By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake View – When only nine players can take the field, a baseball team that loses four or five starters from one year to the next can find the road to success pretty difficult. At larger high schools in the state, losing players to graduation is not as impactful as it is at smaller Class A schools. The difference in sheer numbers of potential players can be astounding. Some AAAAA schools will cut 50 to 75 players in a given spring. Most Class A schools don’t have enough interest to even make cuts. If you come out, you make the team. Lake View head baseball coach Kip Herlong is beginning his 32 nd season at the helm. He has won eight state titles and more than 600 games as the mentor of the Wild Gators. You can bet that over 32 years he has faced losing quality players from year to year. This spring, Herlong has only a handful of returning starters from last year’s 20-5 team that lost to Latta in the finals of the Lower State series . The coach entered this season needing to replace his entire outfield, some productive bats, and other key personnel. Not a problem. Herlong has stated many times that the key to his program’s success is the work ethic of his players. Young players grow up in the system and enter their time to play with the same expectations as the veteran players. Herlong has never been one to worry about how many games his team will win. The focus always has been on attitude and effort. He has long believed that if his team’s put in the work and play the game the right way, the wins will take care of themselves. “We have great kids here at Lake View and they work really hard. We always have a chance with these kids. Baseball is really important to them.” The 2025 season has begun with Lake View winning seven of their first nine games, losing to Fairmont (NC) and AAA Aynor. Herlong has seen some good and some bad early on but likes the team’s potential to compete. “It’s kind of hard to tell right now what we are,” he said. “I think we can be a competitive team but I don’t know how competitive we are with the better teams that we will play. Time will tell as we go along. I think our pitching and infield defense are the strengths. We have some new guys in the outfield and we have to improve offensively.” The key returners to this year’s team are senior first baseman Chris McGill and senior shortstop Kason Herlong . Both also are the top two pitchers. McGill hit .483 with 10 homers and 38 RBI’s last season while Herlong hit .526 with three homers and 22 RBI’s in 2024. Aiding on the mound are returning junior Chase Price and a mixture of arms that will develop into their roles as the season progresses. Returning at catcher is senior three-year starters Braden Borders while senior Ian Capps is a fourth-year starter in the middle. Bryce King returns at third base. Price and McGill will share duties at first base. Junior Landon King has been a solid surprise as the new centerfielder. Holden Lee, Tadd Lovett and Seth Deese also are working in the corner outfield spots. Softball off to 3-0 start The Lake View softball team opened 2025 with three wins as they look to build into another state championship contender this spring. The Wild Gators out-scored their first three opponents, 37-8, and look to continue that explosive offense as they face tough competition in the region. Coach Brandy Huggins has four main players returning to this year’s team. Senior Hollie Scott is back at first base but is the team’s No. 1 pitcher this spring. Scott also is one of the top returning hitters. Sophomore Chloe Cox returns as a starter and is working at shortstop. She hit .365 last year. Back at third base is Kaleigh Blackmon , now a three-year starter. Moving from the middle infield to catcher is Hanna Coburn , a freshman. While Scott is the primary pitcher, Haley Miller also has seen some action early while playing first base. Other players seeing time on the infield include Sophia Rogers, Callie Smith, Paisley Alford, Brilee Schirra, Maddison Strickland, and Madi Hunt. Outfielders include Kaylnn Turner, Katima Genwright, Sarah Price and Carlie Matthews. Rounding out the squad this spring are Summer Hilburn, Emmalee Miller and Lilly Hatcher .

