Cross Trojans
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Cross Coach Shaun Wright optimistic about this upcoming season.
Head coach Shaun Wright, Cross High f ootball, built one of the top Class A programs in the state.
By David Shelton Senior Writer Cross – With the Class A state track and field meet just a month away, the athletes at Cross High are working hard to be at their peak when the most important meet of the year arrives. Cross has put in a lot of work this spring, competing in several large meets against bigger schools. The hope is that the competition is helping the Trojans improve and see what it takes to be a champion. Cross competed in the Berkeley County track meet, meets at Cane Bay and Timberland, and will have a meet at Woodland on April 23. A lot can happen over the final month of the regular season but it would appear that several athletes will qualify for the state meet. A true state championship contender is Caden Ramsey , a junior three-sport star at the school. Ramsey has earned all-state honors in football and basketball and would like add a gold medal in track. Ramsey’s best event is the 400 meter run where he finished third overall in a highly-competitive Berkeley County track meet. Jonathan Bradley also runs the 400 while William Grant is the top sprinter in the 100 and 200. Corinthian Wilson and Ashton Geathers also work in the sprints. Micah Dukes has been running the 800 and competing in the long jump. Bernard Middleton and Jerry Sweatman are working in the hurdles while Que Taylor and Jeremiah Grant are running the 1600. Jailyn Broughton and Marquis Pringle are tops in the discus while David Wigfall and Dakari President have been best in the shot put. Lavell Joyner has competed well on the long jump and Preston Fuller was fourth in the county meet in the pole vault. Throwing the javelin are Andrew Black and Martrell Forbes . On the girls team, working in the sprints are T aLancia Fuller, Michayla Bennett and Talea Small . Running in the 400 is Aaliyah Davis . In the throws, Caylee Bradley and Abigail Ingram are working the discus and shot put while Tamia McCray is throwing the shot put as well. Competing in the javelin are Milan Davis and Laura Campbell . Davis also has been throwing the discus.
By David Shelton Senior Writer Cross – A one-point loss to Carver’s Bay in the second-round of the Class A Lower State playoffs was a crushing end to the 2024-25 basketball season for the Cross High Trojans. Cross entered the playoffs looking for another great run. The Trojans reached the Lower State finals in 2023-24. While coming up a little short, Cross continued the growth that coach Chaquain Boone had hoped for. Cross finished the season with a 14-3 record despite most of the roster getting a late start to the success of the football team. The Trojans have racked up 50 wins over the last three seasons. And more winning is coming with a good group of underclassmen on the way. “We only have three seniors so we will have most of the team returning next year,” Boone said. “Our players work and play extremely hard. That work ethic and style of play is a great sign for our future. “Apart from two players, the entire team played in the Class A football state championship, so we had a late start to the basketball season. However, none of the players have ever complained about the basketball workload even after a long and hard football season. They have maintained a great attitude and have worked extremely hard. That bodes well for the future.” The top performer this season was 6-4 junior Caden Ramsey , who averaged 15.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. He earned Class A all-state honors for the second straight season. Ramsey will be one of the top senior prospects in Class A in football and basketball. The three seniors contributed well to the team’s success. Micah Flute averaged 8.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. Lavell Joyner added 9.4 points and 3.4 assists, while Preston Fuller added 9.6 points per game. Among the underclassmen, top contributors included freshman Bernard Middleton (5.0 ppg), sophomore Tyler Harris (4.1 ppg), junior Kenji Polite (4.0 ppg) and freshman Isaiah Wright (3.5 ppg).
Cross boys aiming to peak in playoffs By David Shelton Senior Writer Cross – the 2023-24 basketball season for the Cross High boys team was certainly one to remember. The Trojans are hoping for bigger memories this season. Cross played in the Class A Lower State championship game last season, using a hot playoff run to make a strong dash at the end. All indications point to Cross having the talent and experience to again challenge for the Class A state title. It has taken some time to bring the chemistry together but coach Chaquain Boone likes where his team is. “Apart from two players, the entire team played in the Class A football state championship, so we had a late start to the basketball season,” Boone reports. “However, none of the players have ever complained about the basketball workload even after a long and hard football season. They have maintained a great attitude and have worked extremely hard. “I feel good about how the season is going so far. We have high goals, so we'll ultimately be judged by how we perform in the postseason.” With the regular season winding down, Cross had won nine of their first 11 games overall and were 4-1 in region 7-A play. A second-place finish in the region would secure a home game in the first round of the playoffs but the goal remains a region title. As was the case last season, the team leader this winter is 6-4 junior forward Caden Ramsey . As one of the team captains, Ramsey is putting up solid numbers across the stat sheet. He averages 14.8 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 1.3 blocked shots per game. Another captain is senior Lavell Joyner , who adds 10.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.4 steals per game. The third captain is senior Preston Fuller , who contributes 7.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per contest. Senior Micah Flute plays a key role inside. Flute is scoring 9.3 points and pulling down 10.1 rebounds per game. Freshman Isaiah Wright is averaging 6.5 points, 3.3 steaks and 2.8 assists per game. Boone is hoping the success of the last two seasons has set the foundation for extended winning down the road. The roster has plenty of underclassmen. “We only have three seniors so we will have most of the team returning next year,” Boone said. “Our players work and play extremely hard. That work ethic and style of play is a great sign for our future.”
