St. George – It has been a season of ups and downs so far for the Dorchester Academy girls basketball team. The Lady Raiders started out by winning seven of their first 13 games and were 2-2 in SCISA Region 1-AA.
DA head coach Callie McClure believes her team is starting to come together.
“We have had good nights and bad nights,” McClure said. “I’m hoping for us to be more consistent shooters while also limiting our turnovers. These girls have been working very hard. I see each of them improving with every practice and every game, and I think they are getting more comfortable playing with one another. We have a busy month ahead of us and I look forward to seeing how it unfolds.”
Dorchester has three returning starters in seniors Paige Shelton, Krystal Judy and Ebbie Solesbee. Shelton is averaging a double-double in region contests with averages of 12 points and 14 rebounds per game, respectively. Rylee Weathers, who is one of two freshmen starting along with Palmer Kizer, is averaging 15 points in region games.
Kizer is averaging three steals and two assists per game. Coach McClure said, “We have some quick hands on defense in Palmer and (eighth-grader) Emery (McClure).”
Solesbee is averaging around six rebounds per game.
Juniors Reagan Burns and Lucy Varnadoe and sophomore Rylee Matthews round out the roster. Coach McClure said her entire roster generally sees playing time in a game.
With Judy out with an injury, Burns scored 11 points against defending AA state champion Cathedral Academy. Matthews just started playing after being out in November and December.
DORCHESTER BOYS START 1-4 IN REGION PLAY
The Dorchester boys basketball team won seven of its first 15 games, but it was 1-4 in region contests.
Senior Wayland Gruber is leading the way for the Raiders. He is averaging a double-double of 19 points and 10 rebounds. Another senior starter is point guard Connor Hartzog.
Dorchester also has two sophomore starters in Abe Shuler and John Quattlebaum.
Raiders head coach Nick Mcalhany is looking for his team to make a push in the region.
Region 1 had all four teams in the semifinals of the state tournament in state champion St. John’s Christian, runner-up Cathedral Academy and semifinalists Calhoun Academy and Andrew Jackson Academy. The other team in the region is Clarendon Hall.
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