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Lake View —The Lake View girls’ basketball team, the defending Class A state champions in South Carolina who finished with a 26-4 record, competed well in the month of December, despite key graduation losses, finishing 4-1 and the Wild Gators are focused on another deep play-off run. How do you replace the graduated point guard Jaleya Ford who scored 1,707 points in her career at Lake View, along with 661 rebounds and 121 assists? Small forward Gwendasia Page had 1,093 career points and 1,045 rebounds in her storied career at Lake View, along with 276 assists, so she will be hard to replace also. These two con-census Class A all-state players will be missed as Lake View, as the team works hard to defend the title they won in a highly competitive game a year ago against Denmark - Olar when Lake View rallied for a 49-46 win. Both teams entered the fourth period last year tied at 35 each. The player stepping up to fill those shoes is sophomore shooting guard Zy’Kiara Waters who was averaging around 20 points a game before she tweaked her knee in a win over Johnsonville game recently. “She is getting an MRI ,and we will know exactly how bad the knee issue is by January, 8,” said veteran head coach James McMillian who has won 167 games at Lake View. “She is walking around okay and we need her talent and leadership back on the floor so we are hoping for the best when the MRI is done.” Waters had 18 points in the opening season win over Carolina Academy (36-35), 16 points against West Columbus , NC (50-37), and 24 points in a win over Hannah - Pamplico (54-33). Waters had scored 17 points in the 36-35 win over Johnsonville when she hurt her knee in the 4 th period. Waters did not play against Pee Dee Academy and the Eagles dominated that game (47-10) giving Lake View their lone loss thus far in the season. “Our first goal is to get healthy and build towards a good run in the play-offs in the play-offs,” said Coach McMillian. “We graduated three starters off our championship team last year so we know we have some work to do. “While we are developing experience at the guard position this year, we feel like we have a lot of experience at the forward position,” said Coach McMillian. “I am stressing to my players that we will play this season one game at the time with the goal of being 1-0 each and every game we play. If we can be 1-0 after every game we play, then competing for a region title and having a deep play-off run will take care of itself.” The next player on the roster with the most experience is senior PF Ta’kiyah Waters who is averaging around six points and six rebounds a game. “She is our top rebounder and shot blocker,” said Coach McMillian. “She controls things in the paint for us.” Lake View is starting a 7 th grader (PG Callie Smith ) for only the second time in Coach McMillian’s tenure at Lake View. “ Olivia McDaniel started as a 7 th grader and Callie Smith is our 7 th grade starting point guard this season,” said Coach McMillian. Smith is averaging five points and three assists a game. Smith had her best game with 14 points against West Columbus, NC. Senior Da’Myra Page is starting as a senior SF after not playing her junior season. She had been a player on the team her freshman and sophomore years . Page is averaging around seven points after five games of the season. Senior PF Alexis Blackmon rounds out the starting five for Lake View and she is averaging around four points and four rebounds a game. The first two players off the bench include 8 th grade shooting guard Sophia Rogers who will start while Waters is out, along with PF Shayla Johnson who is averaging four points a game. Johnson is also a good ball handler. Freshman combo-guard Aura Green is also a first sub off the bench and she is getting better with every game according to Coach McMillian. Rounding out the team are 9 th grade forward Ny’Kya Jones , 8 th forward Aaliah Harley , 8 th grade combo guard Delilah Jones , 7 th grade forward Sarah Bethea , and 7 th grade guard Kloye Davis along with 9 th grade forward LaShanna Jordon .  The team will play Carvers Bay and Latta in early January games hoping to get Waters off the injured list. Coach McMillian is assisted by volunteer coach Raymond Foxworth .

Lake View’s Kaleigh Blackmon Named The NETC Female Student Athlete of the Month 

Lake View's junior two-sport athlete, Holden Lee is the NETC Male Student Athlete of the Month

