Dorchester girls basketball team reaches SCISA AA semifinals

St. George – The Dorchester Academy girls basketball team just missed out on playing for the

SCISA AA state title. The Raiders lost to Laurens Academy 44-43 in overtime in the semifinals.

Despite that, DA head coach Callie McClure was more than pleased with the season her team

had.

“We started the season with three losses, but they didn’t let that define them,” McClure said.

“They worked hard, they worked together. They played some of the best defense I’ve ever had a team

play.

“They faced many obstacles in that semifinal game and lost by one point in overtime. They have

a lot of grit about them and they will persevere.”

And when it was all said and done, that translated into an 18-8 overall record that included a 6-0

mark in winning the Region 2 championship.

Dorchester was led by Rylee Weathers, who was selected as the Region 2 Player of the Year. She

averaged a double-double in region games at 16.0 points and 13.0 rebounds per contest. She also

averaged 3.0 steals.

Joining Weathers on the All-Region team were Palmer Kizer, Emery McClure, Lyla Owens

and Alyssa Grooms. Kiser had averages of 9.0 points, 4.0 rebouds and 6.0 steals. McClure, who was

selected to the AA state tournament team, averaged 8.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 4.0 steals.

Grooms averaged 6.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals. Owens averaged 9.0 points,

8.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals.

With all of the All-Region performers returning, Coach McClure is excited about next season.

“We are going to miss our graduating seniors, Lucy Varnadoe and Reagan Burns, but I have no

doubt the returning players will be ready to make another run next season,” she said..

SHULER, QUATTLEBAUM BOYS BASKETBALL ALL-REGION PICKS

Juniors Abe Shuler and John Quattlebaum were both selected to the All-Region boys

basketball team.

Shuler led the Raiders I scoring with an 18.0 average. Quattlebaum, who was injured at the start

of the season, finished with a 12.0 scoring average while handing out seven assists a game.

Dorchester finished the season with a 10-13 overall record. It made the AA state tournament,

losing to Carolina Academy 62-53 in the first round.

“We came up short blowing a second-half lead once again,” said DA head coach Nick Mcalhany.

“We had the lead at halftime. We didn’t finish games well enough all year, and that’s exactly what got us

in the last game.”