The Lady Vikings finished #22 in the country in the final MaxPreps Freeman Rankings after a stellar undefeated 29-0 season, and #2 in the Xcellent 25 rankings.
The sixth stop on the 5th Annual MaxPreps Basketball Tour of Champions presented by the Army National Guard brought us to South Carolina and home to
Spring Valley (Columbia, S.C.) High School and their state champion girls' basketball team. The Lady Vikings finished #22 in the country in the final MaxPreps Freeman Rankings after a stellar undefeated 29-0 season, and #2 in the Xcellent 25 rankings.
The morning of Thursday, April 21st was another picturesque spring day in Columbia, South Carolina. Spring Valley High was hosting their fine arts assembly yet carved out time for the girls' team to be honored nationally. The school chorus and orchestra were dressed to the nines and provided a performance that would have given the Boston Pops a run for their money.
Once the concert commenced it was time to turn the spotlight to the basketball team and their amazing accomplishments. Principal Owings kicked the off the presentation and then handed the microphone to MaxPreps representative Mike Casazza. Mike elaborated on the Vikings fantastic season and their highly ranked in the entire USA! Mike turned over the presentation to South Carolina Army National Guard Lieutenant Colonel Clarence Bowser. LTC Bowser talked about how being on a team, relying on each other, and displaying leadership, all quality traits needed to form a championship team, are the same traits needed to serve in the military. LTC Bowser got the crowd involved with multiple "hoo-ahs" to which the crowd repeated back. He then presented proud Head Coach Long and the team with the well-deserved Army National Guard national ranking trophy to a thunderous applause from the crowd. Shortly thereafter, the girls' team posed for the crowd and local attending media with their new commemorative Tour of Champions t-shirts and their new hardware displayed proudly.
Spring Valley High School was an outstanding school with exceptional student athletes. Congratulations to the Spring Valley girls' basketball team and we hope to be back next year!
