebounds, six steals and five assists in a 57-46 win against Eastside.
Monasia Clinkscales, Westside: Clinkscales had 15 points in a 57-34 win against Easley.
Khalia Hartwell, Westside: Hartwell had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Deyana Hayes, Wren: Hayes had 16 points and 12 rebounds in a 68-20 win against Fountain Inn.
Raina McGowens, Wren: McGowens became Wren's all-time leading scorer in the game against Fountain Inn. She had a combined 46 points in two games this week and now has 2,093 career points. In a 68-32 win against Southside, she had 10 assists.
Note: This is a growing list each week and coaches are encouraged to nominate players and send stats by email to todd.shanesy@shj.com or by direct message on X, formerly Twitter, to @ToddShanesySHJ. Athletes are listed alphabetically by school.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: SC high school sports: This week's standout performers in Upstate
