Cathedral Academy Repeats as SCISA Class AA Boys Champions

Photo from both the Girls and Boys SCISA Class AA title games. In the girls game, Cross Schools faced Laurens Academy . In the boys game, Cathedral Academy faced Andrew Jackson Academy . This sample of images, follow this link for the full gallery.

Cathedral meets Andrew Jackson in AA boys game; Laurens, Cross Schools play for AA girls crown; Curtis Baptist, Ragin Prep in Class A boys game

Andrew Jackson Academy Boy’s & Girl’s Basketball Headed To The Play-offs By Billy G. Baker Publisher Ehrhardt —With five players sitting out for various reasons the Andrew Jackson Academy Warriors had several players step up to defeat Thomas Heyward , 46-45, on February 7 that clinched a three-way tie for the region championship. “Super proud of how our players stepped up and did really well with us short-handed,” said head coach Josh Barnes . “We had three teams all finish 8-2 in the region and the tie breaker favors all three of us depending on what team we compare our scores too.  “Bethesda is 8-2 and Thomas Heyward is 8-2 and I have been coaching for so long I will wait for the bracket to come out Wednesday night and then start getting ready for the team we have to play,” said Coach Barnes. “If you play well you will advance in the play-offs and if you do not you go home and the season is over.” Against Thomas Heyward, with the team’s backs against the wall, Hayden McClung poured in 20 points and Hall Sease scored five points and hauled in a season high 15 rebounds. Ollie Barnes held the Rebel’s top offensive player to three points with his stellar defense and added 9 points on offense. Elijah Davis, a 6-3 Big, had to guard a quicker guard for the first time all season and he held hi sown while contributing 10 points. “We had senior Jacobe Best start and he hustled and played well on both sides of the ball as well,” said Coach Barnes. The team will play a non-region game against Dorche4ster Academy on February, 10 to conclude the regular season. Currently the team has four Warriors scoring in double figures. They include senior combo guard Gage Dicks who is averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, three assists, and 2.6 steals. Dicks is considered a next level prospect. Junior Vashahd Schofield is a 6-3 power forward averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Senior point guard Hayden McClung is at 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds as the regular season ends. McClung is also averaging four assists and 2.7 steals. Ollie Barnes is at 12 points and 1,8 assists a game. Sophomore Hall Sease (6-3, 170) is averaging 8 points and 8.6 rebounds starting the SCISA basketball play-offs. Sophomore guard Colin Carter is averaging 7 points and 7 rebounds a game and senior Carter Brunson - Brown is averaging 7.1 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Jacobe Best is at two points and 2.9 rebounds a game. Several hard-working reserves include junior forward Tanner Chassereau , junior forward Tres Mixon , and sophomore forward Eli Mathys. “What we really need to do is step up our defense with the play-offs starting and we need to play with better team unity on the floor,” said Coach Barnes. “We tried some different things on defense against Thomas Heyward the other night and holding a team down to 45 points was our best defensive effort of the season. “Once the play-offs start you have to be playing your best basketball or your season is over,” said Coach Barnes. “We have not played our best game yet and I hope that starts happening in the play-offs.” AJA Girl’s 11-10, 4-2 & Will Earn Spot In Play-offs With a 11-10, and 4-2 record the AJA Lady Warriors basketball team, under the direction of head coach Zach Boltin , showed steady progress throughout the 2024-25 season and they will be earning a spot in the upcoming SCISA play-offs. Some highlights to the season included a rare 37-24 win over Patrick Henry back in December and it had been a while since the team had defeated PHA in girls’ basketball. In that signature win sophomore guard Bella Carrigg scored 23 points and freshman Harlo Sease had 13 points. McKinley Beard had seven points and double-digit rebounds while senior Rileigh Barnes and Ryleigh Trivette each contributed two points. In the team’s recent win over HTCC, Kinslie Carson had 14 points while Beard had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Trivette scored 9 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win. At the end of the regular season Beard is the top scorer at 11 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. Carrigg is at 8.6 points and two assists a game. Sease comes next at 6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game. Carson is averaging 7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds an outing. Barnes, a senior team captain, is averaging three points and 3.5 rebounds a game while Trivette is at four points and 5 rebounds per game.

