Abbeville's Nickles expect challenges in AA Upper State
Abbeville – Getting through the first round of the Class AA Upper State playoffs wasn’t very difficult. Surviving what lies ahead will be more of a challenge for the Abbeville Panthers.
As the defending state AA champion, and with a 10-1 record, the Panthers certainly are one of the teams that many feel will survive the Upper State AA playoff gauntlet. Abbeville head coach Jamie Nickles, who is the school’s winningest coach with more than 210 wins and has won eight state titles as head coach, feels grateful to be playing into November. But the road will not be easy.
Abbeville defeated Columbia High in their first-round game and is set to host Newberry on Nov. 10 for round two. The Panthers have lost only eight games since the start of the 2015 season.
“If you get this far, you have to feel pleased with your team because it’s never easy,” Nickles said. “But it definitely gets tougher with each round, starting with the second round. We are playing a really athletic Newberry team. They are rolling right now and they have our full attention.”
Nickles complimented his team for their focus and attention to getting better over the course of the season. Though his team is banged up a bit, the coach says most teams are at this stage of the process.
“This group has worked hard all season,” Nickles said. “I would say we have over-achieved a bit, considering the holes we had to fill and the schedule that we have played. I am really proud of them. Nothing is guaranteed. We have to go out and improve every day and this team has managed to do that for the most part.”
Since the early part of the season, junior Demarcus Leach, a starting defensive back, has taken over at quarterback. Former quarterback Jay Hill is working at receiver and also in the secondary. The move was made to create more athleticism at the position and Leach is a capable passer as well as runner.
The bread and butter for the Panthers remains the running game. Anchoring that load have been three juniors - Karson Norman, Altavious Patterson and Jha’louis Hadden. The trio has combined for more than 2,000 yards on the ground this season.
The offensive line returned just one starter when the season began, senior Carson Porter. The rest of the unit is comprised of underclassmen.
“We are still a work in progress,” Nickles said.
Senior Jae Harris has been a key leader along the defensive line, along with senior Thomas Booth. Gavin Calhoun and Mikhelyn Bowie are top performers at linebacker.
Leach remains a top prospect in the secondary. The 6-3 junior holds early offers from South Carolina and Virginia Tech.
Abbeville’s volleyball team capped off a great season with a region championship this fall. The Panthers won a first-round game in the AA state playoffs, beating Silver Bluff. The season ended with a second-round loss to Chesnee.
Senior Garianna Burton was the region player of the year and earned Class AA all-state honors. She also was selected to play in the annual North-South all-star game for the state’s top senior players.
Burton and fellow senior Josie Evans were the team captains this season. The other seniors on the team included Neveah Leach, Jordin Oglesby, and Tori Cannaday.
Junior middle hitter Jaylin Vickery will be a key returner next season. Also expected back at starting libero Ella Atkins, starting rightside Baylee Wilson, both sophomores, and starting setter Bella Evans, an eighth-grader. Junior Anecia Dawson also will factor in on next year’s roster.
The Abbeville girls cross country team finished third in the team standings at the region 2-AA meet. Junior Megan Wachs was the top finisher from Abbeville, placing eighth overall, while senior Madeline Cramer was ninth.
Finishing 12th in the race was junior Kylie Price and senior Natalie Guire finished in 20th. Rounding out the Abbeville contingent was eighth-grader Sara Kennedy, who finished 23rd overall.
Two boys competed in the region meet as well. Coleton Price finished in 23rd and Micah Hall ran in 31st place.
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