Third time the charm for Holly Hill against Jefferson Davis in SCISA Class A state tournament

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Patrick Begins Third Season As Head Coach Of Carvers Bay Baseball  By Billy G. Baker Publisher Hemingway — Shawn Patrick begins his third season as the head baseball coach at Carvers Bay, and when he took over the program two years ago, the program was in need of rebuilding from the ground-up. “We worked hard on changing the culture of the baseball program because we had had a lot of turn-over in head coaches, over a five-year period, and one of my goals was to bring some stability to the program,” said Coach Patrick who played baseball at Williamsburg Academy where he graduated in 2002. In year two, the program grew by leaps and bounds as the Bears finished at around 14-14 for the season, still comprised mainly of freshmen and sophomores. “Just as we think we have things pointed in the right direction, the SCHSL has their two-year realignment, and I promise you, bar none, we have the toughest Class A baseball region in the state,” said Coach Patrick. “The six other teams in our new region are Lake View , Johnsonville , Latta , Green Sea - Floyds , Hannah - Pamplico , and Hemingway.” The team is fortunate to return the 1-2 pitching rotation of juniors Clark Jones and Brantley Jones who are committed year- round players with a strong goal of playing at the next level beyond high school. “Clark is our starting shortstop also and he batted .390 with 20 RBI’s last season with 15 stolen bases,” said Coach Patrick. “He is very dedicated to the sport of baseball and this will be his fourth year starting on the team. He makes very few errors and he has soft hands with a quick whip to first base.” Junior Kendall Moore returns to first base where he batted around .300 with 12 RBI’s last season. The only senior on the team is second baseman Kim Ball Edwards. Edwards batted lead-off and he hit .300 with 12 RBI’s. Sophomore Bryant Garman will hold down third base and he had a .980 fielding percentage last year while batting around .300. Garman also had a good eye at the plate walking 19 times during the season with 10 stolen bases. The catcher is four-year returning starter junior Brantley Jones. “ Brantley has a 2.0 pop- time to second base and he protects the plate very well with few passed balls,” said Coach Patrick. “Brantley is a very smart player and he is fully aware of what is going on in the game at all times.” B. Jones batted a solid .400 with 15 RBI’s as a sophomore. “Brantley is also our number two pitcher and while he might not throw as hard as his brother, he is a pure pitcher that throws a lot of strikes,” said Coach Patrick. “He had the best ERA on the team last year at a little over 1.00.” Coach Patrick says that since Garman is a solid back-up catcher this season, he will not be afraid to use B. Jones more on the bump. “Sometimes you hate to put your starting catcher on the mound if you lose a lot of defenses behind the plate,” said Coach Patrick. “With Garman available to catch some it will give Brantley a little more mound time.” During this interview Coach Patrick stated he had not made final cuts and some spots in the out-field were still wide-open. He does feel like junior Clarkson Thompson , and freshman Myles Matthews will see a lot of action in the outfield. Thompson will be starting for the first time. Matthews led the team in batting at .420 a year ago and he can also play some first base. Moore will be the team’s number three “lefty” behind the Jone’s brothers. Some of strong newcomers to the varsity include 8 th graders Nolan Williams and Owen Lewis , two utility players along with freshman Trevion Parrot and junior Javion Palmer . Coach Patrick said his strong goal for the team is to improve with every practice “and keep working our butts off.” Carvers Bay will begin the 2025 season on February, 28 th in the Larry Hardee-Duke Pendley Memorial 10-team Pre-season Tournament hosted by Loris High School . Coach Patrick is assisted by Garrett Howard , Rick Smith , and Keith Coker .

