Ashley Hall looking to finish strong in basketball
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Charleston – The Ashley Hall basketball team opened the season with a 6-2 record, splitting its first two region games.
As the Panthers hit the tough part of the schedule in region 1-AAA, the competition got stiffer with the likes of Pinewood Prep and Northwood Academy.
Entering action on February 3rd, the Panthers were 12-8 overall and 2-6 in conference play. The Panthers close out the regular season with games against Porter-Gaud, First Baptist, Northwood Academy and Hilton Head Prep. The two region wins came against Hilton Head Prep and Porter-Gaud.
Coach Jodie Runner is in her second season at Ashley Hall and feels the team is better overall this season.
This year’s team has a different look, however, than the team of a year ago. Ashley Hall does not have near the size inside they had last season and is a more guard-oriented unit this winter.
“We are very young in the post and pretty guard heavy,” said Runner. “We are trying to speed the game up this year and not get caught in too many half court situations. Not only are we young but we don’t have a lot of size inside. We have to be really good defensively, create some turnovers and get some layups.”
Leading the guard play is senior Jessica Graham, who can play on the wing and can also play down low defensively. She is the team’s leading scorer.
“She’s a good, hard-nosed player who loves to compete,” said Runner. “Her shot hasn’t come around yet but she is a good outside shooter. A lot of her points early have come in transition.”
Sharing time at the point guard position are junior Katie Morrison and sophomore Helen Cribb. Morrison is a returning varsity player while Cribb is up from the junior varsity team.
Working on the wing are seniors Ellen Hudson-Brown and Charlotte Swanson, along with junior Rossi Anastoupoulo.
Helen Smythe is the lone senior in the post area. Also seeing time and developing are freshmen Me’chelle Smith, Eva Ravenell and Emma Wannamaker.
Darby to be honored
Ashley Hall volleyball player Litsa Darby will be honored as the 2011 HSSR Miss Volleyball at the High School Sports Report’s annual fall sports awards banquet.
Darby, who will play next fall at South Carolina, finished her career with 3,884 assists and helped lead Ashley Hall to a 162-19 record in four years as a starter. Darby also recorded 394 career kills, 769 digs and 216 blocks.