AJA senior guard, Gage Dicks in the 2024 SCISA playoffs.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Ehrhardt — Andrew Jackson Academy Athletic Director, and head boys’ basketball coach, Josh Barnes is starting his 15 th season on the hardwood with the Warriors, and he is focused on total team unity, to the point he considers all 10 of his varsity players “potential starters.” Last year the Warriors, with no seniors on the team, finished 18-17 and 5-5 in their SCISA AA region making it to the semi-finals in the play-offs. “I am not naming starters because I feel like all 10 of our players will be major contributors this season,” said Coach Barnes, a proud Citadel graduate. “Our goals this season are focused on team unity and unselfishness. “Last season we were a very balanced scoring team with numerous players averaging in double figures,” said Coach Barnes. “Our success will depend on the team having balanced scoring once again.” The season will begin on November, 18 with a home gamer against Curtis Baptist . Based on last year’s final stats, the Warriors should be led once again by senior combo-guard prospect Gage Dicks. Dicks, who is listed among the top senior guards by recruiting services in the region, averaged 18.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals a game. In an earlier interview, Coach Barnes, complimented Dicks as a very good shooter with above average ball skills. Senior point guard Hayden McClung (5-9) returns after averaging 15.3 points and 5.9 rebounds a game as a junior. Sophomore shooting guard Oliver Barnes (6-0) is also back after an impressive freshman season where he averaged 11.3 points, 2.9 points, and 1.6 assists a game. Senior small-forward Carter Brown (6-0) is also back after he helped the team’s success last year with 9.4 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. Brown led the team in rebounding. Junior guard-forward Hall Sease can use his 6-2 height either on the inside or outside. Sease averaged 8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds a game last season. Junior newcomer power forward Vashahd Schofield is a 6-4 power forward who will most certainly have an immediate impact for the Warriors success this season. He is expected to be a force inside on the boards and he is listed as a prospect by Prep Hoops. The combination of Schofield on the inside and Dicks on the outside, certainly makes the AJA boys’ team an early favorite to compete for a state SCISA AA championship this season. (Coach Barnes is avoiding any comments about winning a state championship as he is more focused on team unity and competing “one game at the time” this season.) The one player up from the jayvee is junior forward Tanner Chassercau who will add depth to the perimeter game of the team. Senior forward Jacobe Best returns to the team, along with 6-2 sophomore Elijah Davis who contributed 2.2 rebounds a game last season. Junior forward Tres Mixson is also back. “We will continue to be up-tempo on offense, and we hope our over-all team depth, will allow us to keep fresh players on the court most of the time,” said Coach Barnes. “Our goal is to develop a mentally tough team with hard physical practices that push our players to the limits of their talent. We are stressing player development and growth with every practice and every game.”  The Warriors will be competing in a SCISA AA region with teams from Bethesda Academy , Cross Schools , Beaufort Academy , Holy Trinity and Thomas Heyward . The Warriors will compete in a Christmas Tournament hosted by Blackville - Hilda High School December 26-30. “We know that every team will be high quality at this public-school event, where our players will be challenged by excellent competition,” said Coach Barnes. “This tournament should get us ready for a very competitive region schedule after the holidays.” Coach Barnes is assisted by Marcus Riveria , including former players Zachary Bolten and Chandler Hayden , along with Doyle Hayden .

