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Stallions making a strong push at end of regular season

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Kingstree – After a 3-0 start, then an 0-3 slump, the Williamsburg Academy boys basketball team appears to be playing its best basketball at the end of the regular season.

The Stallions entered the final four game stretch of the regular season with a 9-6 record overall and were 6-4 in region play, tied for third-place in the standings with Dillon Christian. After a 1-2 start in region play, Williamsburg Academy has won five of its last seven league games.

Coach T.J. Stack is pleased with how his team has come together down the stretch.

“We seem to be playing more consistently on both ends of the floor,” said the coach. “I think defensively we have been pretty solid all season. Much of the offense comes from playing good defense. If we can get to 50 points or so offensively, we stand a good chance of winning. Lately we have been doing that and the results have improved. We’re still not where we need to be overall but we certainly are playing better.”

The recent surge in victories has come primarily due to the play of senior point guard Tyler Braynon. While averaging 15 to 16 points per game for the season overall, Braynon has raised the level of his game down the stretch. Stack estimates he is scoring nearly 20 points per game over the last four or five games.

“He is doing it all for us right now,” said the coach. “He is on an unbelievable stretch of games where he is playing about as well as he can play. His game has taken off and the rest of the guys are feeding off him. He’s shooting well, driving the basketball well, dishing it to the right guy, just everything you want your point guard to do.”

Fellow senior guard Shuler Ward also has been solid all season and gives the Stallions a formidable backcourt punch.

“If he and Tyler are playing well together, we have a good shot to win,” said Stack.

Junior Christopher Kellahan continues to give solid minutes as a wing/forward and junior Tyrone Singletary is capable of scoring in double figures as well.

The fifth starting spot is shared by freshmen forwards Stavro Najjar and Tripp Ward. Stack says both have been solid as rebounders this season.

“Everyone is doing their job and contributing consistently and that’s what we have to do if we want to be successful,” said Stack.

Though the Stallions cannot win the region’s regular season title, the tournament next week offers another opportunity. Williamsburg can secure a spot in the state tournament by virtue of a third-place finish or higher in the regular season standings. A rematch with Dillon Christian on February 2 will go a long ways in deciding third-place.

“We could make the playoffs if we don’t finish in the top three but that would mean a good showing in the region tournament and then needing some help,” said Stack. “We would like to finish strong and know we’re in the playoffs before the region tournament. If we can get in the playoffs, we can be competitive. Anything can happen once you get in but you can’t win anything if you can’t make the field.”

Stack says Byrnes School of Florence has essentially wrapped up the region title with Marlboro Academy sitting in second, a half-game ahead of Williamsburg. Marlboro Academy owns the tie-breaker with Williamsburg Academy by virtue of a season sweep of two region games this season.

Stallions to be honored at HSSR banquet

Kingstree – Several members of the Williamsburg Academy fall sports teams will be honored by the High School Sports Report at the publication’s annual fall sports awards banquet on Feburary 19th at Seawell’s Restaurant in Columbia.

Three members of the football team and one volleyball player will be presented as all-state performers.

Honored in volleyball is Anna Taylor, who is a two-time all-state selection by the High School Sports Report.

Junior Christopher Kellahan was named the HSSR SCISA Class AA Player of the Year, while senior receivers/defensive backs Tyler Braynon and Shuler Ward were selected as SCISA Class AA all-state performers.

The volleyball awards banquet, held in conjunction with the cross country, swimming and golf honorees, will be at 1:30 p.m.

The football awards banquet is set for 5 p.m.

Condolences

The High School Sports Report offers condolences and prayers to the family of Williamsburg Academy student athlete Megan Elizabeth Piatt, who tragically died in a car accident on January 22.

Piatt was a senior member of the school’s basketball and softball teams.

 

.500 after eight games
By Tim Singleton
Special Writer
Kingstree (12/21/09)  The Williamsburg Academy girls basketball finished last season with a near .500 record and coach David Rankin has his girls off to a similar start this season with four wins in their first eight games.  
The girls have posted wins over Robert E Lee, Clarendon Hall and Coastal Christian in the early going.  
Without a lot of size for interior play, the Lady Stallions are relying on experienced ball handlers and team speed to put a few wins into the books.
"We press and run the floor. We want to get as many shots as we can. Sometimes a good shooting girls team will only hit about forty percents of their shots, so if we can create more opportunities than our opponents, then we'll come out ahead," said the coach.
The Lady Stallions have settled into an eight player rotation with Stacey Tomlinson at point guard, Anna Taylor and Nikki McCrae at the wings, Mariel Webster at forward and Carston Walker or Alex Ard in the post. Kara Ann Ard and Anne Miller Adams are providing valuable minutes off the bench.
Rounding out the roster are Leanne McFadden, Alexis Richardson, and Tara Courtney.
In their win over Coastal Christian, the girls used a balanced attack. Tomlinson led the way with 12 points on the strength of three, three point baskets. Taylor tallied nine while Walker chipped in with eight and McCrea added six. McCrea had hit double digits in the three prior games.
"I feel like our girls are playing pretty good," said the coach. "We have lost a couple of games that if we could have shot a little better they would have been wis but overall we are mving in the right direction."
The Stallions were to face Marlboro, Robert E Lee and Carolina before the Christmas break. Rankin was hopeful to improve the overall record in those games, carrying momentum over the break.