Emerald Boy’s, Girl’s Basketball Team Focused On Steady Improvement

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Greenwood — Coming out of the holiday break, the Emerald boys’ basketball team, head coached by John Scruggs, was 6-7, but focused on steady improvement with region play about to start in early January. 

“We are in a very tough new region with realignment and we have moved up from AAA to AAAA,” said Coach Scruggs. “We are just trying to work hard and get better day-by-day. It would be a major accomplishment if we could keep improving and earn a trip to the play-offs at the end of the regular season.”

To date the Vikings are led by senior post-player Da’marius Hopkins (6-4, 215) who is averaging 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. “Damarius has really grown up and matured a lot over the past year,” said Coach Scruggs. “He is a late bloomer with good ball skills and he has had a couple double-double games already this season.”

Coach Scruggs is also very high on freshman shooting guard Beau Hite. “Beau is very coachable and he is getting better with every game. He scored 26 points against Greenwood recently; He was the starting quarterback on the football team and he plays baseball in the Spring. He is a young man with a bright future in all three esports.”  

Hite came out of the break averaging 5.2 points and 2.6 rebounds a game including 1.9 assists and 1.4 steals a game.

Senior point guard Key Holloway is described as the “alpha male” on the team by Coach Scruggs. “He’s the engine of the team and he makes us go.” Holloway is currently averaging 4.7 points and four rebounds a game with 2.7 assists and 1.7 steals a game.

Other starters, or key players, include junior guard Malachi Dunlap averaging 8.6 points and 2.4 rebounds a game. Dunlap is also getting 2.9 steals and two assists an outing. Sophomore small forward Rykevius Logan is producing 9.7 points and 7.3 rebounds a game.“

Another key player is SG Mekhi Williams is one of the better defenders on the team. Zaden Pettigrew is one of the first players off-the-bench averaging 3.7 points and 2.1 rebounds a game. Combo-guard John Flemmings is a senior captain and among the hardest workers on the team.

Other members of the team include junior forward Zymere Goodman, junior PG Darious Johnson, junior SG Jardin Porter and junior SF Dementrious Allen.

In December some of the team’s had wins came over Swansea, Crescent (twice), Ninety-Six, and Ware Shoals.

Emerald Girl’s Basketball Team Starts Out 4-4 in December     

Barry Kinard’s Emerald girls team went 4-4 in the month of December and the Lady Vikings are led by talented freshman Jurnee Williams averaging 10 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.8 steals and two assists a game so far in the 2024-25 season.

Williams was recently named “Tournament MVP” in a holiday tournament Emerald participated in.

“Jurnee is a very dynamic player,” said Coach Kinard. “She has high energy and she gets after it every game.”

Other starters for Emerald include SG Ryonna Talbert (6.5 pts & 4 rebounds) along with senior SF Arrianna Parks (3 pts & 4.5 rebounds) who is described as very consistent and coachable player. Senior Ketorey Brown (4,4 pts & 5 rebounds) is the team’s starting PG.

Junior Le’Asia Morgan, a starting center, earned “Player of the Game honors in the “She Got Next Tourney” and she comes into January averaging 8.9 points and 13.3 rebounds a game.

Two key players off the bench include forward Savannah Dover and SG Aleecia Smith.

“The strength of our basketball team is their work ethic,” said Coach Kinard. “They come to practice everyday will to work and get better. The expectations for this team are to compete, play good defense, and control the tempo.”