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South Florence to have new boys basketball coach this season

By David Shelton

Staff Writer

Florence – The South Florence boy’s basketball program will have a new leader for 2010-11 as athletic director Mike Watts has hired a replacement for David Alexander.

In May, Watts announced that junior varsity coach John Schweitz will be promoted to the varsity position for the coming year. Schweitz has been the junior varsity coach for the past two seasons.

While he may have been working on the lower level at South Florence in recent years, Schweitz is certainly no stranger to winning basketball at a high level.

Prior to working at South Florence, Schweitz was the head men’s basketball coach at Francis Marion University in Florence. In six years as a head coach, Schweitz posted a 73-93 record, including a 27-4 season during the 2003-04 campaign. Francis Marion participated in the Division II National Tournament that season.

Schweitz was an outstanding player at the University of Richmond and still ranks as the school’s fourth leading scorer in history. Schweitz was drafted in the sixth round of the NBA draft by the Boston Celtics and ended up playing three years in the Continental Basketball Association. He played in 22 NBA games with Seattle and Detroit before retiring in 1987 as a player.

“He brings a world of experience both playing and coaching,” Watts told the Florence Morning News.

Schweitz inherits a varsity program that qualified for the state playoffs last season but lost in the first round to Goose Creek.

The boy’s basketball position is the only new hire (at press time) by South Florence for the coming school year.

Football coach Lynn Fleming, who guided the Bruins into the state playoffs last season, will return for this fall and with high expectations. Several of the key players from last year’s team will return this fall and the Bruins are expected to contend for a region title.

Returning to coach girl’s basketball is Lisa Jones, also the school’s assistant athletic director. Bobby Jones will return to coach softball. Jones led the softball team to a playoff berth this past spring, advancing to the district finals before losing in the finals to White Knoll.

The baseball team at South Florence rebounded from a 3-18 season in 2009 to make the playoffs in 2010. Coach Kenny Gray will return next spring and seek to continue the improvement.

Michelle Hickson returns as the volleyball coach while David McClure will be the boy’s soccer coach. McClure’s squad was a playoff team in 2010 but lost in the first round.

The boy’s tennis team, coached by Kevin Burke, also made the lower state playoffs this past spring.

Trent Clary returns as the golf coach while Willie Sellers is the track coach.

Alli McKain is slated to return as the girl’s tennis and girl’s soccer coach.

 

 

Mason had interceptions.
    Offensively, quarterback Joseph Hayes completed both of his pass attempts and both went for touchdowns. A.J.Washington caught a 54-yarder and David Townsend caught a 30-yarder.
    "We played a lot of kids and we saw some backups do some good things as well," said King.

Wild Gators rebound with win over Creek Bridge, host Latta next

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Lake View (10/14/09) - The Lake View football team rebounded from a tough loss to Carvers Bay by downing Creek Bridge, 46-6, this past Friday.  The Wild Gators improved to 5-2 (3-1) on the season.

"We were able to jump out early on them 14-0 and then held them out the end zone when they got down to our five-yard line.  The defense came to play the other night," head coach Daryl King said.  

Kentell Kelly rushed for 101 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries while Denton Jones also found the end zone twice on eight touches for 43 yards.  Kenneth Turner added another rushing score with nine attempts for 63 yards.  

Quarterback Joseph Hayes was three of four passing for 109 yards and two touchdowns.  His top target was A.J. Washington, who made two receptions for 106 yards and both scores.

Defensively Roderick Robinson led the way with eight tackles.  Jerome Mason and Kelly each recorded seven total stops.

"The kids have played as hard as they could play all year.  They've made some mistakes that have hurt us in both games we've won and games we've lost but as far as effort goes, they play hard for four quarters and that's what we ask them to do," King said.

Next week the Wild Gators host Latta in another conference clash.
"
Offensively their quarterback is probably the best runner we've seen all season.  Their offensive line does a great job blocking and their backs run hard too.  They're a complete offensive team.  Defensively they're big and fast.  We tell our kids that every week it gets harder and harder in the region and each team gets better throughout the year.  We know Latta is going to play us tough," King said.

Wild Gators hold on over Johnsonville, await Carvers Bay

By C.R. Cumbee
Staff Writer
Lake View - After a lengthy weather delay, the Lake View Wild Gators were able to hang on to defeat Johnsonville, 26-24, in a game that did not end until after midnight.
     The Wild Gators were led by Kentell Kelly, who rushed 20 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns.  Jerome Mason had seven attempts for 78 yards and had a rushing and receiving touchdown.  Joseph Hayes completed his only pass attempt for a 48-yard score and also carried nine times for 55 yards.
     "After we came back out (from the delay), both teams were ready to play.  Coach Lineberger and his staff did a good job with their kids.  They're a really good football team and we caught some breaks in that game to come away with the win," head coach Daryl King said.
     Defensively Lake View was paced by Hayes, who had a team-high nine tackles.  Roderick Robinson recorded eight stops with Kelly, Tion Jones, Brody Smith and A.J. Washington making six tackles each.
    "We had to make some defensive stands to keep the lead.  It was a back and forth game, and it will help us in the long run," King said.
     The Wild Gators will be tested again this Friday when they travel to Carvers Bay.  The running game will be the biggest factor and King hopes his offensive line (Robinson, Jones, McKenzie Arnett, Josh Jordan, Keith Sims, Terry Williams, David Townsend and Jason Locklear) can continue to do their jobs.
     "They're really big and physical.  They've got a great defense, and offensively they run the ball right at you.  It's going to be tough to find a way to play with them," King said.  "We hope our offensive line can block them and the backs hit the holes like they've been doing.  Our offensive line has done a good job all year."