Clarendon Hall girls basketball looking for another big season

Summerton – The Clarendon Hall girls basketball team went from one extreme to the other in

one offseason in terms of experience. Now it’s just a matter of seeing how that translates on the court.

The Lady Saints had seven seniors on last year’s squad that reached the SCISA AA state

championship contest. It was Clarendon Hall’s first time playing for a state title since 1974. It lost to 2-

time defending state champion Cathedral Academy 54-43 to finish the year with a 19-7 record.

This season, the Lady Saints have six freshmen on the roster along with four seniors. It’s been so

far, so good as Clarendon Hall owned a 4-1 record heading into the new year.

“I like what I’ve seen so far,” said Lady Saints head coach Johnny Horton, who is in his fourth

year. “We’re trying to get those freshmen on-court experience and make a run come playoff time.”

The four seniors on the roster were major contributors last season. Mandy Wells and Ashlee

Berry were starters and Brooke Corbett and Maggie Harrington saw a lot o playing time.

The quartet of seniors is in the starting lineup this year along with freshman Mckenna Jefferys.

Berry is averaging a double-double of 10.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Wells is averaging 10.0

points and 6.0 assists.

There are no juniors or sophomores on the roster. The other freshmen are Brynli Brewer, Emery

Earnhardt, Camlin Haley, Logan Osteen and Aubree Richardson.

Horton believes Clarendon Hall has the ability to make another run in the state tournament.

“Everybody’s goal is to make it back to the state title game again,” he said. “They got that little

taste in their mouths last season We’re feeling confident behind our seniors. They’re good, they don’t

need me. My focus is getting on court experience for the freshmen so we can make a run come playoff

time.”

The Lady Saints have to worry about region first, and this year it will be in a AAA region

following reclassification. They will be in Region 1 along with AAA semifinalist Orangeburg Prep,

Calhoun Academy and Thomas Sumter Academy.

CLARENDON HALL BOY START 0-4

The Clarendon Hall boys basketball team struggled out of the gate, losing its four games prior to

the first of the year. With an inexperienced roster, head coach Rick Atkinson is pushing fundamentals as

the Saints prepare for region play in January.

“We need to limit our turnovers and (the opponents’) offensive rebounds,” Atkinson said. “We

need to improve our shooting. Ball handling, rebounding and shooting is what we work on every day. You

name it, we can improve upon it.”

The Saints are led by 6-foot-4-inch senior Evans Reynolds. He is averaging a double-double

with 12.0 points and 19.0 rebounds a contest. Reynolds had one game in which he grabbed 28 rebounds.

Atkinson said Reynolds has developed as a team leader as well.

“He’s really pushing the younger boys to be better,” Atkinson said. “He has a great attitude and

makes the effort to push and get better every day.”

The other starters are senior Griffin McIntosh, senior Jamie Bryan, freshman Wyatt Simpson

and freshman Bobby Singleton. Bryan is averaging 9.0 points and McIntosh is averaging 7.0.

The other members of the team are senior Drayton Barrett and freshman Andrew Pritcher.

MCINTOSH LONE FOTBALL ALL-REGION SELECTION

Griffin McIntosh was Clarendon Hall’s only selection for the All-Region 2-AA football team.

McIntosh led the Saints in tackles with 133 from his outside linebacker position. He also had 14

tackles for a loss, forced three fumbles and returned an interception for a touchdown.

McIntosh, who was one of Clarendon Hall’s leading receivers in the 2023 campaign, took over

quarterbacking duties this season after injuries to a couple of teammates.