Bennettsville – Prior to the start of the 2023-24 basketball season, Marlboro County boys basketball coach Demetrius Knox spoke of how competitive the play would be in region 6-AAA.
Knox called the league among the most competitive in Class AAA and results this season have proved the coach correct. Region six has two teams, Crestwood and Darlington, ranked in the state’s Class AAA top 10 rankings. Those two schools currently set the pace in the region standings.
“You better come to play every night in this region,” Knox said. “There are no off nights. Every team has great coaching and great athletes.”
The Bulldogs are locked in a competitive battle for third-place Camden and Lakewood. The top four finishers will qualify for the AAA Lower State playoffs.
Entering play on Jan. 30, Marlboro County sat one-game out of fourth-place with a 2-4 league record. The Bulldogs were 10-7 on the overall slate of games, this after a 6-2 start.
Senior Nori Adams continues to lead the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points to go with 5.1 rebounds per game. Senior Keshawn Leach averages 9.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.
Junior Ralphier Monroe adds 8.6 points per game, and senior Jaitez Barbour is contributing 7.4 points per game.
Senior Ivor Miles and junior Justin Purvis add about six points per game with Purvis dishing three assists per outing. Junior Isaiah Johnson also has reached double figures in scoring in games this season.
Rounding out the roster this season are seniors Mason Thomas, Jayce Butler, Quismale Brand, Naszir White and Tyquan Graham, and junior Zakari Parnell.
In wrestling, while the boys program continues to face challenges in filling out a complete roster and lineup, the girls program is showing signs of becoming a solid program with decent numbers this season.
On the boys side, two of the top performers have been Royal Williams (106) and Jameson Bethea (113).
The girls team recently was the highest-scoring team at the Lower State championship meet, scoring 96 points to finish ahead of several AAAAA and AAAA schools.
Hayley Duncan finished second in the Lower state qualifier at 117 pounds and Mary Williams was second at 192 pounds. Ja’Neisha Armfield finished third at 237 pounds and Katie Roscoe was third at 172 pounds.
Finishing fourth in the Lower State qualifier were Gabrielle Murillo (107) and Sarah Locklear (102).
Other solid competitors this season include Graycee Duncan (108), Jasiyah Witherspoon (125) and Tierra Lowery (145). Lynzie Jacobs also competed in the 190-pound weight class.
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