Bishopville – The Lee Academy girls basketball team had some growing up to do at the start of the 2023-24 season. The Lady Cavaliers returned just two players – not two starters, but two players – from last year’s squad.
Fortunately for head coach Kim Langston, those two players were returning starters in Alleigh Brown and Julee Saverance. They showed leadership and had good seasons along with sophomore Mazie Tomlinson to help Lee to a 9-9 overall record.
That was good enough to get Lee seeded third in its half of the bracket in the SCISA AA state tournament. However, the Lady Cavaliers were unable to get a first-round win, falling to No. 6 seed St. John’s Christian Academy 45-40.
Despite that loss, Langston had nothing but praise for her young squad.
“From where we started to where we are now, we're a completely different team,” said Langston following the loss to St. John’s Christian. “I'm not disappointed in my kids at all. They played hard from one end to the other for 32 solid minutes. They gave it everything they had.
“We only had two back from last year, so they all had to learn to gel together and play together. A Lot of things happened throughout the season from Covid to concussions. From where we started and everything, I can't be any prouder of my girls.”
` Brown, Saverance and Tomlinson were all selected to the All-Region 3-AA team.
Tomlinson averaged a double-double of 11.4 points and 10.0 rebounds Brown averaged 8.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 5.3 steals, while Saverance averaged 7.5 points and 2.2 steals.
Joining the trio in the lineup were sophomore Raylee Catoe and freshman Mallori Frye. Eighth-grader Jameson Collins was a key contributor off of the bench. Other members of the team were sophomores Sara Bell and Ansley King and eighth-grader Karagan Melton.
“Everyone else moved up from JV (junior varsity),” Langston said. “We had to find a point guard, learn how to play with each other -- where you could expect them to move in certain situations. Our team improved tremendously throughout the season, and as a coach that is what you look for.”
Melton scored five points in the loss to St. John’s Christian. Tomlinson was the leading scorer with 12, while Brown had 11 and Saverance seven.
“I feel that the future of our program is strong, and I look forward to the coming year,” Langston said.
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