Summerton – It hasn’t been easy sledding for the Clarendon Hall boys basketball team. That being said, the Saints have doubled their win total from a year ago in their first season under head coach Rick Atkinson.
After going 2-19 last year, Clarendon Hall won four of its first 16 games.
“We seem to be improving some,” said Atkinson, who is in his third stint as the boys head coach at Clarendon Hall. “I’m proud of the boys’ attitude and effort and look forward to seeing continued improvement.”
The Saints are 0-6 in SCISA Region 1-Class A. Navigating that region isn’t an easy task as the four semifinalists from last year’s state tournament are in the region. They are defending state champion St. John’s Christian, runner-up Cathedral Academy and semifinalists Andrew Jackson Academy and Calhoun Academy.
The region’s other school is
Dorchester Academy.
Senior Darius Aiken and senior Kole Elliott are the leaders. Aiken was averaging 18 points, six steals and four assists per game. Elliott was averaging a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds to go with six assists.
“We’ve had good leadership from Kole and Darius,” Atkinson said.
Bryce Jordan, a 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound junior, was averaging nine points and 16 rebounds, and junior Evan Reynolds was averaging five points and 10 rebounds.
“Bryce and Evan are new to basketball and have worked hard and improved,” Atkinson said. “(Junior) Griffin McIntosh has developed into a solid defender.”
The other members of the team are senior Karson Fields, junior Drayton Barrett, junior Jamie Bryan, junior Connor Bush and sophomore Grayson Elliott.
The Saints own three victories over Thomas Sumter Academy, each coming by at least an 18-point margin. The other win was a 54-46 triumph over The King’s Academy.
PROPOSAL HAS CLARENDON HALL MOVING UP IN CLASSES
If the reclassification proposal released by the South Carolina Independent School Association holds true, Clarendon Hall will be making a move up in all of its sports.
The proposal for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years has Clarendon Hall competing in AA in football and AAA in other sports.
Clarendon Hall, which two years ago was playing 8-man football, would be part of an 11-team AA. The other schools would be Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, Calhoun Academy, Dillon Christian School, Greenwood Christian, Hilton Head Prep, Orangeburg Preparatory School, Pee Dee Academy, St. John’s Christian, Spartanburg Christian Academy and Thomas Sumter.
In the other sports, Clarendon Hall would be part of a 16-school AAA. The other schools would be Calhoun Academy, Christian Academy, Colleton Prep, Dillon Christian, Shannon Forest, Florence Christian School, Greenwood Christian, Orangeburg Prep, Patrick Henry, Pee Dee, St. John’s Christian, Spartanburg Christian, Spartanburg Day School, Thomas Sumter and Williamsburg Academy.
Clarendon Hall had spent the past several years playing 8-man football until moving up with the 2022-23 reclassification. It had mainly competed at the Class A level in other sports before the 2022-23 reclassification.
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