Andrew Jackson Academy Boy’s & Girl’s Basketball Team Earn Spots In SCISA AA Play-offs
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Ehrhardt — The Andrew Jackson Academy boys’ basketball team (18-17, 5-5) won five games in a row at the end of the season, including playoff wins over Lee Academy and Patrick Henry, before closing out the season with a loss against region foe Cathedral (70-40) in the semi-finals of the SCISA AA playoffs at Wilson Hall on February, 22.
The Warriors had no seniors on the 2023-24 team and they should be ready to build on their success of the 2023-24 next year.
“Cathedral’s 1-3-1 defense in the second half gave us a lot of trouble,” said head coach Josh Barnes after the season ending loss. “They will all be back and we will all be back next season because neither team had any seniors this season.
“This season we came close to having all five of our starters average in double digits scoring and that is always a good thing,” said Coach Barnes. “Gage (Dicks) and Hayden (McClung) were our top two scorers and they are both juniors with promising futures.”
Prior to the game with Cathedral, the Warriors played perhaps their best game of the season in a 75-62 win over Patrick Henry, one game after they had defeated Lee Academy 100-67. “At one point against Patrick Henry we were down 27 points and came back and won by 13 so that was a big win no doubt for us,” said Coach Barnes. “This was the biggest come behind win I’ve ever been involved in in all my years of coaching.
“it was just a matter of us picking ourselves up off the floor and playing better,” said Coach Barnes. “Gage and Hayden were out top two scorers against Patrick Henry and Carter Brown had one of his better games with a double-double and carter hit the boards hard for us in that game. They had out-rebounded us in our games with them in the regular season and we challenged Carter to step up on the boards.”
AJA had lost to Patrick Henry in over-time at home (four points) and by 11 points on the road, earlier in the season before they big 13- point win over them in the play-offs. “Patrick Henry has a very good squad and they are a very competitive group and I love the way their kids play hard and get after you. They are good athletes with a good mentality and I like that in them very much.”
Right now, Coach Barnes said the focus is keeping everyone together and getting them to play summer ball together. “Hopefully, we can get ready for next season by working hard in the off-season and playing a lot basketball over the summer,” said Coach Barnes.
Junior Gage Dicks is a 6-2 junior guard who shows up on a lot of prospects list around the state. Dicks averaged 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.9 steals a game. Junior Hayden McClung was a point guard who averaged 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.3 steals a game during the season.
Next on the scoring index for the Warriors were freshman combo guard Ollie Barnes who averaged 11.6 pints, 2,8 rebounds and 1.6 assists a game. Junior forward inside man led the team in rebounding at 8.4 a game while averaging 9.2 points a game. Sophomore guard Hall Sease (6-2) averaged 8.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1,8 steals a game.
According to Coach Barnes, McClung, Dicks and Barnes were all honorable mentioned all-region players.
Reserve players freshman forward Eli Mathys averaged four points a game while freshman guard Colin Carter averaged two points a game. Other members of the team included junior forward Jacobe Best, freshman Elijah Davis, and freshman guard Alex Hiers along with sophomore forward Tres Mixson.
McKinnley Beard, Bella Carrigg, & Rileigh Barnes Earn Honorable Mentioned All-Region Honors For Lady Warriors Basketball Team.
The AJA lady Warriors (15-15, 5-5) basketball team earned a spot in the SCISA AA play-offs under the tutelage of head coach David Johnson during the 2023-24 season.
The team concluded the season with a loss to Beaufort Academy in the first round of the play-offs on February, 16.
The team was led in scoring by a pair of freshmen, Bella Carrigg (11.7 points and 3.1 steals) along with freshman forward McKinnley Beard (10.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, & 2,2 steals) and junior guard Rileigh Barnes (5.1 points & 2.3 steals) All three of the aforementioned were named honorable mentioned all-region players for the season.
Eighth grade guard/wing Harlo Sease was a key contributor and she averaged 5.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 2.1 steals a game. Junior forward Ryleigh Trivette averaged 8.1 rebounds a game along with 2.1 points an outing.
Other members of the team included senior Ali Polk who was a strong rebounder at 4.9 a game along with contributing 1.3 points. The only other senior on the team was forward Aliona Kinard. Key reserve Scarlett Mixson is an 8th grade shooting guard. Polk and Barnes served as team captains.
After a win over St. Johns Christian (36-23) on the road in late January, Coach Johnson told the HSSR, “We have a young team comprised of mainly 8th and 9th graders and we are being patient and working hard at getting better with each practice and each game,” said Coach Johnson. “This is my third season and we have been making improvements each year.”
Carrigg and Beard led the team in scoring with around 14 and 13 points per game respectively.
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