Clarendon Hall girls basketball team comes up short of state tournament

           Summerton – The Clarendon Hall girls basketball team had a magical run to the SCISA AA

state championship game last year, the first time that had happened in 50 years.

          The Lady Saints knew they weren’t going to be able to do that this season. Clarendon Hall was

moved to AAA for all sports but football due to SCISA’s reclassification. However, Clarendon Hall missed

out on being selected to the state tournament.

          “It’s been a tough year,” said Clarendon Hall head coach Johnny Horton, whose team inished with

an 8-10 record. “The girls played hard for me every night. This season has definitely been below my

expectations. We are AA school at heart playing AAA.”

          Senior Mandy Wells and senior Ashlee Berry led the Lady Saints in scoring. Wells was

averaging 14.0 points per game, while Berry averaged a double-double. She scored at a 12.0 clip while

averaging 10.0 rebounds.

          Two other senior joined Wells and Berry in the starting lineup in Brooke Corbett and Maggie

Harrington. Freshman Mckenna Jefferys was the other starter.

          The remainder of the roster was made up of freshmen. They were Brynli Brewer, Emery

Earnhardt, Camlin Haley, Logan Osteen and Aubree Richardson.

          CLARENDON HALL BOYS GO WINLESS

         The Clarendon Hall boys basketball team finished the season without a victory, losing all 15 of its

games. However, head coach Rick Atkinson has chosen not to look at the record but to instead focus

upon the effort put forth by his players.

       “When you go through a season like this, you expect to have some of them quit,” said Atkinson,

who just completed his second season in this stint at Clarendon Hall. “It would be a case of it’s not worth

to be going through it. Not one of our players did that. They all stuck with it and gave great effort.”

       Atkinson said nagging injuries hindered the Saints throughout the year, disrupting the ability to

development chemistry. Also, a flu bug hit the team as well.

         The Saints were led by a pair of seniors in Evan Reynolds and Griffin McIntosh. The 6-foot-4-

inch Reynolds led the team in rebounding, pulling down an average around 17. Reynolds was selected to

the All-Region team. McIntosh, an honorable mention All-Region selection, was the leading scorer.

         There were two other seniors on the roster in Drayton Barrett and Jamie Bryan. “I appreciate

the leadership they gave us as seniors,” Atkinson said.

         Atkinson had two freshmen in his starting lineup in Wyatt Simpson and Bobby Singleton. He

was happy with the development of both players.

          “I’m pleased with the progress of Wyatt Simpson,” Atkinson said. “He’s a ninth-grade post player 

who started every game. He’s shown a lot of promise for the future. Bobby Singleton started most of the

games. He’s an excellent shooter, and I’m looking forward to having him in the program.”

         Freshman Andrew Pritcher will be back as will three junior varsity players called up at the end

of the season in Kaine Rose, Chandler Powell and Willson Epps. Rose scored 17 points in his varsity

debut.

“I look forward to having these boys at SCISA Play Days (during the summer),” Atkinson said.