Young Lady Hawks team continuing to improve
By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Blackville—It has been a learning year for the Blackville-Hilda girls’ basketball team and head coach Williams Hammonds.  The Lady Hawks only have one senior on the team with several sophomores and freshman getting playing time.  Currently they are 4-9 (2-7) overall.
“We’re getting better as the season goes on.  We lost our last two games at the buzzer to Williston-Elko and Wagener-Salley, who are tied for first in our region.  The girls are improving in every aspect of the game, we just have to learn how to finish games,” Hammonds said.
Leading the way has been freshman forward Shawanda Ferguson, who averages 13 points per game.
“If she works hard, she can be pretty good.  She’s about six feet tall, can shoot the ball and put it on the floor.  Her potential is enormous.  She just has to continue to work hard,” Hammonds said.
Also in the starting lineup is senior guard Danielle Brown, sophomore guards Candace Thomas and Ansley Pope and junior center Keondra Nickens. 
Coming off the bench for Blackville-Hilda is Shamon Harley, Terica Izlar, Herquanda Williams, Khadejha Hunter, Oyinka Tyler, Chandresh Harley and Quindella Walker.
Next on the schedule for the Lady Hawks is a home game against Ridge Spring-Monetta before traveling to Hunter-Kinard-Tyler.  They have some big obstacles in front of them, but they should only get better from here.  With a season of experience under their belts, they should be competing for the top spot in the conference in the coming years.
“I want them to keep working hard every day and continue to learn the game.  We’re young so we’re still trying to learn and get after it,” Hammonds said.
Contact C.R. at crcumbee2007@hotmail.com.

Hawks boast wealth of experience on hardwood
By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Blackville  (12/21/09) The Blackville-Hilda boys' basketball team is coming off a very solid performance in 2008-09 and will look to improve even more this season.  The Hawks finished 16-8 last year and tied for second in the region before falling to eventual Upper state champion Great Falls in the first round of the playoffs.
"I'm very excited about this year.  We've got some guys that have some experience but we're still on the young end because we've got nine juniors and only three seniors.  The group that we have is very athletic and I feel that we can be in the hunt for a region title at the end of the season as long as we continue to improve each day in practice," head coach Mike Beasley said.
So far the Hawks are 2-1 with wins over Gilbert and Barnwell.  They boast an experienced lineup with all five starters having been in the top five at some point last season.  Two of the mainstays were senior point guard Javaris Dukes and shooting guard Larry Johnson.
"I always talk to our seniors about being leaders and making sure that we do what we need to do to send them out as winners.  We focus on them being leaders for the younger guys," Beasley said.
Also on the floor first will be guard Larry Smith, small forward Jaleel Hammonds and power forward Andrew Smith, all juniors.  
Coming off the bench playing a significant amount of minutes has been Brandon Walters, Khalil Adieme, Jevon Dukes and Miles Vice.  Other players on the roster include Chris Kearse, Tony Johnson and Dylan Isaac.
"I'm pretty confident with them.  We've played three games so far and those kids come off the bench and play just as much as my starters do.  I don't think we have much downfall as far as skill, but they are in the rotation right now," Beasley said.
Blackville-Hilda still has a lot of games left before the New Year, including region contests against Wagener-Salley and North.  Later they will travel to Mid-Carolina to compete in the Rebels' tournament before coming home to host their own tournament beginning Dec. 26.
Beasley hopes with all the games and extra practice time over the holidays the Hawks can continue to improve in two major areas.
"Our two main objectives right now are rebounding and defense.  We're not rebounding very well and our defense is suspect, so we need to make sure we tighten those reigns.  Offensively we're shooting about 50 percent from the field so that's been a bright spot," Beasley said

Hawks fall to Scott's Branch in Class A playoffs

By C.R. Cumbee

Staff Writer

Blackville (11/12/09) ?After a 12-1 season in 2008, it was going to be a difficult task for the Blackville-Hilda football team to match those results in 2009.   The Hawks started the season 5-1 but struggled down the stretch, eventually falling to Scott's Branch, 14-7, in the first round of the Class A-Division II playoffs.

"We still made mistakes that we made all year long.   The other thing is that when you're small in number and people start getting beat up and banged up at the end of the year it's hard to replace them," head coach David Berry said.

Unlike past seasons, the Hawks did not have a standout runner in its backfield.   Junior quarterback Chris Kearse led the team with 600 rushing yards followed by senior tailback Desmond Armstrong's 560 yards.   Senior Ronnie Thomas and junior Jamal Dukes each added 500 yards on the ground.

"We didn't have anybody that had huge numbers," Berry said.   "It was really spread around this year and nobody had any real big numbers."

With the season now over, Blackville-Hilda will say goodbye to its seniors.   Armstrong, Thomas, Freddie Glover, Anthony Jones, Larry Johnson and Jessie Dukes were some of the guys who had solid careers at the school

"We had some good kids.   We hate to see some of them go, but it's a part of life and we wish them well," Berry said.

