Second half producing better results for Tigers
By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
(January) Allendale—The second half of the season has been much better than the first for the Allendale-Fairfax boys’ basketball team.  The Tigers have improved to 6-8 (3-3) for the year and have picked up region victories over Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Branchville and Denmark-Olar.
“We’ve got to continue to play good team basketball.  After the Christmas break we’ve played real well as a team and that’s when our three region wins have come.  We’ve only lost one game since then to Bowman, who is in first place in our region.  If we play as a team and stay disciplined, we should be okay,” head coach Coby Brandyburg said.
The starting lineup consists of all seniors, with Anthony Eady at point guard and Bashaud Breeland at small forward.  Eady is averaging nine points, five assists and two steals per game while Breeland leads the team with 16 points and nine rebounds a game.
“They have been the two leaders as far as play-wise and when things aren’t going well, they put the team on their backs and take us where we need to go,” Brandyburg said.
Jermany Carter is the starter at shooting guard with Bernard Owens down low at power forward.  Owens recently scored a season-high 29 points in a game.  At center is Ryan Simmons, who pulls down nine boards per game.
Logging several minutes off the bench for the Tigers have been seniors Mar’Keith Thomas and Raheen Fredrick and freshman Reshawn Riley.  Other players on the roster include Corey Robinson, Lorenzo Buxton, Jaquan Smokes, Keontay Gill and Solomon McCormick.
Allendale-Fairfax will have some big tests in the coming weeks to close out the season.  Next on the schedule are games against Calhoun County, Denmark-Olar and Estill.
“It’s been fun.  They know what’s on the line and they know this is the last time some of them will ever play basketball on this level.  There’s not a lot of pressure on them, but there’s an emphasis on going out without regretting anything,” Brandyburg said.
Contact C.R. at crcumbee2007@hotmail.com.

Lady Tigers boast wealth of experience on hardwood
By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Allendale  (12/21/09) The Allendale-Fairfax girls' basketball team is looking to have a breakthrough season this winter after finishing third in the region and falling in the first round of the Class A playoffs last year.
Head coach Eddie Ford brings back an experienced group with a lot of expectations, as all five starters saw significant action a season ago.  Currently the Lady Tigers are 5-2, including a 1-0 conference mark after a victory over Bethune-Bowman.
"They want to win a region championship.  We have been close many times, but that's our main goal.  After that we'd like to win a state championship, but we're still taking it one game at a time.  There's no excuses for this group because most of these girls have been playing for two or three years so we have experience.  We have good size and a lot of depth and our leadership is pretty good," Ford said.
Starting at point guard is junior Latifah Johnson, who is averaging seven points per game.  Flanking her on the perimeter is junior guard Bionca Brodus.  Junior forward Nastasha Bates leads the team with nine points a game and is joined down low by senior forward Charlene Ochotukpu and sophomore center Marcia Bolden.
Allendale-Fairfax is also a deep team with five players logging several minutes off the bench.  Tennisha McKnight, Uniqua Roberts, Chaundra Priester, Portia Dickson and Shaquavia Springer have been the key reserves early on.  Nicole Tucker, Jillian Ritter and Ronisha Price round out the roster.
"We still turn the ball over too much and we've got to work on our free throw shooting.  If anything has been really killing us it's been the turnovers and the missed free throws," Ford said.
The Lady Tigers will have the opportunity to work on that the next few weeks as they play Calhoun County and compete in the Colleton County Classic Dec. 28-30.

Tigers' season ends at hands of Lamar

By C.R. Cumbee

Staff Writer

Allendale (11/17/09) It was another solid season for the Allendale-Fairfax football team in 2009.   The Tigers ended the year with a 10-2 record and tied for the region championship.   They defeated Baptist Hill in the first round of the Class A playoffs before ending the season with a loss to Lamar in round two.

"I'm very proud of their effort and I'm very proud I was able to coach them.   I think we played all right this season, but I still feel like we underachieved.   I thought maybe we could have gone farther, but sometimes things don't work out that way," head coach Wayne Farmer said.

The Tigers will lose several players to graduation, most notably quarterback Bashaud Breeland, who rushed for 1,270 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.   Also departing will be running backs Jerrell Priester (1,263 yards, 16 TD) and Emmanuel Ochotukpo (750 yards, 11 TD).   Telvin Mole, Edwin Wesley and Robbie Youmans will vacate the offensive line while Xavier Smart and Jermany Carter are key defensive losses.

"Most of them played since their freshman year so they've been around for a while.   They've been through some good seasons and the only bad season we had was last year, when we were 7-4.   They've had a couple of 10-win seasons, but our ultimate goal was to win a state championship and we failed to get there.   Those kids worked hard, bought into our program and did a good job.   I have no gripes with them and I'll miss them very much," Farmer said.

Key returners next season include running back Jaquavian Williams (678 yards, 8 TD), fullback Ronald Geohaghan, offensive lineman Brandon Jenkins, defensive end Devonte Perry, tight end Rayshawn Riley and wide receiver Bobby Elmore.

"We'll only have about six or seven years next year, so we'll be sophomore and junior heavy.   Our expectations will not change.   We're not going to be satisfied with just making the playoffs and winning a bunch of games, we want to make the big dance," Farmer said.