Mullins – The Mullins High School boys basketball team wasn’t a part of the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association AA preseason poll. However, when the first regular season poll came out early in December, the Auctioneers had vaulted into the poll at No. 5.
MHS head coach Eric Troy was unaware of his team being newly ranked. However, he was pretty sure why it wasn’t part of the preseason poll.
“We didn’t have a whole lot coming back,” said Troy, who has just one returning starter from last season’s 16-6 team that won the Region 8-AA title and reached the third round of the state playoffs. “Because of that, I can understand why we weren’t ranked. I didn’t think we’d do what we’re doing now.”
The Auctioneers own a pair of victories over AAAAA Carolina Forest and a triumph over AAA Camden.
The one returning starter is senior JJ Davis. He has stepped up to take the leadership role left open by the graduation of Johnell Sindab, who averaged 20.5 points per game. Davis averaged 12.4 points.
Davis was averaging a team high 17.5 points per game in Mullins’ 6-2 start. He also averaged 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
Sophomore Deyon Ford got off to a strong start, averaging 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and team highs with 2.6 assists and 2.9 steals. Another sophomore, 6-foot-3-inch Braden Hughes, was averaging 8.9 points and a team high 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots.
“He’s a piece that we traditionally don’t have,” Troy said of Hughes. “He can play with his back to the basket, he’s a good passer, a good shooter, a strong finisher.”
After that trio, Troy has been spreading the wealth as far as playing time goes. The 13 other members of the Auctioneers’ 16-man roster had all played in at least three of the first eight games. Troy has been trying different combinations in the starting lineup, and his plan is to zero in on a regular starting five. However, if he can continue to use most or all of his roster, he will.
“My dream is to put five in and take five out at one time,” Troy said. “They’re just competing and getting better. We like to press (defensively). The more people I can use, the more we can press.”
Another sophomore, Amir Lee, was averaging 4.5 points and 5.4 rebounds. Freshman Dakari Worley and senior Dorian Hickman were both averaging 5.4 points while Worley was averaging 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals.
Others seeing playing time were senior Jadarius Brown (4.4 ppg), junior Zayan Grant (3.5 ppg), junior Ernest Ford (3.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg), senior Taymore Owens (2.4 ppg), sophomore Andre Littlejohn (1.0 ppg), junior LeBron Avant (1.5 ppg), senior Cameron Faulk (4.3 ppg), junior Lonne Alston (1.3 ppg), junior Mykell Raysor (0.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and junior Kyshawn Legette (1.7 ppg).
Troy is in his sixth season as Mullins head coach. He thinks that consistency is a reason for the good start.\
“Traditionally, we don’t have as good of a start as we’re having right now,” he said. “They’re coming in more prepared now than in previous years. We’re further along than we were at this time last year.
“Our junior varsity team was undefeated las year, and a lot of those guys have come up and are playing well. Of course, the varsity level is played at a faster pace and is more physical, but those players are athletic and they’ve got a lot of heart and play hard.”
NAKAZZION BETHEA SELECTED TO ALL-REGION 8-AA FOOTBALL TEAM
Auctioneer quarterback NaKazzion Bethea was named to the All-Region 8-AA football team.
Bethea completed 120 of 218 passes for 1,476 yards and 17 touchdowns against just seven interceptions.
Bethea was also the team’s leading rusher with 297 yards on 71 carries.
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