Andrew Jackson Academy Boy’s & Girl’s Basketball Headed To The Play-offs
Andrew Jackson Academy Boy’s & Girl’s Basketball Headed To The Play-offs
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Ehrhardt—With five players sitting out for various reasons the Andrew Jackson Academy Warriors had several players step up to defeat Thomas Heyward, 46-45, on February 7 that clinched a three-way tie for the region championship.
“Super proud of how our players stepped up and did really well with us short-handed,” said head coach Josh Barnes. “We had three teams all finish 8-2 in the region and the tie breaker favors all three of us depending on what team we compare our scores too.
“Bethesda is 8-2 and Thomas Heyward is 8-2 and I have been coaching for so long I will wait for the bracket to come out Wednesday night and then start getting ready for the team we have to play,” said Coach Barnes. “If you play well you will advance in the play-offs and if you do not you go home and the season is over.”
Against Thomas Heyward, with the team’s backs against the wall, Hayden McClung poured in 20 points and Hall Sease scored five points and hauled in a season high 15 rebounds. Ollie Barnes held the Rebel’s top offensive player to three points with his stellar defense and added 9 points on offense.
Elijah Davis, a 6-3 Big, had to guard a quicker guard for the first time all season and he held hi sown while contributing 10 points. “We had senior Jacobe Best start and he hustled and played well on both sides of the ball as well,” said Coach Barnes.
The team will play a non-region game against Dorche4ster Academy on February, 10 to conclude the regular season.
Currently the team has four Warriors scoring in double figures. They include senior combo guard Gage Dicks who is averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, three assists, and 2.6 steals. Dicks is considered a next level prospect.
Junior Vashahd Schofield is a 6-3 power forward averaging 13.7 points and 6.4 rebounds. Senior point guard Hayden McClung is at 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds as the regular season ends. McClung is also averaging four assists and 2.7 steals. Ollie Barnes is at 12 points and 1,8 assists a game.
Sophomore Hall Sease (6-3, 170) is averaging 8 points and 8.6 rebounds starting the SCISA basketball play-offs. Sophomore guard Colin Carter is averaging 7 points and 7 rebounds a game and senior Carter Brunson-Brown is averaging 7.1 points and 6.7 rebounds a game. Jacobe Best is at two points and 2.9 rebounds a game.
Several hard-working reserves include junior forward Tanner Chassereau, junior forward Tres Mixon, and sophomore forward Eli Mathys.
“What we really need to do is step up our defense with the play-offs starting and we need to play with better team unity on the floor,” said Coach Barnes. “We tried some different things on defense against Thomas Heyward the other night and holding a team down to 45 points was our best defensive effort of the season.
“Once the play-offs start you have to be playing your best basketball or your season is over,” said Coach Barnes. “We have not played our best game yet and I hope that starts happening in the play-offs.”
AJA Girl’s 11-10, 4-2 & Will Earn Spot In Play-offs
With a 11-10, and 4-2 record the AJA Lady Warriors basketball team, under the direction of head coach Zach Boltin, showed steady progress throughout the 2024-25 season and they will be earning a spot in the upcoming SCISA play-offs.
Some highlights to the season included a rare 37-24 win over Patrick Henry back in December and it had been a while since the team had defeated PHA in girls’ basketball. In that signature win sophomore guard Bella Carrigg scored 23 points and freshman Harlo Sease had 13 points. McKinley Beard had seven points and double-digit rebounds while senior Rileigh Barnes and Ryleigh Trivette each contributed two points.
In the team’s recent win over HTCC, Kinslie Carson had 14 points while Beard had 13 points and 10 rebounds. Trivette scored 9 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the win.
At the end of the regular season Beard is the top scorer at 11 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. Carrigg is at 8.6 points and two assists a game. Sease comes next at 6.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Carson is averaging 7.4 points and 3.3 rebounds an outing. Barnes, a senior team captain, is averaging three points and 3.5 rebounds a game while Trivette is at four points and 5 rebounds per game.
