Orangeburg Prep boys basketball team in search of more consistency
Lady Indians are still undefeated
Orangeburg – Al Hay has not been surprised with what he’s seen from his Orangeburg Preparatory School boys basketball team so far this season. A little good and a little not-so-good comes with that though.’
‘ ”We are about where we expected to be,” said Hay, whose Indians were 12-7 and 2-2 in SCISA Region 4-AAA. “We have played a tough early schedule and have looked good at times. Defensively we have done well for the most part, and offensively we have seen flashes of good play but have been inconsistent.”
Orangeburg Prep has four returning starters from last year. They include senior Jay Plummer, senior Austin Hall, senior Harris Holstein and sophomore Tilden “T” Riley. The newcomer to the starting lineup is another sophomore, point guard Avery Ravenell.
The Indians had three players scoring in double figures with Riley leading the way at 13.7 points per game. Ravenell was averaging 13.2 points, while Hall was scoring at a 10.9 clip..
The 6-foot-5-inch Riley was also leading the team in rebounding and blocked shots with averages of 9.1 and 2.8 respectively. Ravenell was leading in assists with a 3.7 average and was shooting 74 percent from the free throw line. Hall was averaging 7.5 rebounds to go with 2.0 steals.
Holstein was averaging 5.3 and Plummer was at 5.0.
Senior Latron Moorer, junior Walt Mims and junior Charlie McCutchen are regulars in the rotation.
“Latron Moorer and Walt Mims have given us energy off the bench,” Hay said. “Charlie McCutchen does a great job defensively when entering the game.”
Moorer was averaging 4.0, Mims 3.8 and McCutchen 1.0.
Other members of the team are senior Daytron Moorer, senior J.C. Strickland, junior Hart Wiles, junior Eli Pantaleon and Jack Mims.
Both of Orangeburg Prep's region losses have come to Northside Christian Academy.
The other teams in the region are Palmetto Christian Academy and Thomas Sumter Academy.
Hay said the Indians need to improve offensively to be successful in the postseason.
“More consistency and execution on offense will be critical for making a run in the state playoffs,” he said.
ORANGEBURG PREP GIRLS UNDEFEATED THROUGH 16 GAMES
The Orangeburg Prep girls basketball team continues to roll along coming down the homestretch of the regular season. The Lady Indians were still undefeated through 16 games and were 1-0 in region play.
All of this has come even though Orangeburg Prep lost three starters from last year’s squad, including 2-time All-Stater performer Campbell Delaney.
So did veteran head coach Jan Stoudenmire anticipate any of this?
“This team’s performance has not been a surprise to our coaching staff but probably to our opponents,” said Stoudenmire, who is in her 27th season at Orangeburg Prep.
The team’s strengths, according to Stoudenmire, go hand in hand.
“Our strengths are defense and depth,” Stoudenmire added. “Our bench has gotten a lot of playing time and held their own very well.”
The Lady Indians are able to be so stout on defense because of that depth. They are allowing just over 30 points a contest.
The two returning starters from last season are senior Katherine Lambrecht and junior Jane Walker Yonce. Lambrecht was an All-Region performer last season.
The remainder of the starting lineup is made up of junior Annabelle Hunter, junior Izzy Exum and junior Graysen Garrick.
The remainder of the roster is made up of senior Peyton Schurlknight, sophomore Preston Schurlknight, sophomore Kate Holstein, sophomore Hannah Lambrecht, sophomore Jayme Culler and freshman Mary Legare Delaney.
“The bench were the starters on a JV (junior varsity) team that was undefeated for two years,” Stoudenmire said. “They are a very talented group.
“This is a fun team to coach because they are so competitive. It has been a fun season so far!”
PROPOSAL HAS OPS REMAINING AA IN FOOTBALL, AAA IN OTHER SPORTS
The South Carolina Independent School Association’s proposal for realignment for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 school years has Orangeburg Prep remaining in AA for football and AAA for all other sports.
Orangeburg Prep will be one of the few holdovers in AA if the proposal goes into effect. The only other AA football holdovers among the 11 schools are Spartanburg Christian Academy, Greenwood Christian and Thomas Sumter.
The other teams would be Calhoun Academy, Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, Clarendon Hall, Dillon Christian School, Hilton Head Prep, Pee Dee Academy and St. John’s Christian.
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The 15 other AAA schools in the proposal for the other sports would be Calhoun, Christian Academy, Clarendon Hall, Colleton Prep, Dillon Christian, Shannon Forest, Florence Christian School, Greenwood Christian, Patrick Henry Academy, Pee Dee, St. John’s Christian, Spartanburg Christian, Spartanburg Day School, Thomas Sumter and Williamsburg Academy.
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