By Billy G. Baker Publisher Cross –Coming out of the holiday break the Cross High boys’ basketball team is 4-1 and the Trojans have strong potential to be competing for a Class A championship at the end of the season. “ We had a late start to the season, because our football team played for the 1-A State football championship,” said head coach Chaquain Boone . “Our entire team played football with the exception of two players. Our guys have done a good job transitioning from football to basketball, and have worked very hard over the break to round into basketball form.” The starting five is comprised of freshman Isaiah Wright , senior Lavell Joyner , senior Preston Fuller , junior football prospect Caden Ramsey , and senior Micah Flute . Ramsey (6-6) is currently averaging 14.8 points and 9 rebounds a game playing on the inside. Joyner is averaging 10,2 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. Flute is averaging 8 points and 9.5 rebounds a game. Fuller is averaging 8.6 points a game and 4.2 rebounds. Wright is playing excellent defense at 2.6 steals a game. The first three players off the bench include freshman BJ Middleton , junior Kerji Polite and sophomore Tyler Harris . Other members of the team include, junior PG Andrew Mack , junior Patrick Montgomery , sophomore Corinthian Wilson , and junior Micah Dukes . So far, Cross has wins over Stall (57-40) in the first game of the season. They followed up that win with victories over Lake Marion (70-61), Beaufort (59-30) and Timberland (64-31). “We have the potential to be playing late into February, or early March and we expect to be battling for a Class A crown,” said Coach Boone. “Our strength is our size and defensive intensity. Players take pride in their defense and they play extremely hard.” Coming out of the holiday break, Cross will play away at Palmetto Scholars on January, 10, host Timberland on the 11 th , travel to Bethune- Bowman on the 14 th and host Baptist Hill on January, 17.
Abbeville's Junior Darius Riley in the State Title game.
Panthers claim program's 13th overall title, ninth in last 15 years
A championship season deserves championship recognition when your school makes it to the biggest game of the season. This past Friday, the Upper State Champions and Lower State Champions were decided. Now, these teams go to SC State University’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium for “the cherry-on-top” of an already successful season and compete for the title of State Champion . Every school playing this week is a Champion. Now is the time for schools and parents to celebrate making it to the State Championship Game. After all, your team made it further than any other team in your region and classification. Every team and every player earned their spot in State Championship game. The Championship Game Programs capture those life-long memories made during this season, culminating in getting to the state title game. Let’s celebrate the achievement of your student athletes. The SCHSL has the HSSR produce the official, full color, championship game program. This is a valuable keepsake for parents and students to mark the conclusion of a great football season. For each game, the HSSR produces two unique programs that are tailored to the Upper State Champion and Lower State Champion with ad from their supporters and the opposing team’s roster included to know who is on the field. In previous years and in addition to the parents, businesses, and alumni supporting the school, other sports have used half or full-page ads to show their support and highlight their own accomplishments along with a team photo. We have ads from baseball, softball, basketball, and cheer to mention a few that congratulate the football and show their support. The official game program ads earn double credit so your ad supporting your school, your team, and your student athlete also supports continuing sports coverage for your school and all other student athletes for another school year. The High School Sports Report monthly edition goes to over 250 colleges and universities athletic departments.