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Ehrhardt — During the summer, the Andrew Jackson Academy volleyball team, including some junior varsity players, attended a skills camp at Wofford College and it appears that experience has helped build record success for both teams this season. Zach Boltin is the new varsity head volleyball coach for the 2024 season at Andrew Jackson Academy. As of October, 4 th the Lady Warriors were (13-2, 5-1) with a strong goal of winning the school’s first region title in volleyball in recent memory. (Maybe ever). Some of the varsity wins have come over Thornwell , Chester , Strom Thurmond , Jefferson Davis , Dorchester Academy , Holly Hill Academy (twice) Cross Schools , and Thomas Heyward Academy . At the same time, the junior varsity team, head coached by former Wade Hampton High School stand-out Carmen Mixon , is currently (11-1, 4-1) and also enjoying the best volleyball record in recent memory. Coach Boltin is assisted by Kaylee Carter and Mixon. “ McKinley Beard is our 5-10 sophomore outside hitter and she is the player we like to get the ball too,” said Coach Boltin. “In our game last night (October, 3 rd ) against Holy Trinity (won 3-0) she had 16 kills which gives her 201 kills for the season. “She strikes the ball very well and she has great movement on the court,” said Coach Boltin talking about the team’s top player. “Our setter Bella Carrigg had 18 assists in the same game and she set up the majority of Beard’s Kill shots.” Carrigg is a sophomore middle blocker who had a team leading 211 assists going into the game with Holy Trinity. Carrigg also has 19 serving aces top her credit. Beard is one of the captains along with senior middle hitter Ryleigh Trivette . “Ryleigh does a good job on the front row with 38 blocks so far this season,” said Coach Boltin. Trivette had 31 kills going into the match with Holy Trinity. Senior Ryleigh Barnes has been in the program for five years. “Ryleigh is our Libero and she plays very good defense on the back row,” said Coach Boltin. Barnes had 56 digs and 9 assists for the season, prior to the matches with Holy Trinity. Freshman Harlo Sease is another talented freshman who is a defensive specialist for AJA. Sease went into the Holy Trinity match with 54 kills and 10 blocks and she is very aggressive at the net. Sophomore Mary Grace Hiers starts in the back row as a defensive specialist and she averages one dig per set. Carrigan Moore is a talented sophomore middle hitter who is also a next level softball prospect. Moore had 22 serving aces going into the match with Holy Trinity. “Carrigan is a very good all-around player for us,” said Coach Boltin. Sophomore Kingslee Carson starts as an outside middle hitter. Carson had 38 digs prior to the Holy Trinity match as the HSSR was going to press. Junior Carly Smoak is a defensive specialist who has 24 assists on the season. Junior Alex Johnson is also a defensive specialist averaging nearly one dig a set. Sydney Crosby is a senior defensive specialist and she is usually the first player who come sin off the bench. AJA has six varsity players involved with outside AAU volleyball programs. They are Sease, Beard, Carrigg, Hiers, Carson, and Moore. The varsity has remaining games at Patrick Henry (Oct.-7), host Beaufort Academy (Oct. 9), play at Colleton Prep (Oct. 10) and complete the regular season at home against Colleton Prep (Oct. 14). The state tournament will take place once again starting on October, 19 th in Myrtle Beach. “Last year was the first time the volleyball team at AJA had made it to Saturday, with the tournament starting on Friday,” said Coach Boltin. “I feel like if we keep playing together, and stay focused on being fundamentally sound, that we have a chance to compete for a state title. “We still have a lot of improving to do but when we play together, with good communication on the court we are hard to beat,” he said. “We have never won a region title in volleyball and that is our strong goal this season.” Turning to the up- and- coming junior varsity program , Coach Mixon is proud of the effort of her team so far in the 2021 season. “First of all, I have enjoyed working with Coach Boltin and Kaylee to help improve the success of both our varsity and junior varsity volleyball programs this season,” said Coach Mixon. “All three of us are young ourselves (mid 20’s) so we have very good communication with our players. “Taking the teams to the skills camp at Wofford College for three days this summer was a great thing for the advancement of our volleyball program at AJA,” said Coach Mixon. “One day the girls were working on individual skills relative to their positions and on the third day we got to see them in team competition where they were able to put what they had learned into action on the court. “It was a very positive learning experience for the girls and it was certainly a learning experience for the coaches as well,” said Mixon. “Both teams have worked very hard. I feel like the success of the junior varsity team will help build the depth on the varsity for the few years also. “Our communication on the floor this season has been much improved with both teams,” said Coach Mixon. “The girls are very coachable and they all get along very well.” (On a side note, folks travelling on I-95 at Exit 38 need to exit and travel a few miles to Shuman’s Stop & Shop for the best boiled peanuts in America! Coach Mixon owns this country store and the home-made egg salad sandwiches are fantastic also). Three of the junior varsity players participate on year- round AAU teams. This includes sophomore setter Izzie Brandt , 8 th grade setter Amiah McClung , along with freshman Libero, Peighton Jones . Other hard-working members of the junior varsity include: Kylie Hiers (7 th -DS), Bhrettlee Hutto (8 th -MH), Adalyn Crosby (7 th -OH, DS), Braelyn Hall (10 th -MH), Madison Lyons (9 th -DS), Delane Bessinger (10 th -DS), Nala Tuten (8 th -DS), Connelly Smoak (10 th -OPP), Chloe Musser (10 th -DS), Delanie Bessinger (8 th -DS, S), Adalyn Westberry (9 th --OH), Abby Ayer (9 th -OH), and Kiley O’Herien (8 th -DS).

