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Marion hoopsters getting ready for state playoffs

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Marion – With the state playoffs just a few weeks away, the Marion High School boys and girls basketball teams are getting their respective games in shape for a potential deep run.

Both teams are among the lower state contenders in class AA and both teams are having successful seasons with young talent.

Entering play on January 27, both teams are off to 5-0 start in region 8-AA play and should be contenders to the end for a region championship.

Marion’s boys team won 13 of its first 19 games overall and four of the six losses were by four points or less. Only one defeat came by double digits.

The biggest win came on January 24 when Marion won a showdown with region rival Mullins to take over first-place in the standings.

Marion has only two seniors on the roster – Edward Nelson and Devantay Emmanuel.

Five of the team’s top six scorers and rebounders this season are underclassmen. Junior forward Marqui McKelvey is leading the team in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (12.3) while also leading the team with 48 blocks.

Junior forward Kevin Rowell is averaging 15.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game this season.

Junior point guard Darryl Kelly is the third player in double figures, scoring 10.2 points per game. Kelly also dishes out 6.9 assists per game while averaging 3.7 steals per outing.

Junior guard Chris Washington is averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 steals and 2.8 assists per game. Junior Michael Outlaw is averaging 5.6 points per game, as is Emmanuel, who also pulls down 5.6 rebounds per game.

Leon Sturkey’s girls team is ranked among the top five teams in class AA this season. The Lady Swamp Foxes have won 12 of 13 games overall, last losing on December 9th to Hartsville.

Sophomore guard Tyshanna Lester is making a strong bid this season for AA Player of the Year honors. Lester is currently averaging 21.2 points, 7.1 steals and 4.3 rebounds per game this season.

Senior center Krystal Washington is averaging a double-double this season, scoring 13.3 points and pulling down 11.5 rebounds per game. She also averages 2.7 steals per game.

Junior forward Keyessence Foxworth is averaging 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds per game while sophomore guard Shatoria Duncan is averaging 8.6 points per game.

Marion’s competition in class AA around the state is very good. Bishop England and Columbia are currently ranked one and two in the state. Bishop England is currently undefeated at 19-0.

 

 

old;">By Rob Gantt
Special writer
Marion (10/14/09) - Since starting off 0-2, the Marion football team has won five straight games.
   Getting to a half dozen won't be easy, Swamp Fox coach Bryan Carfley said.
The Swamp Foxes (5-2, 2-0 region) host Dillon, which comes in with identical records.
   "We have some confidence but hopefully we're not overconfident," he added. "? We had some mistakes against Aynor that we can't make against Dillon."
   In talking about Dillon, he knows it's a substantial step up in competition.  The Wildcats are the defending Class AA champions.
   "Their speed matches our speed," he said. "We're going to have to sustain our blocks. They're physical and fast. We've got to play mistake-free football. A couple turnovers for us and you never know."
   Dillon is coming off a 41-7 win over Mullins, Marion's top rival.
   Against Aynor, the Swamp Foxes raced out to a 22-0 lead after a quarter and coasted to a 49-6 win. Brian Gillard topped the 150-yard mark on the round and scored a touchdown.
   He has 734 rushing yards on the season.
   Lue Clemmons added 88 yards rushing against the Blue Jackets and scored three touchdowns. He's not got 581 ground yards on the season.
   Tyheem Johnson rushed for 81 yards and scored two touchdowns.
   The Swamp Foxes also got a 32-yard touchdown pass from Ross White to Gillard.
   Defensively, Carroll Norman had 14 total tackles and Deonte Johnson added 10 stops from their linebacker positions.
   Defensive back Dondre Ethridge and defensive lineman Adonis Butler had nine tackles each.
   Kicker John Williams made five extra points.
Outside linebacker Marquise Johnson had eight stops.

 

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