Bobcats overcome slow start to win region title By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake City - There’s an old coaching adage that says “It’s not so much how you start but more about how you finish.” The Carolina Academy boys basketball team is living proof this season. After opening the season with a 2-7 record against a tough early schedule, the Bobcats put it all together, winning their last nine games, including an 8-0 march through the conference schedule, Carolina won the region championship and look forward to the SCISA Class AA state payoffs.  “I felt like we were better than our early record,” coach Robert Phillips said. “Our early schedule was very difficult and we came into this season with some holes to fill. I thought we competed well but we had to change a few things that I thought would help us. The kids bought in and we have played pretty solid basketball since January. It’s a credit to the guys.” The changes made came in the defensive mindset overall and stressing good decision-making offensively. The Bobcats do not typically light up the scoreboard but the defensive intensity and execution have been a strength. “We’re going to pick up man-to-man at halfcourt and try to disrupt the other team’s offense,” the coach said. “It’s a tough mindset and these are tough kids that will do whatever it takes to win.” The team leader on the floor this season is senior point guard Landon Turner , who leads the team in scoring at 13 points per game but does so much more, according to Phillips. “He’s our guy, our go-to,” the coach said. “He does everything well and is a real steady player. He will guard the other team’s best offensive player and still has the energy to do what he does offensively.” Junior Walker McCutcheo n is another key player as a defender and rebounder. He averages about nine points per game. Senior center Michael Wyatt contributes as a post defender and rebounder. Junior Cole Tanner has provided a spark off the bench, particularly as a defender and long range shooter. Other seniors on the roster include Mason Huggins, Blanding Franks, Daniel McKenzie , and Thomas McDaniel . Rounding out the team are juniors Ryan Cox, Chandler Prosser, Charlie Teal, Lane Edwards and Hendley Campbell. In terms of the state tournament, Phillips cannot predict what will happen due to a lack of knowledge of possible opponents. The playoffs are a crap shoot. “I think it all depends on matchups, how we match up with our personnel,” he said. “We’re all in the same boat. It comes down to playing your best at the end. We can play with any team when we are playing well. Hopefully we can bring that when it counts. I like this team.”

Beaufort winter sports showing solid success By David Shelton Senior Writer Beaufort - Though not perfect, the 2024-25 winter sports season at Beaufort H igh has had plenty of success overall. Beaufort competes in Class AAAA and will be a playoff team in girls basketball and wrestling. As of Feb. 1, the wrestling team was already involved in the state duals tournament. The Eagles were seeded fifth in the Lower State bracket and were ranked as high as No.13 in the statewide rankings of AAAA.  Beaufort opened the duals tournament with a win over Midland Valley but the season ended in round two as the Eagles lost to No. 4 seed Gilbert. The end of the state duals competition is not the end of the wrestling season. Next up is the state individual tournament where wrestlers seek to win state titles in their weight classes. A favorite to medal from Beaufort is senior Antonio McKnight, who has qualified for the state individual tournament for a third time. McKnight is ranked as the No. 2 144-pounder in Class AAAA and is projected to contend for the gold. Sophomore Colton Freeman also is a qualifier at 215-pounds where he ranked No. 7 in AAAA. The girls basketball team also will be headed to the AAAA state playoffs. With four games remaining, Beaufort is 5-1 in region 7-AAAA and 12-7 overall. Beaufort is assured of a top three finish in the region standings, which would land them in the postseason. Freshman Jania Heyward has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game this season. Junior Zaria Coaxum average 8.5 points per game while eighth-grader Daleah LaBoard adds about five points per game. Junior Carson Crosby is averaging 7.4 rebounds to go with 4.4 points while senior Davarirah Sumter averages nearly six rebounds and five points per game. The roster is quite young this season with only one other senior, Johanna Laney. Other juniors include Zaniyah Reynolds-Morgan, Claire McDaniel, and D’Asya Lowery . Sophomores include Savannah Lanham and Faith Blevins . Freshmen Erin Crosby and Deja Singleton round out the 2024-25 roster. The boys basketball team likely won’t make the playoffs after posting just one win in their first 16 games, including an 0-6 record in the region. Senior Samari Bonds leads the Eagles in scoring at 13.6 points per game while adding 6.2 rebounds per game. Senior Amani Cleckley averages 12.1 points and junior Jason Frazier adds 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing.

The 2025 SCISA run for the State Basketball Title started today in various locations around the Palmetto State. The HSSR was in Sumter covering games at Wilson Hall and the Sumter Civic Center. Here are a few highlights from today's games.  The full gallery is available by following this link .

