Colleton County girls closing in on region championship
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Walterboro – With a relatively small team, in terms of size, Colleton County girls basketball coach Tamara Washington is letting her guards do the heavy lifting this season. And those guards have answered every challenge.
“We are guard heavy and we have to take advantage of the athleticism and quickness,” said the coach, who is in her first season at the helm of the program. “We don’t have as much of a inside presence as they have had here in the past so we have to adjust. The thing I like about this team is they are tenacious and they will get after it hard.”
Colleton County has one player this season over six-feet tall, senior Lakenya Williams. But the team full of guards has led the Lady Cougars to a 6-0 start in region 8-AAAA play while winning 16 of 20 games overall.
Colleton County is ranked 10th by the High School Sports Report in the latest class AAAA girls rankings.
Colleton County is averaging 58 points per game and the scoring is spread out evenly.
Sophomore guard Deyja Brown (5-6) is averaging 12.7 points per game, which leads the team. Brown also averages 4.9 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game.
Senior forward Tee Burns (5-10) is the best threat inside. Burns averages 10.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Thea Campbell (5-6) averages 9.6 points, 2.1 assists and 3.2 steals per game.
Junior guard Briana Chisolm (5-5) averages 9.3 points and 3.3 boards per game while senior guard Kayla Reed-Blake (5-7) averages 9.2 points per game.
Junior forward Terranda Green (5-10) is pulling down 3.9 rebounds per game.
Rounding out the 2011-12 roster are senior guard Oshiana Davis and junior guard Courtney Eady.
Washington stated earlier this season how pleased she has been with the way her team has responded to a new coach and a new system. She is not surprised by the success because of the team’s work ethic.
“It’s a really good group of girls to work with and they have responded very well to me,” said Washington. “They have been very receptive and respectful and we’ve been able to have a lot of fun. They know when it’s time to work and they work really hard. They are buying into everything and it shows when we play.”
Riley to receive award
Veteran head football coach and athletic director Leroy Riley will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the High School Sports Report at the publication’s annual Fall Sports Awards Banquet.
Riley, who recently announced his retirement from Colleton County, served 25 years as the school’s athletic director and head football coach, starting first at the old Walterboro High. He compiled more than 150 career wins at the school, leading Walterboro to one state AAAA title and a runner-up finish.
The banquet will be held on February 19 at the Seawell’s Restaurant in Columbia beginning at 5 p.m.
