Orangeburg Prep hoopsters locked in tight region 2-AAA battle
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Orangeburg – Coming off a playoff season of a year ago, Orangeburg Prep boys basketball coach Rip Ripley had high hopes for the 2011-12 Indians.
With four games left in the regular season, Ripley’s squad has a chance to achieve the coach’s goals.
The Indians hit the stretch drive with an 11-8 record overall and a 3-2 record in SCISA region 2-AAA. They were locked in a tight battle for second place with Wilson Hall and Florence Christian, trailing undefeated Laurence Manning by two games.
“We could finish anywhere from second to fourth in the region so there is a lot to be decided,” said Ripley. “It’s wide open here at the end and we control our own destiny. If we can finish strong we can be second.”
Orangeburg Prep faces Wilson Hall in a pivotal game on February 7th. The Indians lost to Wilson Hall by three points in the first meeting.
Ripley feels the Indians have played to their potential for the most part this season.
“We were 14-19 and won a playoff game last year but we expected to be better this year,” said the coach, now in his third year as the head coach. “We have tried to continually build a better program each year. I think we are making a lot of positive steps in the right direction. It would be nice to finish off this season on a positive note and to continue what we’ve started.”
Ripley has two seniors in the starting lineup this winter and will have nine players returning next season. The team’s top player is senior forward Micah Godwin, who averages about 12 points per game for the season.
Junior point guard Kyle Stokes has played well during region play, averaging about 11 points per game, while junior two guard Paul Trimmier is averaging about 12 points per game in region play.
The other senior starter is center Watty Watford, a two-year captain of the team and the true team leader, according to Ripley. The team’s third senior, Kevin Small, is a guard that comes off the bench.
“We have to be a team that out works the opponent,” says Ripley. “We have okay size and talent overall but for us to have a chance, we have to work harder and play harder than the other team. When the effort is strong we are very competitive.”
Other members of the team include juniors Morris Mirmow, Chris Hudson, Damon Manley, Reed Salley, Max Huggins and Nick Garrick, along with sophomore Davanian Murry.
“Currently we have 19 players in our program, jayvee and varsity, that are either sophomores or juniors, so we have a lot of potential for growth over the next few years,” said Ripley. “We want to continue to improve and build with the current group of underclassmen.”
