Epps believes Williamsburg girls basketball program takes step forward

            Kingstree – Will Epps had no grand aspirations when he became the girls basketball head coach

at Williamsburg Academy last summer. The Lady Stallions won just one game last season.

           Williamsburg certainly showed improvement in its first season under Epps’ tutelage though. The

Lady Stallions picked up four victories in 21 games.

           Epps said that improvement has come about because of how the Lady Stallions have worked in

practice and in games.

           “I’ve been tickled to death over how hard they work and play and compete,” Epps said. “There

have been only two times the entire season when I was disappointed in their effort. One game we had a

bad half where we were down pretty good and we had another game where we had a 3- or 4-minute

stretch where the effort just wasn’t there.

           "I’m just so pleased with how they’ve fallen in to what we want them to do and have given it all

had they had.”

Epps said the strength of the Lady Stallions has been how it plays defensively.

           “We’ve been really, really, really sold defensively throughout the season,” said Epps, whose team

allowed around 37 points a game. “All of the halfcourt settings we’ve defended pretty well. We’ve

done a good job of contesting shots, putting pressure on the ball.”

Epps said he has seen improvement up and down the roster.

           “We’ve gotten better individually. You can see improvement in every girl in the program. I’m

excited for the future. I think it’s very bright.

           ”It takes time regardless of where you are for people to learn a different style of play. The girls

have adapted well and learned a lot.”

There is only one senior on the roster, that being Amelia Floyd, who is a starter.

           At the forefront of the roster is Audrey Watford. She’s the leading scorer with a 9.5 average as

well as a team leader in general.

           “She’s our point guard who is an extremely good athlete,” Epps said. “She played for me in

volleyball (Epps is also the volleyball head coach) so I knew what I had in her.”

           Junior Trystan Burrows also played volleyball for Epps and was averaging 4.6 points as a power

forward. Junior Sophie Kellahan started when she was healthy, but has been hindered by an injury and

the flu.

Floyd started at the off guard. This was the only year that she started.

           “She’s been a bright spot,” Epps said of Floyd, who was averaging 4.0 points. “She told me, ‘I

never really played, I was a good cheerleader.’ She =plays hard, she’s very fast, and we use her to put a

lot of pressure on ball handlers.”

           The center post was being shared by freshman Abby Ward, sophomore Blakely Hundley and

sophomore Shay Carraway.

Freshman Maggie Jones came off the bench averaging 3.8 points, while sophomore Perry Wise

was averaging 2.8 points. Epps has brought up eighth-grader Avery Belue and seventh-grader Corrine

Kellahan from the junior varsity at the end of its season.

           Epps coaches the junior varsity team as well while Claire Wise serves as the B team head coach.

He believes this season can be a stepping stone to future success.

“It should be if I do a good job,” Epps said. “We should be a lot better. I’m excited for the future.”

WILLIAMSBURG BOYS HAVE REBUILDING SEASON

           The Williamsburg boys basketball team lost seven seniors from a team that went 12-6 and

reached the AA state playoffs. So Stallions head coach Kevn Burrows kind of knew what was coming.

           “This year has kind of been like a rebuilding year,” Burrows said. “We lost all those players and

we had just two seniors back (on a 10-man roster).

           “The team I have now is my JV team from last year. It’s just a transition and a different level of

competition.”

           As in finishing with a 3-14 overall record and going 0-8 in region play. Not only did Williamsburg

have to deal with inexperience, but it also moved up to AAA because of reclassification.

           “As the season went on, we made some good strides,” Burrows said. “At certain times you can

tell how young we are as the inexperience shows. As the season progressed we have improved in all

areas, especially rebounding and defensively. The main thing is playing hard and they’ve always played

hard.”

           Sophomore Ethan Morris was the leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points. Sophomore Charlie

Caulder, sophomore Hall Dukes, sophomore Marlin Morris and senior William Caulder are the other

starters. Charlie Caulder was averaging 8.0 points, Dukes 5.0 and Marlin Morris and William Caulder

both 4.5.

           Another sophomore, Ethan Jones, averaged 5.5 points coming off the bench. Other

members of the team are senior Kayden Carter, junior Mason Foxworth, sophomore Michael Ard and

junior Connor Morris.

           Not only were the Stallions inexperienced, they also got off to a late start in practice. That’s

because Williamsburg’s football team played for a state championship for the fourth straight season,

meaning the full basketball team didn’t begin practice until after Thanksgiving.

So coach. Do you hope the football team stops playing for state championships?

           “We definitely want them to keep playing for championships,” Burrows said with a laugh in

response to the question. “All my guys are playing football. I have to not push them as hard because they

have nagging injuries from football.

           “Its kind of tough that most others start practicing in early November. That’s the cards we’re dealt

and we just have to make the best of it that we can.”