Central Boys Make Another Deep Playoff Run
It was another outstanding season for the Central High School basketball teams.
By Dennis Brunson
hssr.com Associate Editor
Pageland – It was another outstanding season for the Central High School boys basketball team. Plain and simple.
The Eagles posted a 21-8 overall record, tied for the Region 4-AA regular-season title and reached the quarterfinals of the state playoffs for a second straight season.
“Overall, I am proud of what we accomplished this season,” said CHS head coach Desmond Sowell. “Finishing the regular season at co-region champions. Although we fell short of the state championship game, we secured back-to-back Elite 8 appearances, which is historic for this program.
“I am especially proud of our achievements considering we had several new additions and no preseason together.”
The reason for a lack of preseason preparation was because most of the Eagles played football as well, and Central played on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the Lower State championship game.
The basketball team came close to playing for the Lower State title as well, falling to Philip Simmons 62-60 in the quarterfinals. Central went 11-1 in region play, splitting its two games with co-region champion Andrew Jackson. The Volunteers got the region’s No. 1 seed in the state playoffs by winning a special game.
Senior Tahzirr Webber was the leader of the team as he was selected to the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association AA All-State team. Webber led Central in scoring with a 17.7 points-per-game average as well as in steals at 3.1. He also grabbed 5.3 rebounds and had 3.9 assists.
Webber was joined on the All-Region-4 team by senior Scoot Colyer, senior Jakari Holloman and junior Jordan Crowder. Colyer was the second leading scorer at 12.5 on a team that had five players averaging in double figures. He led in assists at 4.0 and had 2.4 steals and 2.8 rebounds.
Holloman, who was also named the Region Newcomer of the Year, averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals. Crowder led the team in rebounding at 5.7 while averaging 11.7 points.
Honorable mention selections were senior Demetrius Myers, senior Aiden Short and junior Dwayne Louallen. Myers was the other double-figure scorer at 11.2. Louallen averaged 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds, and Short averaged 3.1 points.
Jordan Caldwell was the other senior along with Myers, Webber, Colyer, Holloman and Short.
“I am thankful for this year’s senior class and excited about the future of the program,” Sowell said.
CENTRAL GIRLS REACH STATE PLAYOFFS AGAIN
Baby steps is an apt term to describe the season for the Central girls in their first season under head coach JT McManus. The Eagles went from 4-20 a year ago to 5-18 and won five region contest after winning just four the year before. It was good for a fifth-place finish for a second straight year and a berth in the AA state playoffs where they lost to Saluda in the first round.
“I feel like the season was a success,” McManus said. “We accomplished our goal of making the playoffs, and we improved tremendously from Day 1.”
Senior Jariyah Sowell was the Eagles’ lone All-Region selection. She averaged 10.1 points. Senior Tashia Quick was the second leading scorer at 6.6. Eighth-grader Brooklyn Seegars averaged 3.9, and senior Rielyn Chambers averaged 3.6.
With Sowell, Chambers and Quick the only seniors, McManus is looking forward with anticipation.
“I’m excited where my program is right now,” he said. “The energy and effort I get from the younger girls Is only going to get better once we put some skill with the effort.”
