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Whittington Seeking “10 Donell Stanley’s” for Latta basketball team 

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Latta—Boys’ basketball coach Tony Whittington would like to have “ten” Donnell Stanley’s playing on the team at Latta because the talented sophomore in one of those gifted players who puts in all on the line every game.

“He plays from the heart and he is such a good kid,” said Coach Whittington. “I wish you could somehow take his heart and put it in the chest of nine other players on the team. He gets a double-double just about every game he plays. He rebounds, blocks shots, plays great defense, and scores inside. He’s just a great athlete.”

The Vikings are 6-10 and 4-4 heading into the final two weeks of region play. Stanley (6-5, 280) is also considered a top football prospect and the bad news for opponents is that he has two more years left in high school. Stanley is averaging 10 points and 12 rebounds a game. Stanley also averaging three blocked shots a game.

Coming into the closing weeks of the regular season Latta, averaging 60 points a game. finds itself fighting it out with Hemingway, and Creek Bridge for a playoff spot. Johnsonville (7-1) and Carvers Bay (7-2) have clinched the top two spots in the region. “Right now we are in a real battle to hold fourth place to get into the playoffs,” said Coach Whittington. “We are so many young guys at many positions.”

The team’s top scorer is senior forward D.J. Legette a two year starter who is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game. Senior guard Rajit McFadden is averaging 8 points a game and Coach Whittington cited him for his “defense, rebounding and ability to penetrate inside.”

Sophomore guard R. J. McClam is averaging six points and two steals a game and was cited for good defense. McClam had close to 1,000 rushing yards on the football team this season. Sophomore point guard Tyrell Sabb is averaging 10 points and three assists per outing. A sixth man off the bench is junior point Tysean Burgress.

Other key reserves include sophomore forward-center Charles McGill, senior guard Darius Jones, and senior first year player Ne”Quan Williams who is a good leaper.

The team’s key wins this year have come over Carvers Bay, Hemingway, Creek Bridge, and Dillon. Chris German is an assistant coach on the team.

    

 

pan style="font-weight: bold;">Bethea paced the offense with 11 carries for 90 yards and two touchdowns.  He also caught two passes for 43 yards and another score.  Kendrick Page rushed for 59 yards on 11 attempts while completing 3-of-11 passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.  On defense Page returned an interception 73 yards for a score.

?They?ve done exactly what we felt they could do as far as leading and producing both offensively and defensively,? Bley said.  ?We?ve had other kids step up as well, but they?ve been the load so far.?

The defense was very strong against the Wolverines last week, headed up by linebackers Eric Crawford and Timothy Alexander.

?Our defense has definitely been our strong point so far.  To shut out a team like East Clarendon, who has a lot of good athletes at key positions, we were very impressed,? Bley said.

The Vikings will put their undefeated record on the line this week as they take on Class AA power Dillon, who is coming off a 28-6 win against Lake View.