Patriots show signs of growth
Jordan Wright is one of two Fort Dorchester players named to the 2024 Region 7-AAAAA Boys Basketball All-Region Team.
By Roger Lee
HSSR Contributing Writer
North Charleston – The Fort Dorchester Boys had a turn-around season.
The Patriots only won three games last season, but finished this season with a 13-10 record with a 4-4 mark in its region to place third in that region.
“I am very proud of the guys,” Fort Dorchester coach Thomas McElveen said. “We wanted to change the narrative regarding what people thought about us. We worked hard in the weight room and during offseason activities. We had a pretty tough schedule and a lot of back-to-back games but once we got our legs up under us we were able to finish strong.”
The Patriots had a five-game winning streak in early December, picking up wins over Stratford, Colleton County, Military Magnet, Cane Bay and Orangeburg-Wilkinson. The team then closed out the month by going 2-1 during the Poinsettia Classic tournament.
The Patriots beat Belton-Honea Path 78-48 and Greer Middle College 69-65, but fell 64-54 to Greenville.
Wins became hard to come by in January, but the Patriots won three of their last four region games, topping Ashley Ridge, Stall and West Ashley, to bolster their playoff seeding.
“We went into games prepared but sometimes it didn’t matter and I think the guys finally just got fed up with that and did what they had to do to get back on the winning side,” McElveen said.
The team took on Sumter, a No. 2 seed, in the first round of the playoffs. The Gamecocks were a bit too much for the Patriots and handed them a 63-55 loss.
Sophomore Jordan Wright and senior Cazz Williams both received all-region honors, but the efforts of some other players were also important.
“Captain Khayri Beyah did a lot of our dirty work,” McElveen said. “He and Makell Greer were very vital to what we did this year. While they didn’t always score a lot they worked hard. Center Bryan Bright also did a great job protecting then rim for us. Our season overall was a success. Our JV and B-team were both undefeated so we have some talented players coming up.”
The Patriots will lose eight seniors to graduation and all were contributors. However, the team stands to return seven players next season and half of them saw considerable playing time this season.
Williams led the team in both points per game, averaging 16.6, and rebounds per game, averaging 4.7. Wright averaged 7 points and 3.1 rebounds. Bright averaged 6.7 points and 4.6 rebounds.
The Patriots face replacing the production of Williams, Bright and fellow seniors Beyah (4.8 points/3.3 rebounds), Ashton Washington (4.8/2.9) and Tony McGill (4.3/2.3). However, with Wright and fellow sophomores Maricious Dawson (5/1.5) and Frank Ham (3.5/1) expected to lead the way for the group of returners the team should have a strong foundation.
Rounding out the team’s roster are seniors Jalen Barry and Chris Brown, juniors Jamir Sanders, Daniel McJunkin and Kersaun Cooke and sophomore Maricious “Reek” Dawson.
Wrestling
The Fort Dorchester wrestlers placed third in their region and defeated Socastee 61-12 in the first round of the playoffs. The Patriots then fell 36-33 to Goose Creek in the second round.
During the 5A Wrestling (individual) Championships, Richard Springs won the 120 class. He claimed an 8-3 decision over Byrnes’ Hampton Higdon in the championship match.
Evan Gates went 2-1 in the 106 class, finishing as the state runner-up. Zach Gomer-Chrobocinski lost to Dutch Fork’s Jackson Stocker in the 113 semi-finals. Caleb Wilson (126), Connor Hamilton (175) and Landon Whitlock (285) also qualified for the tournament.
Nathan Gates was selected to participate in the North-South All-Stars matches. He went 1-1, there, claiming a 4-3 decision over Clinton’s Blake Greenwood, but losing a decision to Greer’s Chandler Sewell.
Fort Dorchester’s Andrew Young was selected as one of the coaches for the event.
About us
Recognizing the achievements of young athletes in South Carolina since 1986.