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LMA basketball teams faring well in 2011-12

Manning – As the regular season winds down, the Laurence Manning Academy boys basketball team is living up to the preseason expectations of their coach and fans.

Laurence Manning coach Will Epps, now in his seventh season as head coach, returned a veteran group of players from a team that contended for the SCISA AAA state championship last season.  A loss in the state semi-finals of last year’s state tournament has provided plenty of motivation for the Swampcats this season.

Laurence Manning, winners of region 2-AAA last season, are on the way to a repeat performance this season. As of February 1st, the Swampcats were undefeated in region play and 16-4 overall on the season. They had won nine of their last 10 games at press time. Two losses came early in the season so few teams have been better than Laurence Manning in the month of January.

There is no shortage of leadership on this year’s team as Epps has six seniors on the roster and all contribute in some way to the success of the team.

Senior point guard Kalum McIntyre is the floor general and distributor but is also adept at creating scoring opportunities for himself, according to Epps.

Senior guards Ryan Anderson and Patrick Anderson are solid and consistent performers, along with senior guard Terrance Crump and senior center Jeremy Byrd. Another senior, forward Will McNair, contributes solid minutes in the paint.

The underclassmen are doing their fair share as well this season. Sophomore center Mark Pipkin has been in the starting lineup in several games but is also quite effective off the bench as well.

Epps said earlier this season that he felt depth would be the key to this year’s success.

“I’m looking for every single one of them to step up and contribute,” said Epps. “It’s been a different person that’s done that every night. That has been one of our strengths.”

Laurence Manning’s bench has been productive as well. Junior guard John Rodgers Mishoe and junior forward Davis Patrick have been solid, along with sophomore guard Charlie Walker. Michael Kinsey, a center, and guard McKenzie McGee are coming off the bench as well.

Key substitutes include sophomore guard Charlie Walker, junior guard John Rodgers Mishoe and junior forward Davis Patrick. Center Michael Kinsey and guard McKenzie McGee are other reserves.

Laurence Manning’s girls basketball team is also headed for the state playoffs. Laurence Manning has won 10 of 15 games overall this season and is locked in a battle for region supremacy with Orangeburg Prep and Wilson Hall as the season winds down.

 

ood speed. I think they're finally gelling together as a team with their new coach, and they're playing good football."
   Laurence Manning has lost three consecutive games and four of the last six contests.
   After a 21-14 loss at Augusta Christian on Sept. 18, the Swampcats defeated Orangeburg Prep (14-7 in overtime) and Pinewood Prep (21-8) before three straight losses to Heathwood Hall (38-27), Hammond (49-28) and Wilson Hall (34-33).
   The loss to the Barons was especially disappointing for Laurence Manning. Against their rival at Spencer Field, the Swampcats trailed 34-31 with 18 seconds remaining.
   Quarterback Josh Boykin, facing fourth-and-goal, ran for the score and Wilson Hall stopped the speedy quarterback just shy of the goal-line.
   "The final play of the game we had a chance to win it," said Kellahan, whose team recorded a safety on the ensuing play for the final margin of victory. "You can't ask for anything more than that. We just came up a little short. It was a great football game."
   Laurence Manning found success, as always, rushing the football.
Against Wilson Hall, the Swampcats amassed 317 yards on 60 carries, including 173 yards on 25 carries in the first half.
   "We've been playing well up front, so we took advantage of what we had over their defense and we had some success rushing the football," Kellahan said.
   Starting up front on the offensive line are Tyler Brown, Ryan Wynn, Player Chappell, Heath Smith and T.J. Bradley.
   Along with those stellar linemen, Laurence Manning has received quality production from the offensive backfield.
   Shane Green rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Green scored on a 4-yard run and 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Banks Lee totaled 103 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Lee had a 24-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and scored on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.
   Patrick Burns also added four extra points and kicked a 27-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter.
   While Kellahan was proud of his team's offense, the Swampcats' defense has been a bit of a bugaboo.
   The Swampcats allowed 319 yards of passing to Wilson Hall, and Laurence Manning is allowing 40.3 points per game the last three games after relinquishing just 13 points per game in the first six contests.
   A large part of that defensive ineptitude could be attributed to the increased competition, but Kellahan isn't using that as a ready-made excuse.
   "We're having a hard time getting off the field right now," Kellahan said. "We've got to improve in that area with our pass rush and playing better on third down."