Chiefs basketball off to great start in 2023-24
Little River – It’s only mid-December with a lot of very important basketball remaining but if the first two weeks of the regular season are any indication of things to come, hoops fans at North Myrtle Beach High are going to have lots to cheer about in 2023-24.
After posting victories on Dec. 15, both the boys and girls teams are feeling pretty good about the way this season has opened. The girls team has won five of their first six games while the boys team is a perfect 7-0 to open the schedule.
On the girls side, Heather Kearney is in her first season as the head coach but is no stranger to success on the hardcourt. Kearney spent two decades coaching on the college level, in Division I and II, and helped build successful programs at Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina.
Kearney took a step back from the college game and has been a teacher at North Myrtle Beach for four years. She was a logical replacement for Brooke Smith, who stepped away from coaching to spend more time with family. Smith’s work over the last several years was immeasurable as she built the girls program into a state title contender. Kearney stepped into a solid foundation last April and has this year’s team off to a great start.
“There’s no doubt, Brooke really built this program and left it in great shape,” Kearney said. “What I have tried to do is continue the growth and keep the program moving forward. Brooke laid the foundation and made girls basketball a big deal again. She took a lot of pride in the program and as a fellow coach, I have a great appreciation for what she established her.”
Having been in the school for the last few years, the transition for Kearney and the team was relatively smooth. She says Smith also was a big help in the transition.
There is some experience returning to this year’s team but there also is some inexperience that Kearney is bringing along.
“Our goal is to get one percent better every day and these girls have bought into that idea,” the coach said. “It has been fun to see them get better and make progress. We have work to do, plenty of it, but the attitude and work ethic is really good.”
Kearney feels one of her strengths as a coach is defense and that mentality is a part of this year’s team.
“We want to rebound and play defense, that’s the mindset,” Kearney said. “Playing defense is a matter of “want to”. If you play with tons of energy and you play with effort, you can play defense. This team has bought into that.”
One of the veteran leaders this season is junior guard Faith Farmer, a third-year starter and the team’s leading scorer. Junior Nevaeh Washington and senior Jaden Berger are experienced post players and key rebounders. Washington pulled down 20 boards in a win over Loris earlier this season.
Sophomores Sadie Olson and Ty Woodard also work in the post.
Freshman Madison Vereen is the starting point guard and showing growth with each game. Junior Janiya Bragg, junior Kiera Olson and sophomore Katlyn Powers also get work in the backcourt.
“There’s a lot of newness so they are still learning to play together. I am really encouraged and excited to see how we continue to learn and grow as a team,” Kearney said.
The boys team, coached by Ryan Walker, already has nearly matched last year’s win total of nine games with their 7-0 start. Walker has an experienced team after working through some growing pains with a younger roster the last two seasons.
“There is a certain confidence level that comes with experience,” Walker said. “We have a number of guys who have played considerable varsity minutes and I think they have learned how to prepare and perform at the varsity level. We are always a work in progress, just trying to become more consistent in everything we do.”
Senior forward TJ Stanley is a key returner this winter, now in his third season as a starter. Senior Cash Brown and junior Wells Hall have been solid performers as well.
Junior Landon Cloninger is the team’s leading scorer and a dead-eye three-point shooter. Senior McCain Moses has reached double figures in four of the first six games. Junior Noah Louder has also been very good from beyond the arc early on.
Other members of the team include seniors CJ Oxendine, Josh Surigao, Evans Bellamy and Zach McHugh; along with juniors Deante Tisdale, Calvin Vaught, Chris Chapman and Dylan Wilt.
About us
Recognizing the achievements of young athletes in South Carolina since 1986.