Holly Hill – A strong late season run led to a state championship for the 2023 Holly Hill Academy softball team. With most of that team returning in 2024, coach Kally Knight has his team focused on a repeat performance. Holly Hill Academy has started their 2024 season with high expectations as Knight looks to experience and talent to guide the way. “We are fortunate that we return a good group, girls that have been in the big games,” Knight said. “We have had a few injuries early on but when we can get completely healthy, I think this team is capable of competing with any team we play. What I keep emphasizing to them is to keep the energy level high and to always play with effort. If we stick together it can be a really good season.” While the pitching will be fairly inexperienced, Knight feels the offense and defense can shoulder the load. He returns a veteran middle infield in shortstop Kayley Bell and second baseman Abigail Burleson, both sophomores but in their third season as a tandem. Returning behind the plate is junior Kaylee Brabham, who Knight says is “a definite college prospect. She has great power as a hitter and is a physically strong player.” Junior Chloe Wren is a third-year varsity player and will start at first base, with the ability to also play in the outfield. Freshman Khloe Mizzell is starting at third base as a returner. Freshman Bethany Martin can and will see time at first and third as well. Two returning starters in the outfield include sophomore Peyton Strickland in right and junior Jayden Franklin in left. A new starter in centerfield will be freshman Kayley Cuttino. Eighth-grader Allie Thomason will see time in the outfield as well. In the pitching circle will be freshman Taylor Wright, who also rates as one of the leading hitters on the team. Wright is relatively new as a pitcher but Knight sees potential as she gains experience. “She has a chance to be good as she grows into the position,” the coach said. “The big thing we focus on is throwing strikes, let our good defense play behind her. She works hard at it and she will compete. The key for us will be strikes. We will be able to score some runs and we can play defense.”

Larry Gamble Photo Editor, HSSR Photos from the SCISA Basketball Tournament, from the Beaufort Academy vs Marlboro Academy in their elimination basketball game on Saturday. High resolution prints and digital downloads from this event are available at www.LarryGamble.com by clicking this link to the photos.

Holly Hill – After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, the Holly Hill Academy boys basketball team seems to have found its mojo as the regular season finishes the final stretch. The Raiders are under new leadership this season as Mason Padgett takes the reins. The new coach and his new team went through a transition period early but seem to have everyone on the same page late in the season. Holly Hill entered play on Jan. 30 with an 8-10 record and on a three-game winning streak. “We got off to a rocky start,” Padgett said. “With me being new, it took us a while. Every time you have a change in leadership, in any business, there is a period of adjustment for everyone involved. It took us about three weeks to finally get together and for them to adjust to me. “I think this team has bought in. They got a taste of winning. They now understand how important basketball is to me. It’s serious. It’s more than just something to do between football and baseball season.” Another factor in Holly Hill Academy’s slow start was the absence of junior guard Jody “Boogie” Gilliam, a transfer from Orangeburg Prep who missed several games early on. Gilliam’s presence in the lineup has given the team a boost. He is averaging 18 points per game overall. The Raiders are getting surprising production from an unlikely source. Eighth-grader Nick Lindsey, a junior varsity player last season, is averaging 17 points per game for the varsity this season. “He’s an excellent shooter,” Padgett says. “Still a lot to learn and has some growing to do but he can shoot.” Junior Ashton Soles is a starting wing and is averaging 10 points per game. Senior Mason Rudd is a starting forward and excels as a defender and rebounder. Starting at center is the best athlete, 5-11 senior Tyree James, who is averaging about 10 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. First off the bench for the Raiders is junior guard Ethan Siau. Freshman Tyler Green comes off the bench as a defender and rebounder. Padgett says his team lacks overall size but they aim to use their athleticism to offset dominance inside. “We push the ball, try to press a lot, and create some easy offense off the defense,” the coach said.