Berkeley basketball teams headed into state playoffs By David Shelton Senior Writer Moncks Corner – As the 2024-25 regular season winds down, the best teams in the state are looking forward to the upcoming state playoffs. The boys and girls basketball teams at Berkeley High are among those teams that will enter the Division II-AAAAA state playoffs with a chance to contend for the Lower State title. Both teams have put together solid seasons and have been ranked in the top 10 all season long.  Girls coach Crystal Peace has worked through some lean years as she rebuilt the program and now has the Stags as a viable product on the floor. As of Feb. 7, Berkeley was 17-5 overall and 6-1 in region 7-AAAAA. The region and regular season wraps up on Feb. 14. Peace is winning with a young roster, which bodes well for future success. Freshman Alaina Carter is the leading scorer at 12.4 points per game. Sophomore Amani McCray averages 8.7 points and 6.6 rebounds per game and junior Demi Gray adds 8.5 points per game. Junior Aiyanna Moses adds 7.6 points per game while junior Madison Thomas chips in six points per outing. Sophomore forward Imani Levey anchors the inside with 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds. Levey scored 15 points in a recent region win over Goose Creek. That win on Feb. 4 avenged Berkeley’s only region loss, a 49-48 setback. “I appreciate the girls accepting their roles and doing what we ask them to do,” Peace said. “They work extremely hard.” Matthew Mullins’ boys team put together an 11-game streak in the first month of the season and sat at 15-5 overall and 3-3 in region play as of Feb. 4. The Stags are locked in a battle for second in the standings with county rival Cane Bay and out of region title contention after two losses to Goose Creek. Junior forward Damien Kinloch continues to set the pace in scoring at 14 points per game. Sophomore wing John Cleveland adds about 12 points and senior guard Cam Palmer has been a solid all-around performer. Justin Suarez and Jordan Livingston also have been solid contributors. “We’re a bit deeper than we have been the last couple of years,” Mullins said. “Some of the guys have come up from the jayvee and we haven’t missed a bear.” The duals portion of the wrestling season is complete and the focus now turns to the battle for individual state championships. Berkeley has four wrestlers in contention for the state tournament. All four are ranked in the top 12 in AAAAA in their weight class. Hunter Drawdy is ranked 11 th in the 285-pound class while Landon Jackson is ranked No. 8 at 215 pounds. Aiden President is ranked 10 th at 190 and John Clarke is ranked 11 th at 144 pounds.

Camden's Senior Morgan Champion

Woodland Girls basketball Team Clinches Play-0ff Berth With Win Over Academic Magnet  By Billy G. Baker Publisher Dorchester —The Woodland girls’ basketball team played their best offensive game of the season against Academic Magnet at home on February, 7 th to claim a 54-36 win and clinch a fourth- place play-off spot also. Two returning all-region players for the Lady Wolverines stood out in the big win. Sophomore guard Jalina Goodwin scored 17 points, grabbed four rebounds, had four steals and three assists in the big region win. Teammate, senior Makiza White (team captain) scored 12 points, recovered 8 rebounds, and had four assists in the win. Junior guard Carmen Allen contributed 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal in the win over Academic Magnet while 8 th grader Lenaya Ross scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds. “We came into the game with Academic Magnet averaging 35 points a game so to have our best game of the season with 54 points is very encouraging,” said head coach Austin Jefferies. “Depending on how the bracket shakes out and I can definitely see us winning one or two play-off games if we continue to play well.” Prior to the game with Academic Magnet the HSSR visited Coach Jeffries in the Woodland gym for some comments on the team. “We work hard on our defense every game, seeing the ball and seeing the man and keeping up with the ball is,” said Coach Jeffries. “We do not have a double figure type scorer like we had last year (Gaddis now at Coker after averaging 17 a game as a senior). “My point guards this season, one is in the 7 th grade ( Essence Walker ) and the other is a sophomore ( Jalina Goodwin ), so we are young there right now,” said Coach Jeffries. Goodwin went into the Academic Magnet game averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds a game along with 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals. Walker was averaging 4.8 points a game. “Jalina is still in that development stage but she has a lot of potential if she will keep working hard,” said Coach Jeffries. “It is a learning process but she is coming along really well.” Woodland starts four guards. One of the first subs off the bench is 8 th grader Brazil Nelson who brings a lot of energy to the court when she comes in. “Brazil is a defensive stopper,” said the coach. Some other key reserves include junior forward Mercedes Breeland , senior point guard Janette Gates , sophomore guard Emani Smalls , senior small forward Linda White , sophomore Makaila Adgerson , sophomore center Sh’mya James , and junior center Alishanee Ford .

Ashley Hall completes another season in basketball By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – While successful in several sports, the Ashley Hall girls basketball program has struggled in recent years to field competitive teams. As an all-girls school with a wide range of academic and extra-curricular activities and challenges, the student population often has very little basketball experience. The program has a new head coach this season as Neshonda Brown takes over for coach Jodie Runner. Despite a lack of talent and experience, Brown has continued to teach and develop the players, realizing that big-time success is not likely. Ashley Hall competes in the same region as SCISA powers Northwood Academy and First Baptist. Ashley Hall managed one win in their first 13 outings. Senior Gates McCants sets the pace for the varsity as the starting point guard and the team’s leading scorer. “She’s a competitor at heart who gets after it on both ends of the court,” Runner said last season. Supporting at the guard position are senior Iris Stiegman , sophomore Molly Mettler . Primary workers in the post include senior Faye Bailey . The team’s other senior is Sims Wadley. Ro unding out the roster are junior Ashley Jackson , sophomores Liza Hood . Mary Collins , Sally Rowson, Kamya Heyward, Minka Tang , Shila Sniderman; and freshman Mollie McDougald .