By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Cheraw — With three games left in the regular season, the Cheraw Lady Braves basketball team (11-4, 5-4) are battling for a spot in the upcoming AA playoffs under the tutelage of 5th year head coach Eddie Chaplin.
The team picked up a win over North Central (63-18) on January, 26 to earn their 5th region win of the season.
The team has a home game with Central (3-3 in region) on January, 30, host Chesterfield (6-2 in region) on February, 2 and close the regular season at Andrew Jackson (7-0 in region) on February, 9.
“Our goal is to finish strong and make the play-offs,” said Coach Chaplin. “Central has to play Andrew Jackson twice and we are in a seven- team region and right now our 5-4 region record puts us in fourth place behind AJ, Chesterfield, and third place York Prep (6-3).
“We are getting better, playing better on offense and we have turned up our defense of late,” said Coach Chaplin. “You never take anything for granted. We know we have to earn everything we get.”
The team has been led during the 2023-24 season by the return of all-region senior guard/forward My’Shauna Worrell. Worrell has been a five-year fixture on the Lady Braves team. She is leading the team in scoring at 13.8 points a game including 7.9 rebounds along with three steals and 1.5 assists per game.
“My’Shauna gives us everything she has in every game she plays,” said Coach Chaplin. “She’s a take-charge player who drives well to the basket. Her on-ball defense is exceptional also.”
Number two on the scoring index is junior guard Sa’Nya Murray at 11.5 and 5.2 rebounds a game. “Sa’Nya has been on the varsity for three years and she is our best three-point shooter,” said Coach Chaplin.
The other three starters are all averaging between four and six points game. They are junior point guard Jaleah Faulker who was slowed by unfortunate ACL injuries her freshman and sophomore seasons and she is finally playing well and injury free. Junior shooting guard Cherita Burns is also averaging 4.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 5 steals a game to aid her team. The 5th starter is freshman shooting guard Anyah Banks who is at 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds a game.
“We run a five- guard set on offense,” said Coach Chaplin. “We stress good ball movement and good on-ball defense.”
Coach Chaplin does a lot of subbing in most games. The remaining four players on the team all see a lot of action on the court. They are senior shooting guard Ryquel Brown, junior forward/center Chante Mack, sophomore forward Ainsleigh Gilbert and senior forward Kedrona Rudisell who is averaging 4.5 rebounds a game.
Coach Chaplin is assisted by Ashley Davis, Jaherah Graves, and Kiaeshe Drake.
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Coach Andrew Eads has seen steady improvement in the boys’ basketball program in the three seasons he has head coached the team.
The Braves (73-68) lost to region foe North Central on January, 26 has put added pressure on them to find a way to win two- out- three games against Central at home (Jan., 30), Chesterfield at home (Feb., 2) or Andrew Jackson away (Feb, 9).
“The main thing we have do in these final three region games is not be out-rebounded,” said Coach Eads. “We don’t win when we get out-rebounded.
“We are primarily a man-to-man defense with a good bit of full-court pressure,” said Coach Eads. “We are doing a much better job on offense working the ball inside-out to Bernard (Joyner), Anthony (Strong) and Christian (Douglas) on the inside.
The starting rotation changes a lot from game-to game. Against North Central all-region performer 6-2 Dwight Harrington started on a wing (9.2 pts) along with junior point guard TJ Ford (7.6 pts) and junior Jaden Carraway (6 pts.) a game.
The other two starters were 6-4 freshman center Anthony Strong (4.2 pts 7 4.1 rebounds) along with strong rebounder De’Shaun Drake who has been coming on strong lately.
The 14-man roster is very deep in players who see a lot of action off the bench. Freshman guard Elijah McClain (4.2 pts) is a quick sub in. Junior forward Tre Leak is also one of the first subs in. One player returning from injury for the first time all season is junior guard Demarius Ellerbe and he will add depth for sure.
Other key reserves include senior forward Darius Garvin, freshman PG Nick Gordon, soph combo guard Zach Newman, along with junior inside man Bernard Joyner. Senior big-man Christian Douglas, also sees a lot of action inside. Senior Jalen Carraway also contributes at a gaud slot.
Coach Eads is assisted by James Pate and Tyrone Harrington.
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