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Sumter – The regular season in high school football is always special, but there is nothing that compares to the postseason. Looking at the brackets, seeing what has to happen for this particular matchup to happen, the anticipation of said matchups and the excitement that builds up as teams try to make a run toward a state championship. With the reclassification put forward by the South Carolina High School League for this year, all of the classifications will have a different vibe. Class A no longer will have Christ Church , Southside Christan School and St. Joseph’s because of the multiplier rule, but it does have a new dominant force in Abbeville . The Panthers, long a force in AA, is now in Class A and has to be seen as the prohibitive favorite. Still though, you’ve got to play the games and see what happens. We can’t do that, but we can fill out the bracket to see who we have facing off for the championship in Orangeburg the second week of December. WHO’S IN: Upper State Region 1 : 1. Abbeville 2. Ware Shoals 3. Whitmire 4. Dixie 5. McCormick 6. Calhoun Falls Region 2 : 1. Lewisville 2. Lamar 3. Lee Central 4. McBee 5. C.A. Johnson Region 3 : 1. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 2. Blackville-Hilda 3. Calhoun County 4. Ridge Spring-Monetta 5. Williston-Elko Lower State Region 4 : 1. Bamberg-Ehrhart 2. Ridgeland 3. Denmark-Olar 4. Hardeeville Region 5 : 1. Cross 2. Branchville 3. Baptist Hill 4. Scott’s Branch 5. Military Magnet 6. Bethune-Bowman Region 6 : 1. Lake View 2. Hannah-Pamplico 3. Latta 4. Carvers Bay 5. Johnsonville 6. Green Sea Floyds FIRST ROUND Upper State C.A. Johnson (2-8) at Abbeville (8-1) Dixie (7-2) at Blackville-Hilda (8-2) McCormick (3-7) at Lamar (7-3) Calhoun County (3-7) at Lee Central (5-4) McBee (4-5) at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (9-1) Williston-Elko (2-7) at Ware Shoals (4-5) Calhoun Falls (1-8) at Lewisville (9-1) Ridge Spring-Monetta (5-5) at Whitmire (3=7) Lower State Green Sea Floyds (1-9) at Cross (8-2) Scott’s Branch (4-6) at Ridgeland (6-4) Military Magnet (2-6) at Hannah-Pamplico (7-2) Carvers Bay (4-6) at Denmark-Olar (3-6) Hardeeville (3-7) at Lake View (8-1) Johnsonville (4=6) at Branchville (8-2) Bethune-Bowman (1-9) at Bamberg-Ehrhardt (6-2) Latta (5-5) at Baptist Hill (6-3) The first round of any high school sports playoff is usually filled with blowouts, and that could easily be the case with these 16 games. However, there are intriguing matchups in this group. While Blackville-Hilda has to be the favorite with an 8-2 record, it will take on a 7-2 Dixie squad. Ridgeland finished second in a weak Region 6, while Scott’s Branch came on strong down the stretch to go 4-6. Carvers Bay is 4-6 and will play at 3-6 Denmark-Olar . Latta at Baptist Hill will be an intriguing matchup because the Vikings pound the ball while Baptist Hill pushes the ball through the air. Johnsonville may be just 4-6 and going against an 8-2 Branchville squad, but Johnsonville is the 2-time defending lower state champion. Don’t look for them to go down easy. First-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Blackville-Hilda, Lamar, Lee Central, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Ware Shoals, Lewisville, Ridge-Spring Monetta. Lower State: Cross, Scott’s Branch, Hannah-Pamplico, Carvers Bay, Lake View, Branchville, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Latta. SECOND ROUND Upper State Blackville-Hilda at Abbeville Lee Central at Lamar Ware Shoals at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Ridge Spring-Monetta at Lewisvlle Lower State Scott’s Branch at Cross Carvers Bay at Hannah-Pamplico Branchville at Lake View Latta at Bamberg-Ehrhardt This is the round where the fun starts to kick in with matchups of teams with gaudy records and outstanding reputations. Also, with the Class A regions so widespread, you can easily get pairings of teams that aren’t geographically close, thus leading to first-time matchups. The two most noteworthy showdowns in this round would be 2-loss Blackville-Hilda playing at 1-loss Abbeville. The Panthers will be favored and are led by Damarcus Leach . He will be going up against a future teammate at South Carolina in B-H’s Jaquel Holman . The best lower state matchup will have 2-loss Branchville at 1-loss Lake View . Second-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Lamar, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Lewisville: Lower State: Cross, Hannah-Pamplico, Lake View, Bamberg-Ehrhardt THIRD ROUND Upper State Lamar at Abbeville Lewisville at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Lower State Hannah-Pamplico at Cross Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Lake View You’ve got the three champions of the upper state regions and the three region champions from the lower state still alive. The other team in the upper state is No. 2 seed Lamar , while No. 2 seed Hannah-Pamplico is the fourth lower state team. In years past, a matchup between Lamar and Abbeville would be a premier showdown. While Lamar is still a top program, Abbeville is simply a cut above. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler has had a great season, but Lewisville has been on a mission after going out in the second round last season. These lower state matchups would be fun to watch as the pairings have two teams that go about their business in different ways. Third-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Lewisville Lower State: Cross, Bamberg-Ehrhardt SEMIFINALS Upper State Lewisville at Abbeville Lower State Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Cross This would be the “collision course” game of the upper state bracket. Lewisville and Abbeville have been dominant all season. The lower state game will be a pairing of two teams that like to pound the football. However, Bamberg-Ehrhardt has senior quarterback Chanston Crosby to give it a better passing option. Semifinal winners: Abbeville, Bamberg-Ehrhardt STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Abbeville vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt The Red Raiders will present a physical challenge, but Abbeville has tremendous throughout its roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, I go back to what I said at the beginning of the story. Abbeville has to be considered the favorite to win until someone beats it. Your state champion: Abbeville

