Coach Hammonds Praises Efforts Of His Young Barnwell Girl’s basketball Team

Billy Baker • February 14, 2025

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Coach Hammonds Praises Efforts Of His Young Barnwell Girl’s basketball Team

By Billy G. Baker

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Barnwell—William Hammonds has just concluded his 9^th season as the varsity girls’ basketball coach at Barnwell High, and with a roster full of freshman and sophomores, he is already looking towards the future.

“It was a disappointing season but this young group of players never quit and they kept improving all the time,” said Coach Hammonds. “We had 10 freshman and sophomores on our roster this season and this is the youngest team that I have had at Barnwell.”

The managed three wins on the season, beating Edisto twice and Blackville-Hilda once.

“We got a late start to the season with our football team competing for a state title,” said Coach Hammonds. ” We kept improving and the other night we lost a heart-breaker to Whale Branch 38-36 when we had every opportunity to win the game.

“We have two final season games left against Whale Branch and Bridges Prep and it would be a great confidence builder if we could both these games,” said Coach Hammonds. “We start one senior, two juniors and three sophomores.

“We have a good upside for next season with so many young players in our program,” said Coach Hammonds.

The starting line-up this season consisted of junior point guard Gabrielle Thomas who averaged around 8 points a game. Junio small forward Madeline Brown was the top rebounder on the team and she averaged three points with 8 rebounds per game.

Sophomore 5-11 power forward Sa’Mya Ford was another top rebounder who averaged six points and six rebounds a game. The team’s best on-ball defender was four- year varsity member Eriana Abney who scored three points a game and she led the team in steals.

Sophomore guard Savannah Rountree was among the team’s best outside shooters and she averaged around 8 points a game. Senior power forward Sa’Bryanna Smalls was the team’s best inside player and she was effective controlling the paint.

Small forward Jakayla Hill was the only other senior on the team. Other juniors returning next season include small forward Ashley Barrett, along with Samarious Mayes, Additional sophomores include guard Kalieh Caldwell who was an early sub this past season with good defensive skills, forward Gracie Carter, Alyanna Palmer, an 5-10 center Sharon Smalls was among the first off, the bench. Juliyah Brown is a forward sophomore with potential to develop also.

Taliayh Jones, Bre’Yanna Bostick, and Khamor Washington are current freshmen who should provide depth next season also.

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