By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Columbia – The Keenan Lady Raiders enter the 2023/24 season in a different position than they have been in since 2019/20 as they are not a returning state champion but that has not changed the expectations for the perennial state power.
Head coach Reggie McLain is excited for the new challenge for his team but still has lofty expectations for his young team.
“I am happy with the progress of this team so far, we are in a different place in our program as far as we do not have any returning starters, all region, all state players back from last year’s team. We have young players that are excited to get better. So far, we are in a good place with the work ethic and the willingness to get better from the players,” said coach McLain.
The Lady Raiders currently sit at 4-3 with a game against Lower Richland (5-3) before the Christmas break. Their three losses were to larger schools and the result of one bad period which shows in a young team.
In their four wins the Lady Raiders have been unrelenting on the defensive as they allowed only thirty-four points per game. As a team they are forcing 14.4 steals per game
Coach said, “We are pleased with our team’s performance so far but, we must continue to play together as a team and accept roles on our team. We have a very unselfish group and that will help is grow as a team.”
The top returning players for the Lady Raiders are two sophomores Kristian Brown and Aareonna Cuaghman and eighth grader Taelor Lee-Sutton. Brown leads the team in scoring at 13.4 ppg from her shooting guard position as well as in three-point shooting at 38% with fifteen made threes on the year.
Cuaghman has played well in the paint and leads the Lady Raiders in rebounding at 10 per game. She is averaging 7.7 ppg and is second on the team in steals with 2.7 rpg.
Lee-Sutton was pulled up last year after the middle school season ended. She has taken over the point guard position and leads the team in assists (3.7 pg) and steals (4.6 pg). She is second in scoring at 11.4 ppg after averaging 9.9 ppg last season.
“We are expecting a lot from Taelor, Kristian and Aareonna because they have the most experience. They have been the leaders for us in the early part of the season,” said coach McLain.
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