Walterboro – Veteran coach Belinda McCoy has been tasked with rebuilding the basketball programs at Colleton Prep Academy. Not just one program, but both the boys and girls programs. McCoy, who achieved great success in more than two decades as a coach at Patrick Henry Academy, was originally hired by Colleton Prep to take on the girls program. Just weeks before the start of the season, McCoy also was handed the boys varsity program. So, assisted by former Warhawks athlete Josh Craven, McCoy is coaching all four teams, the varsity and junior varsity teams for both boys and girls. The girls program has a strong history of competing for state championships but has struggled a little in recent years. McCoy has seen solid progress from the squad this season. Entering play on Jan. 30, the Warhawks were 12-7 overall and 4-2 in conference play. “We’re coming along, making progress each day,” McCoy said. “We are definitely competing and playing with good effort. There are still come inconsistencies but that’s really expected because a lot of these girls have not played at this level. We are doing some good things though. I see us getting better. They have a good attitude and I’ve been pretty pleased with their work ethic and focus.” McCoy has three seniors on this year’s roster and all three are contributing. The seniors are Hannah Strickland, Sidney Bailey and Kara Fargnoli. Strickland and Bailey work in the post area and have been among the leading scorers and rebounders all season. Contributing from the junior class are Anne Hatcher White, Shelby Baker, Jillian Mitchell, Anne Lewis High and McKayla Odom. Sophomore Ava Murray, freshman Millie Drew and eighth-grader Bre Cain are seeing major minutes in the backcourt. The boys team has won very few games in recent years but McCoy says this year’s team is showing a good competitive spirit. Entering play on Jan. 30 the Warhawks were 4-16 overall and 1-4 in region play. “We have been getting more and more competitive and to have close games shows we are making progress,” McCoy said. “We have had several games that were in single digits. We just haven’t learned to finish strong. But they are competing better than they have in recent years.” One of the team’s four seniors, Wylan Sheffield, has been the leading scorer and rebounder early on, averaging about 11 points and seven rebounds per game. The other seniors are Will Cain, Raleigh Obenhaus and Will Brady. Junior Bryce Kinard has been a solid leader in the backcourt. The other juniors are Braedon Hiers and Blake Spears. Also getting minutes are sophomore Collin Hiers and Dale Owens. McCoy also is seeing solid progress from the junior varsity teams. The boys team has lost only three games this season. “That’s encouraging,” she said. “A lot of those boys will be on the varsity next year so it’s good they are learning to play together and win.”

Walterboro – Veteran coach Belinda McCoy has been tasked with rebuilding the basketball programs at Colleton Prep Academy. Not just one program, but both the boys and girls programs. McCoy, who achieved great success in more than two decades as a coach at Patrick Henry Academy, was originally hired by Colleton Prep to take on the girls program. Just weeks before the start of the season, McCoy also was handed the boys varsity program. So, assisted by former Warhawks athlete Josh Craven, McCoy is coaching all four teams, the varsity and junior varsity teams for both boys and girls. “I’ve done it before, at Patrick Henry, but it is a challenge,” McCoy said. “Having Josh to help is a big plus. He brings a lot of energy and he loves the game. We will make it work. It’s a chance for me to work with the junior varsity teams and that will help develop the program over the next few years.” The girls program has a strong history of competing for state championships but has struggled a little in recent years. McCoy has the team off to a 4-3 start this season and the coach sees potential. “We’re coming along, making progress each day,” McCoy said. “I think we’re going to be competitive. We need to be more consistent but I think that will come as we play more. They have a good attitude and I’ve been pretty pleased with their work ethic and focus.” McCoy has three seniors on this year’s roster and all three are contributing. The seniors are Hannah Strickland, Sidney Bailey and Kara Fargnoli. Strickland and Bailey work in the post area and have been among the leading scorers and rebounders all season. Contributing from the junior class are Anne Hatcher White, Shelby Baker, Jillian Mitchell, Anne Lewis High and McKayla Odom. Sophomore Ava Murray, freshman Millie Drew and eighth-grader Bre Cain are seeing major minutes in the backcourt. “Being new here, I am still learning the girls and finding out what each can do,” McCoy said. The boys team has won very few games in recent years but McCoy says this year’s team is showing a good competitive spirit. The team recently earned a double overtime win and they have lost a few games by less than five points. “We have been getting more and more competitive and to have close games shows we are making progress,” McCoy said. One of the team’s four seniors, Wylan Sheffield, has been the leading scorer and rebounder early on, averaging about 11 points and seven rebounds per game. The other seniors are Will Cain, Raleigh Obenhaus and Will Brady. Junior Bryce Kinard has been a solid leader in the backcourt. The other juniors are Braedon Hiers and Blake Spears. Also getting minutes are sophomore Collin Hiers and Dale Owens. “The biggest thing we’ve been working on is just changing the mindset and the culture,” McCoy said. “The boys program has not had a lot of success so it’s been a struggle at times to make these kids believe. As we compete better, they are gaining confidence.”

Walterboro – After a string of average to below average seasons, the Colleton Prep football team caught fire in 2022, winning 11 games and reaching the SCISA Class AA state championship game. The Warhawks ended last season with a loss to Williamsburg Academy but proved they belonged once again. Now, the goal is to take the next step in 2023 and close with a win and a state title. The victory total last season was the most since winning 10 games in 2016 and was only the second winning season since that year. Head coach Greg Langdale, entering his fifth season as head coach, has stressed urgency to improve since January. He says it took a little time to get everyone on board again. “I would say about 70 percent of our returning guys got hungry but we had a few get satisfied and found excuses not to put in the work,” the head coach said. “It started to come around as we got through the spring. I’ve tried to tell them, even with some players back, this year will be harder, We won’t sneak up on anyone this year.” Langdale saw improved attention and work ethic by the entire team during the preseason and the Warhawks opened 2023 with a solid 33-23 win over Florence Christian. “We are getting there slowly but we are working hard,” Langdale said. “We’re a little dinged up, nothing serious, so we’re hoping to continue to get healthy.” Colleton Prep’s biggest losses in personnel from last year’s team came along the offensive line where three starters, all four-year starters, graduated. The seniors up front are Drew Rushton, Thomas McMillan and Matthew Blackmon. Junior Cayson Warner and sophomore Steven Crosby, who missed last season with a knee injury, round out the starting front. The good news offensively is the return of quarterback Cole Davis and running back Caleb Davis. Cole accounted for more than 2,700 yards and 34 touchdowns last season while Caleb added 11 scores and nearly 1,000 yards rushing. Cole rushed for 241 yards and two scores, with a passing touchdown, in the opening game. The Warhawks lost leading receiver Caden Crosby but return quality in junior Walker Bryan and senior Will Brady. The strength defensively is at linebacker where Rushton returns as a starter, along with Warner. Raleigh Obenhaus is moving from the line to linebacker as well. A combination of Blackmon, McMillan and freshman BJ Gillespie will work along the defensive front. Senior Eli Rowe is a regular starter at safety with the other positions in the back shared by receivers and backs. “We have 14 seniors, which is the most we’ve had since I have been here, and we have eight juniors, so we’re a more veteran group overall,” Langdale said. “Hopefully that maturity will help us maintain the focus that we need. Nothing will come easy but we definitely have a shot if we can stay healthy.”