Marion – The Marion High School boys basketball team is still trying to figure things out, but head coach DJ Kelly said the Swamp Foxes are starting to come together.
: “In my first year at the helm of the program, the team, as of late, has begun to play above the expectations,” said Kelly, a Marion graduate. “I knew I had some really good size, skill, and ability for SC (South Carolina) AA basketball coming into the job, but I didn’t know where we were as intellectual basketball players. We have cultivated an environment of love for the game through hard work, consistency, and becoming gym rats.
“However, I do feel that we can exceed our own expectations once everything comes together in one accord. We have yet to put it all together, and I am patiently waiting on the day we do. That will be the day we supersede expectations as a program.”
The Swamp Foxes won 12 of their first 19 games and started 2-0 in Region 8-AA. MHS has been juggling the starting lineup, but Kelly has settled on one for the last few games.
The starters are senior guards Jamarius Williams and Gabriel Cusack, senior forward Jamorius Wilson and junior forwards Jameir Legette and Tahj Lathon.
Williams is the team’s leading scorer at 13.1 points per game, the only double-figure scorer. However, there are plenty of other players who can provide points.
Wilson is averaging 8.4 points and a team high 7.1 rebounds. Cusack is averaging 8.2 points and a team high 2.6 assists, Legette is averaging 7.3 points and 4.1 rebounds, and Lathon is averaging 3.6 points.
Coming off the bench and providing valuable minutes are senior Ronquarius Jamison (5.1 ppg), sophomore Charles White (5.9 ppg), junior Isaiah Vereen (1.3 ppg), senior Cameron Felder (2.8 ppg) and junior Juwan Buey (0.3 ppg).
Kelly said the adjustment between himself and the players has been seamless.
“The guys have been open-minded and willing to take the teaching and tough love from the staff,” he said. “They have started to understand that it is bigger than the game, and that the staff has their best interest at heart and just want them to succeed in life.
“They are setting the standard daily and beginning to hold each other accountable as well. This has been an amazing experience in Year 1, and we have so much more work to do this year. I am excited for what’s to come.”
MARIOON GIRLS OFF TO 6-7 START
The Marion girls are also under a first-year head coach in Chris Sanders. The Lady Foxes won six of their first 13 games and were 1-1 in region play.
“The team has played a little to my expectations, being that I'm their third coach in three years,” Sanders said. “That’s tough. We are peaking at the right time, and we all are getting use to each other. We played a very tough non-region schedule.
”The adjustment has been OK. We all are building trust with each other.”
Starters for Marion are junior Jaeda Davis, sophomore Maliyah Williams, sophomore Shamya McKelvey, sophomore Sheteira Bethea and senior Miracle Samuels.
Davis led in scoring at 12.0 to go with 3.2 assists. Williams led in assists at 5.0 while scoring at a 6.3 clip.
Samuels led in rebounding at 6.3 with a 5.6 scoring average. Bethea was averaging 5.2 rebounds and 5.4 points, while McKelvy was scoring at a 6.4 clip.
Coming off the bench and seeing significant time are sophomore Kristen Shaw, junior Rakyah Barr, sophomore Ayoni Malloy, junior Katlin Swinton and senior Markaisha Page..
“In order to make the playoffs, we need to make shots, rebound and play defense,” Sanders said. “We’re trying to finish first or second in our region. It's a tough task, but it can be done.”
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