GREENVILLE − Three times Shalika Smalls has played in the state title game and twice she’s come away with gold.

All the reigning Class A SCBCA Player of the Year and T&D All-Area Girls Player of the Year has done this season is score 25.7 points per game, snatch 6.2 steals per game, dish out 3.4 assists per game and average 3.6 rebounds to lead the Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Lady Trojans (22-3) to within a win of a fourth state title appearance during her career.

Of course, Smalls is not the only reason the Lady Trojans were boarding a bus Friday afternoon for Greenville, the Bi-Lo Center and their Class A Upper State final rematch against Christ Church Episcopal (23-3). Melinda Brimfield is averaging 20.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.1 blocks per game.

In their playoff win Monday over Landrum, H-K-T was led by Smalls with 28 points. Brimfield had 24 and Shantavia Tyler, who averages 5.2 points per game, pitched in with 16 points.

“I’ve been really happy with the way the girls have played this year,” H-K-T head coach Jarvis Davis said. “We had all the girls come back from a season ago, so I felt like we were able to give them a little bit more and I feel like they took to it well. They really picked up on things and played well.”

Thursday, H-K-T ran through its last practice and Davis said he was happy with what he saw.

“It was very competitive,” he said. “The girls worked really hard, and I think they’re pretty focused.”

Davis admitted he didn’t know much about Christ Church.

“I just heard they were big and they were fundamental,” he said. “They are supposed to be a lot like last year. They don’t make many mistakes.”

In last year’s Class A Upper State final, Smalls scored 38 points to lead H-K-T to a 62-47 win over Christ Church. Brimfield scored 19 for the Lady Trojans. Erin Carter led Christ Church with 19 points, Katie Thomason had 12 and Hayden Latham had 10.

While H-K-T pulled away for the easy victory a season ago, if common opponents are any indication, the Lady Trojans could very well have their hands full at the Bi-Lo Center today.

On Feb. 3, H-K-T fell to Blackville-Hilda 67-63. Christ Church reached the Upper State title game with a 50-37 victory over the Lady Hawks Monday night. Carter led the way with 24 points; Latham had 12 and Thomason nine.

With a victory, the Lady Trojans would face the winner of the Lower State final between Hardeeville and Estill, taking place tonight at Bluffton High School.

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be reached via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com.

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