By Roger Lee
Special to HSSR
Summerville – The Ashley Ridge Girls are ranked among the Top 10 Class 5A teams in the state and are eyeing the Region 7-AAAAA championship.
This is the team’s second season under the guidance of Coach Jimmy Brown and a year has made a big difference. The Lady Swamp Foxes entered this week ranked ninth in the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association rankings and with a 16-5 record. That includes a 6-0 mark in their region.
“Last year was frustrating because we had to focus a lot on changing the culture and things like that,” Brown said. “We had athletes, but I kind of knew we were a year away. Now the girls have fallen into the vision I had last year.”
The Lady Swamp Foxes had an excellent summer playing against mostly fellow 5A teams from across the Carolinas and finishing with a 16-1 record.
Senior center Diana Blake returned to the team ranked as one of the Top 5 players in the Class 5A Girls preseason rankings. Junior guards Nadia President and Briana Davidson returned after leading the team in assists and steals, respectively, last season. Seniors Taleyah Hartzog, Tylashal Chisolm and Jacinda Whitley all returned with experience in the post.
Junior Kaylin Brown, who transferred from Oceanside Collegiate, is also an experienced guard. Juniors Katie Johnson and Nubia McElveen are also playing big roles in their first season with the team. Juniors Alaina Duggins and Lainie Makris provide depth at the guard positions and eighth-grader Samiah Boatwright provides depth in the post.
“We can really clamp down defensively,” Coach Brown said. “Nubia McElveen and Briana Davidson are our mainstays on that end because they really set the tone. Dianna Blake is great in the paint, playing with her hands up and making people take shots over her.”
Blake is averaging 15.7 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Her 66 percent free-throw percentage is a team high.
Johnson averages 10.6 points and 3 assists per game and Brown averages 8.9 points and 3.2 assist. President averages 2.7 assists per game.
Johnson averages 4.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. McElveen averages 3.5 rebounds per game.
One of the team’s key wins is the 33-26 victory it earned over Summerville Jan. 19. The rematch scheduled for Feb. 6 will determine the region championship and the Lady Green Wave entered this week ranked eighth among 5A teams.
“It’s a rivalry game but we try not to get caught up in stuff like that,” Coach Brown said. “For us, at the end of the day it is basketball so if we do what we practice to do we will be fine.”
Ashely Ridge Boys
It’s been a bit of a hot and cold season for the Ashley Ridge Boys, but the Swamp Foxes could finish as high as second in their region.
The team returned six varsity lettermen, one senior and five sophomores, from a team that tied a program record for most wins in a season.
“They are a great bunch to coach, work hard and are resilient,” Ashley Ridge coach Brad Dobbels said. “We need to focus on the next possession and play with a sense of urgency because when we do that we do really well.”
Ashley Ridge entered the week with a 13-11 record with a 3-3 mark in its region.
Senior guard Jahlil Hope, an All-state player last season, is averaging 17.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game and his 75 percent free-throw percentage is a team high. Sophomore Clayton Everett averages 7.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. Guard Jordan Davis averages 7.7 points, 2 assists and 1.5 steals. Freshman Javion Gathers averages 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals.
Other members of the team are Jeaden Wadley, Tre Green, Jordan Washington, Noah Jackson, LA Childs, Brayden Amerson, Nasir McElveen, PJ Brown, and Ben Duncan.
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