The Hawks hope to improve next year with the players it has returning, including Kearse, Jamal Dukes, Thomas Holman, Brenton Holiday and Logan Beasley.

"It will be a new year and a new season and we'll just have to see who steps up and does the job.   Hopefully some of those guys will be key for us," Berry said.

Berry and his coaching staff has wasted little time since the end of the year.   They are already preparing for the 2010 season and the adjustments they need to make before spring practice begins.

"We've already started looking at things we want to do for next year.   We hope the kids will take it upon themselves to be motivated to want to get back to where we need to be," Berry said.

Hawks look to 'make a stand' as playoffs approach

By C.R. Cumbee

Staff Writer

Blackville (10/28/09) The Blackville-Hilda football team came into the season with a much more inexperienced group than they've had in the past, but have still seen positive results during the 2009 campaign.

The Hawks are currently 6-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.   Their most recent contest was an 8-7 loss to region member C.A. Johnson.   The defense played well, allowing only one score, and Larry Johnson had the team's only touchdown.   Unfortunately it wasn't enough.

"We just couldn't hold on.   They made the two-point conversion at the end to win the game.   We just didn't make the plays when we needed to make them and C.A. Johnson played a good football game," head coach David Berry said.

Blackville-Hilda is currently fourth in the eight-team conference, but seems to have done enough to secure a playoff spot.   Berry knows that there is still a lot of work to be done if the Hawks are going to make some noise in the postseason, but first they must have everybody on the field at the same time.

"Right now we need to get some people healthy.   We've still got some people beat up and banged up, and when you start the playoffs you need everybody healthy.   We still need to work on blocking and tackling and do the basic things week in and week out to try to regroup and make a stand here," Berry said.

Although youth and inexperience could be used as excuses for why the Hawks have struggled more than usual this season, the longtime head coach doesn't feel that claim holds any water.

"This time of the year nobody is young anymore.   They've all played eight or nine games now and they're going to have to buckle it up, strap in on and play," Berry said.

Blackville-Hilda will face its toughest opponent of the season this week when they host Williston-Elko.   The Blue Devils are 9-0 and sit at the top of the region standings.   They are currently ranked number two in the latest High School Sports Report Class A poll.   That game will also mark the final regular season home game for seniors Ronnie Thomas, Anthony Jones, Freddy Glover and Anthony Williams.

"Williston is very explosive on the offensive side of the ball and they have a lot of weapons.   They run the ball real well and their people up front do a good job, and they can throw the ball as well.   Defensively they play fast and get to the ball in a hurry," Berry said.

Hawks fall to Trojans, look to bounce back against Fox Creek

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Blackville (10/14/09) - The Blackville-Hilda Hawks suffered their first conference loss of the season this past week, falling at the hands of Hunter Kinard-Tyler 22-13.

"It's always tough when you lose one in the region, but it's tough when you lose one no matter what.  We lined up and played and did our best to win.  We were up 13-8 going into the fourth quarter and gave up two touchdowns.  We were fortunate to keep them out of the end zone early but just weren't able to hold them out late," head coach David Berry said.

The game was back and forth all night and the Hawks put in the effort, but unfortunately they couldn't catch a break in the latter stages of the game.  Quarterback Chris Kearse rushed 14 times for 53 yards and Ronnie Thomas added a rushing touchdown.  Larry Johnson also scored for the Hawks and caught three passes for 60 yards.  Brenton Holliday led the defense with 10 tackles.

"The kids played hard.  We had a lot of assignments we shouldn't have missed that we did, but sometimes good teams will make you do that," Berry said.

Blackville-Hilda (5-2, 3-1) will try to get back on track this week when they host conference foe Fox Creek, who comes in with a 1-6 record.

"I expect our kids to do what they're supposed to do every week, to come out and play hard.  I don't expect anything less.  Whether we win or lose the week before, they need to come out and do the things they have to do to get in the win column," Berry said.

Hawks still trying to improve as they prepare for Trojans

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Blackville - It was a better offensive performance than the Blackville-Hilda offense had in previous weeks as the Hawks used a strong effort from the offensive line to run past North, 40-20, last week. 

    Desmond Armstrong had 154 yards rushing and two touchdowns to pace the Hawks.  Javaris Dukes also scored a pair of touchdowns and Thomas Holman added another.
    "We have several people that carry the football and this past Friday night and many of those people scored.  Even so, we're still young and we're still making mistakes that we shouldn't be making at this point in the year.  We have to keep improving and keep getting better," head coach David Berry said.
    Leading the way on defense was Elden Kennedy, who recorded seven tackles.  Still, giving up three touchdowns is not the kind of play the head coach expects from his defensive unit.
    "We have to tackle better.  That's one big factor.  Another thing is that we have to play our assignments.  Sometimes we just get out of control," Berry said.
    The Hawks have a chance to continue to make progress and move in the right direction this week when they host region member Ridge Spring-Monetta.
    "Traditionally they've played us well over the past number of years.  They're going to try to control the football and keep it out of our hands.  We're going to have to slow them down and get it away from them," Berry said.

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