Emerald Basketball Teams Conclude 2024-25 Regular Season

Emerald Basketball Teams Conclude 2024-25 Regular Season

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Greenwood — Barry Kinard has now coached high school basketball 25 seasons and his young Emerald girls’ varsity tram team, made of 9 freshman and sophomores find themselves at (4-12, 0-8) as they prepare to play Wren in the final game of the season.

“With our realignment we were placed in the toughest AAAA region for girls’ basketball in the state,” said Coach Kinard. “The competition is just unreal. Our young players worked hard but this new region is quite a challenge.”

During the season the lady Vikings managed wins over Crescent (57-28 & 30-29) while also defeating Ninety-Six (40-28) and Wade Hampton (42-29).

One bright spot for the future was the play of freshman guard Jurnee Williams, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds a game including 4.1 steals and 2.3 assists.

Another key player was senior Ryonna Talbert who averaged five points and 5.2 rebounds a game. Also returning next year will be junior Le’asia Morgan who averaged 8.3 points and a team leading 11.7 rebounds a game.

Other senior members of the team included shooting guard Kiyunna Marshall and power forward Ketorey Brown.

Additional sophomores included small forward Savannah Dover, wing Alecia Smith, and Shalana Syrkett. Freshmen players included shooting guard Taraji Sprowl, small forward Kiyunna Marshall, wing Arinny Cason, shooting guard Kyrra Wright, and wing Alayshia Gallaher.

Emerald Boys Clinch Spot In AAAA basketball Play-offs

The Emerald boy’s basketball team (7-14), head coached by John Mark Scuggs, have clinched a spot in the upcoming AAAA basketball play-offs.

The team has their final regular season game against Wren at home February, 10.

The team is led in scoring to date by 6-4 senior De’marquis Hopkins at 11.4 points and 6.6 rebounds a game. Sophomore small forward Rykevius Logan is next at 9.6 points and 7.6 rebounds a game.



Other key contributors to the team include junior guard Malachi Dunlap producing 6.5 points a game, three-sport stand-out Beau Hite at 6.2 points and freshman guard Tryon Watson averaging 5.3 points a game.