Colleton Prep girls take 17-9 record into SCISA AAA state tournament

Walterboro – Having lost two starters from the lineup of a team that went 14-9 last year,

Colleton Prep Academy girls basketball head coach Belinda McCoy didn’t know quite what to expect

this season.

What has happened is an even better season for the War Hawks. They will take a 17-9 overall

record into the SCISA AAA state tournament after finishing second in a tie for in Region 4 with a 3-3

record. Colleton Prep is ranked third in the High School Sports Report SCISA AAA poll.

“We knew we had some holes to fill,” said McCoy, who is in her second season at CPA. “We

have worked sometimes by doing things by committee, all stepping in to make us successful. We've worked hard to get to this point.”

Senior Anne Hatcher White is the unquestioned leader of the team. She is averaging a double-

double of 17.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. She recently scored her 1,000 th career point.

“She is a fun young lady to get to know,” McCoy said of White. “She’s one of the good kids to

deal with. She wants to be out there and she wants to play.”

The rest of the starting lineup includes senior Shelby Baker, junior Ava Murray, sophomore

Millie Drew and freshman Bre Cain. Providing key minutes off the bench are sophomore Cecilia

Williams and freshmen Graycen Bryan, Anne Howell and Addie Busch.

“We have competed in each game in the conference,” said McCoy, who saw CPA move up to

AAA from AA. “I’m proud of that fact. I thought we could compete. I’m proud of the success we’ve

had.”

CPA BOYS FINISH 6-19

At one point of the season the Colleton Prep boys basketball team owned a 5-4 record. That

seems like a very long time ago to first-year head coach John Caldwell.

The War Hawks finished the regular season on a 12-game losing streak with a 6-19 overall

record. They were winless in their six region contests.

“We are very young and, as you know, that’s both a good and a bad thing,” said Caldwell, who

himself is young at 29 years. “We’ve just had it tough trying to find a way to win. Most of those losses

were 1- or 2-possession ball games in the fourth quarter. We’ve just got to learn how to win.

“I think we did a good job in Year 1 establishing the culture and how to play basketball the way I

want them to. I truly don’t think our record is indicative of the progress we made.”

CPA will have three starters returning next year, including junior Mateo Castillo. In his first year

at the school, Castillo averaged around 28 points a contest.

“Mateo is a great student, a great kid,” Caldwell said. “The basketball side is not a fluke. He

scores the ball the way he does because he works his tail off on his own.”

The other returning starters are sophomores Charlie Walker and Cale Owens.

The graduating senior starters are Braeden Hiers and Bryce Kinard. The other senior on the

roster is Blake Spears.

The rest of the roster includes Nick Martin, Tyler Riesnor, Perry Corbitt, Colin Hiers,

Thomas Corbett and Greyson Martin.

Campbell is hoping his squad gets an invitation to the state tournament.

“I’ve told the guys we’ve just got to get into the playoffs,” he said. “Then everyone is 0-0 and

you hear of teams going on Cinderella runs all the time.”