Beaufort winter sports showing solid success
Beaufort winter sports showing solid success
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Beaufort - Though not perfect, the 2024-25 winter sports season at Beaufort High has had plenty of success overall.
Beaufort competes in Class AAAA and will be a playoff team in girls basketball and wrestling. As of Feb. 1, the wrestling team was already involved in the state duals tournament. The Eagles were seeded fifth in the Lower State bracket and were ranked as high as No.13 in the statewide rankings of AAAA.
Beaufort opened the duals tournament with a win over Midland Valley but the season ended in round two as the Eagles lost to No. 4 seed Gilbert.
The end of the state duals competition is not the end of the wrestling season. Next up is the state individual tournament where wrestlers seek to win state titles in their weight classes.
A favorite to medal from Beaufort is senior Antonio McKnight, who has qualified for the state individual tournament for a third time. McKnight is ranked as the No. 2 144-pounder in Class AAAA and is projected to contend for the gold.
Sophomore Colton Freeman also is a qualifier at 215-pounds where he ranked No. 7 in AAAA.
The girls basketball team also will be headed to the AAAA state playoffs. With four games remaining, Beaufort is 5-1 in region 7-AAAA and 12-7 overall. Beaufort is assured of a top three finish in the region standings, which would land them in the postseason.
Freshman Jania Heyward has been the team’s leading scorer, averaging 13.6 points per game this season. Junior Zaria Coaxum average 8.5 points per game while eighth-grader Daleah LaBoard adds about five points per game.
Junior Carson Crosby is averaging 7.4 rebounds to go with 4.4 points while senior Davarirah Sumter averages nearly six rebounds and five points per game.
The roster is quite young this season with only one other senior, Johanna Laney. Other juniors include Zaniyah Reynolds-Morgan, Claire McDaniel, and D’Asya Lowery.
Sophomores include Savannah Lanham and Faith Blevins. Freshmen Erin Crosby and Deja Singleton round out the 2024-25 roster.
The boys basketball team likely won’t make the playoffs after posting just one win in their first 16 games, including an 0-6 record in the region.
Senior Samari Bonds leads the Eagles in scoring at 13.6 points per game while adding 6.2 rebounds per game. Senior Amani Cleckley averages 12.1 points and junior Jason Frazier adds 5.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per outing.