By: Gerald Doolittle Goose Creek, S.C . - The South Carolina Independent Schools Association is preparing to open its 55 th football season with a new two-year alignment. Can Hammond (4A), Hilton Head Christian (3A), Bethesda Academy (2A), Patrick Henry Academy (1A) and Jefferson Davis Academy (8 Man) defend their 2023 titles? Hammond will be playing for their 8 th straight title in Class 4A. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 4A : 1. Hammond 2. Laurence Manning 3. Porter-Gaud 4. Northwood Academy 5. Cardinal Newman. Laurence Manning was runners-up to Hammond in 2023. Augusta Christian, Ben Lippen and Heathwood Hall will earn a playoff spot by finishing in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 3A : 1. Hilton Head Christian, 2. Wilson Hall, 3. Pinewood Prep, 4. Florence Christian and 5. Trinity Collegiate. Hilton Head Christian defeated Wilson Hall for the 2023 title. John Paul ll, Palmetto Christian and Camden Military will earn a playoff spot if they finish the regular season in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 2A : 1. Bethesda Academy, 2. Clarendon Hall Academy, 3. St. Johns Christian, 4. Orangeburg Prep and 5. Pee Dee Academy. Bethesda Academy defeated Williamsburg Academy (now in 1A) for the 2023 title. Greenwood Christian, Spartanburg Christian, Calhoun Academy, Dillon Christian, Thomas Sumter Academy, Hilton Head Prep and Christian Academy all will earn a playoff spot by finishing in the Class 2A top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Class 1A : 1. Williamsburg Academy 2. Patrick Henry Academy 3. Lee Academy 4. Dorchester Academy 5. Thomas Heyward Academy Patrick Henry Academy defeated Lee Academy for the 2023 title. Colleton Prep, Beaufort Academy, Faith Christian, Andrew Jackson Academy, and Carolina Academy can get playoff spots by finishing in the top eight. The top five pre-season ranking for Eight Man are: 1. Jefferson Davis Academy 2. Holly Hill Academy 3. Richard Winn Academy 4. Wardlaw Academy 5. Laurens Academy W.W. King Academy, Newberry Academy and Oakbrook Prep can earn playoff spots by finishing in the top four of Region One. Cathedral Academy, Cross Schools and Conway Christian can earn playoff spots by finishing in the top four of Region Two. The Kings Academy is a new comer Region Two moving to 8-man play this season.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Ehrhardt — During May Spring drills Andrew Jackson Academy focused on different understanding various formations, as they move up from an 8-man program to an 11-man squad under the direction of John Paul Jones who was the HSSR-SCISA 8-man Player of the Year in 1999 at AJA. The Warriors will start the season on August, 16 against Faith Christian from Summerville. “These kids have never played 11-man football,” said Coach Jones. “Maybe two or three have played 11-man before. We are starting completely over with a new offense and new defense. “As a coach, I am trying to learn the strengths and weaknesses of my players and find the right positions for them,” said Coach Jones. I have several players who can multiply positions on offense or defense. “ Ollie Barnes has really punctual on attending all practices and summer work-outs,” said Coach Jones. “ Jacobe Best has been working really hard also and he attended summer camps at Wofford and Newberry College. I expect big things from him this season. “ Hall Sease has been working hard at the quarterback position also,” said Couch Jones. “W still have a lot of work to do with our wide receiver core. I believe the strength of the team will be on defense and we still have a lot of work to do on offense. Over-all I am pleased with the attendance we’ve had at our summer work-outs.