Young Northwood boys team shows progress in 2011-12

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

North Charleston – As he completes his second season as the boys varsity basketball coach at Northwood Academy, Anthony Houston can honestly say the program is heading in the right direction.

Houston’s first season, with a very young team, was not a success in terms of wins and losses. Houston started three freshmen, a sophomore and an eighth-grader last season, winning five games.

 However, the coach laid the foundation for the program during that trying season and is now seeing the fruits of his labor.

The program, he says, is not where he wants it ultimately to be overall, but the necessary positive steps have been taken during year two.

With three games remaining in the 2011-12 season, Northwood had posted a 9-12 record overall while two of five games in region play. The Chargers close out the season with games against Pinewood Prep, Hilton Head Prep and Hilton Head Christian.

Barring a major collapse at the end, the Chargers should be invited to participate in the AAA state tournament in a few weeks.

“This team has done a good job and continues to show great potential for the future,” said Houston, who directed the successful girls program at Northwood before taking over the boys program last season. “We have a group of really hard-working kids. The biggest difference in this year as opposed to last year is that this team really enjoys playing together. It helps that we have a year under my system and everyone is more familiar with what I want, but the effort is the main thing.

“We’re a year older and a year wiser for sure. Last year we were losing games by 25 and 30 points and this year we lose those games by six or eight points. We’re definitely more competitive overall. We don’t tend to beat ourselves as much we did last year and that makes a difference. When you can limit the number of mistakes, you give yourself a better chance to compete.”

This year’s team is again quite young overall. Only one senior, forward Alex McMeekin, sees a lot of playing time this season, though senior Brendan Gilbert does come off the bench with inspired play often.

Gilbert, an all-state football performer as a safety, brings energy and enthusiasm into every game.

“I wish I had 10 of him,” said Houston. “He will run through a wall if that’s what it takes. He has a tough, hard-nosed mentality and he really works hard. He motivates everyone just by the way he plays.”

Freshman guard Tavaughn Major is drawing raves for his abilities. Major, who played and started most of the games last year as an eighth-grader, is averaging 19 points per game on the season and has put up solid numbers against the better competition.

Sophomore point guard Darrett Drayton has had a solid season as the floor leader and is the “glue of the team”, according to Houston.

Junior Drayton Clutters and sophomore Joe Cook are sharing time as forwards and producing solid numbers.

Coming off the bench as wings are sophomore Jimmy Thompson and freshman Douglas Dwight and each plays considerable minutes.

The team’s only other senior is Zachary Sizemore. Freshman Will Lloyd sees quality minutes off the bench as well.

“I like potential going forward with so many young players getting so much playing time,” said Houston. “We need to have a good summer, get stronger and get better. We have some talent and maybe in year three we can gel even more.”

Meanwhile, the Northwood Academy girls team is setting its sights on another shot at the AAA state title.

Northwood lost in the finals last season but is having a solid season to date, winning 19 of 23 games overall. The Lady Chargers are undefeated in region play and hold a one-game lead over Pinewood Prep.

Northwood’s four losses this season came to a pair of private school powerhouses from North Carolina (Carolina Day and Thomasville Prep), to AAAA public school power Goose Creek, and to the state’s top-ranked AAA team in SCISA, Heathwood Hall.

Sophomore guard Amber Campbell continues to have a great season, averaging 27.2 points, 8.1 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game this season. Campbell is shooting 57 percent from the field and has made 24 three-pointers.

Forward Alyssa Kinsey is averaging 12.4 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while Jamie Andrews is averaging 6.6 points and had made 23 three-pointers.

Antoinette Davis has pulled down an average of 6.2 rebounds per game and Danyel Phillips is averaging about four rebounds per contest.

Northwood closes out the regular season with games against Hilton Head Prep, Ashley Hall, Hilton Head Christian and Pinewood Prep. The latter coming on February 14 in a game that will likely decide the region championship.