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Wolves trying to overcome fatigue as playoffs approach

By C.R. Cumbee

Staff Writer

St. Stephen—It has been a busy school year for many of the players on the Timberland boys’ basketball team.  Several of them played on the football team that went on to win a state championship in December before jumping head first into basketball season.  So far the Wolves are 8-12, but are in second place in the region standings with a 3-2 record.

“We haven’t been able to take a night off all year because even our non-conference schedule has been tough.  Some of our kids came off the football field and had to play a game four days later.  We’re dealing with guys that have been on the grind since August, mentally and physically.  We’re trying to find ways to pick them up and keep them going,” head coach Jerome Stewart said.

Only two starters returned from last year’s team that won the region and lost to Mullins in the third round of the playoffs.  Center Daryl Palmer leads the way with 14 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots per game.  He signed with South Carolina State.

Also back is forward James Middleton, who is putting up 10 points and six rebounds a night.  Joining him in the starting rotation are wings Diquan Richardson and Coliah Whitaker and freshman point guard Shamelle Williams.

“It’s been tough at times because he’s (Williams) been pushed to make shots.  He’s played well at home, but hasn’t done too well on the road.  But that’s typical of a freshman being thrown in the fire.  The positive is that he’ll be around for three more years running the ball club,” Stewart said.

Seeing significant action in reserve roles are guard Mike Wilson, wing Austin McKinney and forwards Joel Palmer and Isaac Ferguson.  Other players on the roster include Dylan McKinney, Deondre Watson, Jordan Whaley and Johnelle Brown.

With the final week and a half of the regular season approaching, Timberland will need to improve its offensive output if it wants a chance to repeat as region champions.

“We just have to shoot the ball well, and sometimes that’s something that you can’t control.  We’ve been holding teams to an average of 52 or 53 points per game, and the games that we’ve lost, we’ve struggled to find offense,” Stewart said.

The Wolves host Andrews before closing out the campaign with road games against Manning and Kingstree.

“We don’t have a region where there’s only one or two good teams.  There’s going to be a really good team that doesn’t even make the playoffs in our region.  It’s very, very, very competitive,” Stewart said.

In other news, several members of the Timberland football team are set to be honored at the annual High School Sports Report fall banquet Feb. 19 at Seawell’s in Columbia.

Free safety/wide receiver Lee Mayes is the Division I-AA Player of the Year while linebacker Daquan Lucas was the I-AA Defensive Player of the Year. 

Offensive lineman Bobby McNeil was named to the I-AA Offensive Team and defensive lineman James Middleton earned I-AA Defensive Team honors. 

Lucas and McNeil competed in the Shrine Bowl and Mayes and Middleton played in the North-South game.

Head coach Art Craig was named the I-AA Coach of the Year after leading the Wolves to a 14-1 record and the school’s first state title.

 

 

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Staff Writer
St. Stephen (12/21/09) The Timberland High girls' basketball team continued its winning tradition last season but fell short when it mattered most.  The Lady Wolves finished the year 21-4 but came in second in the region and lost to Bishop England in the second round of the Class AA playoffs.
This season Timberland returns four starters, including junior point guard Rateska Brown and senior forward Michelle Beauford.  Brown averaged a team-high 18 points, five steals and three assists per game in 2008-09.  Beauford wasn't far behind at 17 points and 15 rebounds.
"We've got to learn not to just dribble the ball up the court and look to score.  We need to pass the ball around and find an open shot.  The other girls can score too.  We've got other people that can score we've just been a little tired," head coach Cleve Touchberry said.
Also back in the starting lineup is junior guard Lisa Prioleau and junior forward Coretta Johnson.  Both players averaged close to six points a game last year and will have to be more productive this season.  Junior guard Kristina Houseworth is the only newcomer to the top five.
Coming off the bench to log some minutes for the Wolves will be junior forward Angel Reid, senior forward Sade Williams and junior center Keisha Whitaker.  Other players on the roster this year include Diamoney Green, Kyiesha Gibbs, Shameeka Hamilton, Jasmine Timmons, Tonesha Ham, Ife Stafford and Alexandria Clark.
"Depth is a big issue.  We really have eight players that can go in there but with the level of experience that some of them have, we're kind of scared to put them in situations they've never been in before.  We don't want them to crack under the pressure," Touchberry said.
The Lady Wolves got off to a good start this season by winning its first four games.  They still have contests with Goose Creek, Cross and Lake Marion before the Christmas holidays.  The showdown with the Lady Gators should serve as a barometer of where Touchberry's team is early on.
"They're big, they're tall and they're talented.  We've got some things we've got to work on.  If it works, then we'll maybe have a chance against them.  If not, it could go the other way.  But it's the same for them too, they've got to stop us," Touchberry said.
Still, if there's something the head coach would like to see his team improve in, it would be mental toughness and conditioning.
"We've got to learn how to play tired.  All the teams I've had in the past, I thought our advantage was that when everybody got tired we picked it up a notch.  That's what we're working on now.  We have what we call 'Tough Love' practice where every mistake that they make they have to run suicides.  We're trying to get them in that mental state to where they play tough all the time," Touchberry said