By Neill Kirkpatrick Special to the HSSR Cross – Momentum in any football game can change in the blink of an eye, Friday night at A.E. Ravenell Stadium on the campus of Cross High School it took 1:59 for the homestanding Trojans to completely change their third-round match up with Hannah-Pamplico as they forced two turnovers that led to two scores on their way to a 12-7 win over the Raiders. The Trojans (11-2) will host the Lake View Wild Gators (11-1) a 42-32 winner over Bamberg Ehrhardt . The HSSR’s number three (Lake View) and number four (Cross) teams have met several times in the Class A playoffs with the Trojans defeating the Wild Gators 21-8 in their last meeting in 2022. “I told the kids all week to play for four quarters. Do not worry about the score, do not worry about the clock just keep playing play after play and we did that. Our defense is as good as it comes in one A and hats off to our guys to keep fighting and we came out on top,” said Trojan head coach Shaun Wright . About Lake View coach Wright said, “We figured that we would play Lake View and that is what we wanted. We wanted to be one of the last four teams playing in Class A and now we have a big challenge ahead.” The Raiders finished the year at 9-3 with their only losses coming against Lee Central a play-off team and the Class A lower state finalist Cross/Lake View. Raider head coach Trey Woodberry told his team after the game, “Very proud of the effort that his team played with all night long. Tough lose but it did not take away from the season.” Cross and Hannah Pamplico came into Friday’s contest with offenses averaging over 30 points per game but it was the defenses that took center stage as only 19 points were scored in the contest. On their first possession the Trojan’s with Karmello Jones running behind Marquis Pringle, Michael Bennett, Jailyn Broughton, David Wigfall, Dakari President, and Andrew Hocket moved the ball down the field reaching the Raiders 35-yardline. After picking up a first down on a fourth and five on a completion from Tyler Harris to Caden Ramsey to the Raider 20-yard line. Jones was injured a play earlier and with him out the Raider defense stiffened as William Faulkenberry , Kain Calcutt and Jaquann Bryant put pressure on Harris forcing back-to-back incompletions and they turned the Trojans over on downs. The drive took 8:14 off the clock with no score. Taking over at the 18 the Raiders also moved the ball down the field with quarterback Wade Poston connecting on two of three throws with a 23-yarder to Tylin Jenkins that gave them a first down at the Trojan 27. However, on fourth down the Blue Steel defense rose to the occasions as Wigfall burst through the line and sacked Poston for a ten-yard loss and a turnover on downs for the Trojans. Defense dominated the rest of the first half as the Raiders would turn the Trojans over on downs and then the Trojan defense forced a punt. The Trojans got the ball back with 1:01 to go in the first half. Jones ripped off a 25-yard run to give the Trojans a first down at the Hannah Pamplico 48-yard line. After Harris spiked the ball to stop the clock. Harris attempted to hit Ramsey deep down the right side but the Raiders Demarion Amonte Sparks went high and made the pick to stop the drive and send the teams to the half tied at 0. The Raiders received the second half kickoff and after Aveion Wells returned the ball 24-yards to the Cross 43. On first down, Poston his Sparks for an eight-yard gain and he ripped off a 14-yard run. A facemask penalty moved the ball to the Cross 19. Poston then hit Jenkins with a 10-yard pass to a first and goal at the Cross nine yard. Then momentum turned on Hannah Pamplico as Jones broke through the line, hit Chris Eldridge, and ripped the ball out. He then picked it up and took off on an 84-yard touchdown fumble return. The two-point conversion was no good but the Trojans led 6-0. The Raiders were unfazed as Poston hit Sparks on first down for a 23-yard gain to the 46. After an incompletion disaster struck again for the Raiders when Poston’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and into the waiting arms of Ramsey for a turnover. Starting at the Hannah Pamplico 49, the Trojans handed the ball off to Jones who gained 22 yards to the Raider 27 and chop block called on the Raiders moved the ball to the 12. Harris then hit Ramsey down to the two and Jones finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. The two-point was no good but the lead was 12-0. “What can you say about Karmello, he stripped the ball and then picked the ball up and went the distance. He is a great football player on both sides of the ball. We are just waiting for him to get some offers,” said coach Wright. The Trojan defense forced a quick three and out and appeared poised to break the game open. Starting at the Raiders 45, Harris moved the Trojans down the field by completing three passes, two to Lavell Joyner setting up a first down at the Raiders 16. The Raider defense then stepped up as the Trojans bobbled the hand off and the ball hit the ground where the Raiders Xavier Self fell on the ball at the Cross 14. Poston then led the Raiders on an 86-yard march in 10-plays to get the Raiders on the board when he connected with Jenkins on a three-yard scoring pass on the first play of the fourth quartet. The point after by Lazaro Santiago cut the Trojan’s lead to five at 12-7. The Trojans appeared to have put the game away on their next play as Jones started right, then cut back left and went untouched for a 69-yard touchdown run. However, behind the play a flag was thrown for holding wiping out the touchdown jaunt. The Trojans would run over four- minutes off the clock before they punted for the first time all game. The Raider started off the next drive off just like the previous drive as Poston hit Jenkins and Keimonti Wilson moving the ball into Trojan territory to the 35. The Trojan defense would not allow the Raiders to go any further and they forced a turnover on downs. “Our defense has been outstanding all year. Our coaches do a great job of getting the guys prepared and ready each week,” said coach Wright. “This was the best quarterback we faced all year and he made some plays but at the end we were able to make enough to win.” The Trojan got the ball back with 4:38 left. They gave the ball to Jones on 7 of 8 plays and carried it for 37 yards but more importantly they ate up over four minutes on the clock before the punted the ball away to the Raiders with less than 20 seconds to go.