In what can only be described as a textbook example of championship defense, South Carolina’s run through the SEC Tournament showcased why the adage “defense wins championships” could have been coined specifically for the Gamecocks. This year’s team may not have the same dominant shot-blocking presence as in years past, but their defensive intensity was nothing short of exceptional.
Traditionally, South Carolina’s defense has been anchored by elite shot-blockers, with the team holding the top three shot-blocking seasons in NCAA history over the last six years. But with the departure of Kamilla Cardoso (to the WNBA) and Ashlyn Watkins (who is out with a torn ACL), the Gamecocks have had to adjust. And adjust they did—flawlessly.
In their three SEC Tournament games, South Carolina faced teams with some of the highest-scoring offenses in the nation—Oklahoma (85.5 points per game), Vanderbilt (83.6), and Texas (80.0). Despite that, the Gamecocks limited those teams to just 61 points per game on 35.8% shooting. They also set new SEC championship records for the fewest points allowed (45), fewest points in a half (16), second-fewest field goals made (16), and fourth-lowest field goal percentage (29.6%).
The Gamecocks’ defensive success, however, is no longer solely dependent on a singular shot-blocker. Instead, Bree Hall and Tessa Johnson have emerged as the defensive backbone for the team. Hall, who stepped into the role of South Carolina’s top perimeter defender last season after Brea Beal’s departure, and Johnson, who is poised to take over next season, were instrumental in this tournament’s success.
Against some of the country’s best scorers, Hall and Johnson more than held their own. They focused on efficiency, making it hard for players to get into scoring positions, rather than just focusing on limiting their point totals. Against Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes, who scored 50 or more points this season, they held her to just 20 points on 5-of-15 shooting. In many instances, Blakes didn’t even get another touch after giving up the ball.
“She’s going to score. It’s our job to make it harder for her to score and try as best as we can to limit her production out there,” Johnson shared. After hearing Blakes’ shooting stats, Johnson simply said, “We did our job.”
Oklahoma’s Payton Verhulst was the only player who found consistent success, scoring 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting. But in the championship game against SEC Player of the Year Madison Booker, the Gamecocks made sure Booker was a non-factor. Booker finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds, but seven of her points came in the final quarter after the game had already been decided. For the first three quarters, Booker was 1-of-7 shooting with two turnovers and finished just 4-of-13 from the field. She also failed to register a single assist.
South Carolina had Booker’s number throughout the season. In their first matchup, she struggled to just seven points on 3-of-19 shooting. In their February encounter in Austin, Booker scored 20 points, but still shot just 7-of-22. By the end of the SEC Tournament, Booker finished the season shooting a dismal 25.9% against the Gamecocks. Hall reacted to those numbers with a grin, saying, “Love that. 25% is crazy.”
Hall, reflecting on the earlier encounters, noted that while Booker missed open shots in the first game, the Gamecocks were quick to take advantage of those opportunities. And after the second game, when Booker reportedly claimed that Hall couldn’t guard her, Hall took it personally: “It was a lot of extra motivation,” she said. “A lot of people had a lot of things to say after we lost to Texas the last time.”
Coach Dawn Staley knew that Hall was fired up going into the championship game. In the morning shootaround, she could see Hall was locked in. “You have someone like a Breezy Hall, we were going over some of their high-frequency sets at shootaround. It was a set that most teams run. I asked them if they wanted to go through it. They were like, ‘No, give us the hard stuff, give us the hard sets.’ She was locked into the game plan and wanted to know what she needed to do in order for her to help us win another championship.”
It wasn’t just Hall—Johnson’s defensive effort was equally important. The duo frequently rotated to keep fresh legs on Booker, who played 36 minutes. They also took the opportunity to help each other out, sharing insights and making adjustments.
“She came out today and she was telling me about Booker because that was her matchup. I was watching it and she was helping me out, giving me advice,” Johnson said.
For Hall, the focus is always on teamwork, and she was quick to credit Johnson. “I didn’t do it alone. Tessa did a great job, taking some time on her and defending her.”
Despite their similar roles, there’s been no tension between Hall and Johnson. In fact, the two have developed a mentor-mentee relationship, which speaks volumes about the culture within South Carolina’s program. When Hall was asked about mentoring “the new you” in Johnson, she responded with pride. “I definitely help her out,” Hall said. “She is always asking questions on the sidelines. What should she do with this certain screen or that certain screen. I feel like I am knowledgeable enough to know some of the things she is asking.”
Johnson’s evolution as a defender has been remarkable. At the start of her freshman season, defense was a weakness. But this year, she’s been a reliable defender, expecting to shut down opponents rather than simply hoping to contain them.
“My defense has evolved more mentally than anything,” Johnson said. “I go into a game and I’m not like, oh this player might get by me, this player might score on me. I want to guard the best player or hot hand, whatever it is. I want that challenge. That changed my mindset and helped me become a better defender.”
Looking ahead, South Carolina is poised to be a top seed in the NCAA Tournament. The full bracket will be revealed on Selection Sunday, March 16, at 8:00 p.m. ET. The Gamecocks are primed for another deep run, led by their elite defense and championship mentality.
