Central basketball teams hoping for playoff berth
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Pageland - As the regular season draws to a close, the Central High basketball teams are battling for a spot in the upcoming class AA upper state playoffs.
At press time, it appeared the boys team had a better chance of making the state playoffs but nothing was secure.
Central’s boys team has won six of 21 games overall this season while posting a 3-4 mark in region play.
Four players are averaging in double figures for the Eagles this season, led by senior Quentin Wallace, who scores 16.2 points per game while dishing out 2.4 assists.
Senior guard Jalen Covington adds about 12.1 points per game while junior shooting guard Deaven Johnson is scoring 11.1 points per game. Johnson also leads the team with 43 made three-pointers this season.
Sophomore Mitch Meadows also rates in double digits, averaging 10.8 points per game.
Doing solid work on the boards are junior Deonta Chambers and junior Cornelius Miller. Chambers is pulling down 5.4 rebounds per game while Miller grabs 5.2 caroms per game.
Junior Andarius Melton averages 4.5 rebounds and junior Kelton Myers averages 3.9 boards per contest.
Remaining members of the 2011-12 team include juniors Josh Kelty, Deon Rushing, Dorian Robinson, and Aakash Patel; sophomore Sam Caldwell, and freshman Tristen Stewart.
Meanwhile, the girls team entered a January 31 game with Buford with a 1-5 region record and needing some wins down the stretch to secure a playoff berth. But the future appears to be quite promising for the program as several underclassmen lead the way this winter.
Central eighth-grader Bianca Wallace is making big news this season. Wallace is averaging 16.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game for the Lady Eagles. She also dishes out 3.9 assists and 2.7 steals per contest.
Another eighth-grader, Malia Rivers, is averaging 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Sophomore Prianca Little scores 8.1 points per game while senior Dearo Nivens scores 6.8 points per game .
Three other seniors on the team this season include Alexandrea Eddie, Cherrie Thompson and Alexus Watson.
Juniors Keyonna Wright and Monique Little round out this year’s varsity roster.
Central closes the regular season with games against Andrew Jackson, Indian Land and Cheraw.
Wrestlers wrap up season
Central High continued its effort to establish a competitive wresting program this winter and the team recently completed its 2011-12 season.
The program continues to become more and more competitive in the AA and A ranks and the numbers are getting better each year.
On this year’s team, DaQuan Chappell wrestled in the 106 pound classification while Seth Steed worked often as the 113-pounder.
Dorian Davis was the starter at 120 and Jontavius Pegues worked mostly in the 126-pound weight classification.
Keyvon Wallace wrestled in the 132 pound division and Taz Patterson wrestled at 138. Calom Blakeney saw most of the time in the 145-pound weight class.
Rounding out the other starting positions in most matches were Mark Hatten (170), Jermal Sturdivant (182), Quentin Raley (195), Shaquan Miller (220) and Tevus Funderburke (285)
Football Players to be honored at HHSR banquet
Members of the Central High football program will be honored at the High School Sports Report’s annual football all-state awards banquet, to be held on February 19th at the Seawell’s Restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina.
Central’s head football coach Joey Mangum will be honored for as the Class AA Division II Coach of the Year, as well as the Region 4-AA Coach of the Year. Mangum was honored after the 2010 season as the Class AA Coach of the Year.
Central won the region four championship and advanced to the state championship game of Division II-AA before losing to Bishop England.
Four members of the team were selected to the Division II-AA All-State team by the publication and will be honored as well. Those members include center J.R. Mangum, defensive lineman Mark Hatten, linebacker Tevus Funderburke and defensive back Debias Tyson. All are seniors except for Tyson, who was a junior in 2011.
University of South Carolina assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Steve Spurrier, Jr, will be the keynote speaker at the event. Tickets for the banquet must be purchased in advance and can be obtained by calling 1-800-489-0649.
