By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Barnwell — With five sophomores and four freshmen making up the core of his varsity girls’ basketball team, Barnwell head coach William Hammonds III knew it was going to be a rebuilding season.
“I have coached with a lot of patience this season,” said Coach Hammonds. “This is my 7th season coaching in Barnwell and this will be our first losing season.
“The positive thing is that the majority of the team has made improvement from the start of the season until now,” he said. “A lot of the players are playing less timid and with more confidence.
“We have basically been like a junior varsity team playing a varsity schedule,” said Coach Hammonds. “If all our young players stick with it, we will be a much-improved team next year.”
With just four games remaining in the season the Lady Warhorses are 1-13. They have games remaining with Blackville-Hilda, Ridgeland-Hardeeville, Woodland and Hampton County. Their win came over Wagener-Salley earlier in the season 27-26.
The leading scorer on the team is sophomore shooting guard Kaylen Mayes averaging 10 points a game. In a recent game against Edisto, she scored a season high 23 points. “She can be a really good player if she keeps focused,” said Coach Hammonds.
The second leading scorer on the team is senior guard J’Niyia Caree who has been hampered by a high ankle sprain most of the season. Caree is averaging 8.6 points a game.
Freshman shooting guard Savannah Roundtree is averaging four points a game. Sophomore Madeline Brown (5-10) starts at power forward and freshman Gracyn Carter starts at a small forward slot.
Junior forward Eriana Abney recently tore her ACL after being a starter for most of the season. Gabby Thomas has stepped up and she is averaging 5.2 points per game late in season.
Other players on the team include: Junior center Ad’Myre Caldwell, sophomore Brianna Croft, senior wing Kardaiza Washington, sophomore forward Skyler Pacheco, freshman forward Juliyah Brown, along with Lakayla Glover and Kalieha Caldwell.
Coach Hammonds sis assisted by April Robinson and Alicia Davis.
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