By Billy G. Baker Publisher Holly Hill — Andy Palmer’s first season as head coach at Holly Hill Academy was a huge success with the young Raiders (only four seniors) finishing 11-2 on the season with a hard-fought six-point loss (20-14) to Jefferson Davis Academy at Calhoun Academy in the SCISA 8-man state championship game on November, 17. Named as the HSSR-SCISA 2023 8-man Player of the Year is senior all-purpose athlete Tyree James who put up eye- popping numbers during the season. James tallied 2,515 all-purpose yards including 40 touchdowns. He rushed for 1,969 yards with 34 rushing touchdowns. He had 214 additional reception yards and two touchdowns. James also returned two punts for scores and he had one pick-six for 72 yards. On defense he had 100 total tackles including a team leading five interceptions. Prior to the state championship game head coach Andy Palmer said this about James, “I’ve seen a lot of football players,” said Coach Palmer. “They just have a knack for it. He can change direction without changing speed; hit a hole full speed. He’s dynamic.” Senior center/defensive lineman Dylan Rivera has been three-year starter and he has been named to the HSSR-SCISA 8-man all-state football team. On defense Rivera was a stand-out with 90 tackles, 16 TFL, and 9 sacks. On defense three other Raiders have earned HSSR-SCISA 8-man all-state honors. The players include senior DL Mason Rudd , who is also a baseball prospect, along with senior DL Charlie Perkins and junior LB Camdin Harmon . Rudd totaled 109 tackles, 12 TFL and 8 sacks. Perkins had 115 tackles with 11 TFL and four sacks. Harmon led the defense with 146 tackles including 11 TFL and four sacks. Freshman DB Parker Kizer has been named to the HSSR-SCISA all-rookie team. Kizer had 89 tackles, with 9 TFL and four sacks. Junior QB Ashton Soles will return next season. Soles completed 31-of-53 passes for 765 yards and 12 touchdowns. Soles also added 170 yards rushing on the season. As a LB on defense Soles had 71 tackles, 7 TFL, including two sacks and two interceptions. The top two receivers were James along with junior Jody Gilliam who caught 11 passes for 216 yards. Of the 22 players on the Holly Hill Academy championship roster there were four seniors, five juniors, 8 sophomores, and five freshmen. Other juniors expected back next season are junior TE/DB Connor Teague and OL/DL Jagger Edmonds . The sophomore group coming back were TE/’DL Brady Garing , TE/LB Takobe Sweatman , TE/LB Aaron Johnson , OL/DL Jordan Wren , TE/LB Jason Iler , OL/DL Ryan Brown , and Shade Snyder who started at RG in the championship game. Freshman returning include WR/DB Chance Crummitt , Kizer, RB/LB Tyler Green , WR/DB Tarez James , and OL/DL Chase Holder . With 18 players back off of their 11-win team this season, expect the Raiders to compete for the 4 th state title in the past five seasons next year.

Wall's late 65-yard touchdown run carries JDA to 20-14 triumph

HHA facing Jefferson Davis for third time

“The High School Sports Report” has been endorsed by SCISA to print, promote, and distribute the Official full color Souvenir Game Programs

Holly Hill – Though in somewhat of a rebuilding year, the Holly Hill Academy volleyball program is showing steady progress under third-year coach Danelle Kern. The Raiders won the region title a year ago, along with having the region’s player and coach of the year. But four starters graduated from that unit and this year’s team returned only three veteran players. The Raiders won eight of their first 12 matches overall this season, but are off to a 1-3 start in region play. Adding to the lack of experience was a bout with Covid, followed by the flu bug. “It’s a building year for us but we are working hard to repeat our region champion title again this year, even with our young team,” Kern reports. “Covid came to visit us again at the start of our season and now the flu, so we had kind of a slow start to our season.” The three returning players from last year include sophomore setter Kaley Bell, junior outside hitter and team captain Chloe Wren, and junior middle hitter and also team captain Kaylee Brabham. All three are starters, along with sophomore Libero and setter Abbygail Burleson, freshman outside hitter Kloie Mizell, freshman middle Essie Wolpert, and sophomore right side Peyton Strickland. In the early going, Bell leads the team with 64 service aces, to go with 173 assists, 105 digs and 51 kills. Wren has 57 kills and 127 digs while Brabham has 57 kills, 18 aces, 22 blocks and 46 digs. Burleson has a team-high 223 digs and also has recorded 21 aces and 15 assists. Other team members who are contributing in their role include freshman hitter Taylor Wright, freshman hitter Bethany Martin, and sophomore middle hitter Micayla Johnson. With no seniors on the roster this fall, the Raiders are sure to work themselves back into contention in 2024. Stay tuned. The Raiders have plenty of success to come.