By David Shelton Senior Writer Lake View – The 2023 Lake View High volleyball team had a magical season, reaching the Class A Lower State finals under first-year head coach Angie King . This fall has also been good overall but it has been more difficult for King. The team lost several key players to graduation and while there are a handful of returners, the roster looks significantly different this season. Nonetheless, Lake View has competed well through September and is looking to peak in October in hopes of another deep playoff run. Entering play on Oct. 7, Lake View was 6-4 overall with a 5-3 mark in region 6-A play. The Wild Gators sit behind Carver’s Bay and Latta in the league standings with two losses to Carver’s Bay and one loss to Latta . King has eight seniors on the roster this season with the top seniors being Kay Bugarin and Ta’Kiyah Waters . Bugarin is an all-around performer, leading the team in assists and service aces, while being third in kills and second in defensive digs. Waters, a middle blocker, leads the team in blocks and is second overall in kills. Leading in kills is sophomore Zy’Kiyah Waters with well over 100 kills. Other seniors include Sarah Price , Kaylynn Turner , Hollie Scott , Da’Myra Page , Jamie Davis and Sophie Rogers . Juniors on the roster include Simone Vaught , Nevaeh Price (leads the team in digs), Kirsten McClellan and Shayla Johnson . Sophomore Chloe Cox rounds out the roster. Football closing in on region title Though never one to count his chickens before they hatch, Lake View head football coach Daryl King knows that his team controls its own destiny as it pertains to the region 6-A title. Lake View won their first three games of the region slate and has remaining games against Carver’s Bay , Latta and Green Sea Floyds . The Wild Gators won five of their first six games overall. The lone loss came in the second game of the season to Mullins , 22-21. Lake View held a 14-0 halftime lead before weather forced a postponement. They returned a few days later and failed to regain the momentum. “We learned a big lesson,” King said of the loss. “We learned that regardless of the circumstances, you have to be able to finish. Sometimes a loss can do some good if you learn from it. I think this team learned that we are not good enough to just show up and win. We have to show up and play, play hard, play to the end.” Overall, the coach feels his team is on a good track. Not because they are winning but because they continue to show weekly improvement. “That’s all we preach, be better than we were the day before,” he said. “We don’t want to peak early but we want to continue to improve and become more consistent in what we do each week. I can honestly say I feel like we have gotten better each week so far. Hopefully that continues and we can play our very best football in the playoffs.” The running game continues to be quite productive for the offense. Tyrell Foxworth leads the team with just over 850 yards. In an Oct. 4 win over Hannah-Pamplico , Foxworth rushed for 223 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns.

Lewisville WR Jacorreun Howze on the run after a catch.

Lake View QB Kason Herlong

Dillon FB players at the HSSR Media Day 2024