Fort Dorchester teams are still fighting
Junior Maricious Dawson has led Fort Dorchester in scoring this season.
Fort Dorchester teams are still fighting
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
North Charleston – High hopes for the Fort Dorchester basketball teams were diminished some as the season unfolded, but the Patriots continue to battle.
The Fort Dorchester Boys enter this week sitting at 8-14 with a 1-7 mark in their region, which puts them in fifth place for the region. The Patriots are scheduled to wrap up their schedule by hosting Stall Feb. 11 and traveling to Summerville Feb. 13.
“The season is not going as planned,” Fort Dorchester coach Thomas McElveen said. “We lost some of our players who had the most varsity experience and it shows, but I've seen tremendous improvement over the season. We are hoping to finish up strong before heading into the playoffs.”
Junior guard Maricious Dawson is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 11.8 points per game. Sophomore Maurice Cannon averages 7.4 points and junior Jaden Polite averages 7.4. Cannon leads in assists, averaging 2.4. Dawson averages 2.2 and junior DeOndre Haynes averages 1.
Cannon leads in rebounds, averaging 4.3 while Dawson averages 3.3 and senior Kersaun Cooke averages 3. Dawson, Cannon and Haynes led in steals and junior Peter Burton, sophomore Robert Grant and Cannon lead in blocks.
Other members of the team are Jordan Wright, Frank Ham, Lamareon Thompson, Micah McDuff, Jaylen Porter, Christian Watson, Myles Brunson, Samy Ibrahim and Juan Concepcion.
FD Girls
The Fort Dorchester Girls recently picked up their second region win, defeating James Island 45-40 on the road.
Fort Dorchester improved to 10-15 on the season with a 2-6 mark in its region, leaving it in fifth place. The Lady Patriots are scheduled to wrap up their schedule by hosting Stall at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 and traveling to Summerville Thursday, Feb. 13.
Eighth-grader Kylee Clarke is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 7.6 points per game. Senior Kai Mack averages 7.2 points and junior Layla Guillory averages 6.7 and leads the team in assists with a 2.2 average. Clarke averages 1.7 assists and senior Antonia Strothers averages 1.2.
Mack leads in rebounds, averaging 8 per game. Senior Cailyn Webber averages 7.2 boards per game and Clarke averages 5.7. Clarke leads in steals averaging 2.8 per game. Guillory averages 2.1 steals and eighth-grader Skylar Gates averages 1.8.
Other members of the team are Saniyah Joyner, Ciara Byrd, Kalaysia Davis, Malaysia McKinley, Anaidelyz Custodio, Shamauriah Bethea, McKinley Thopkins and Tatiana Williams.
Signing day
On Feb. 5 half a dozen Fort Dorchester athletes formalized their plans to play at the next level.
Two football players, two baseball players, a soccer player and a track athlete signed a national letter of intent during a signing and commitment ceremony in the school’s auditorium.
Offensive lineman Marquis Wilson signed with Lenoir Rhyne University while Patriots’ defensive end Tyler McClendon signed with Brevard College.
“They offered me at the end of my junior season and always stayed in touch,” Wilson said. “They keep it real up there and I feel it’s a place where I will develop both as a man and a football player.”
Pitcher RJ Hamilton with the University of South Carolina Sumter.
“Now I don’t have to worry about where I’m going to end up,” Hamilton said. “It takes the pressure off because I found my place. I like the coaches there as well as the facilities which are all up to date and nice.”
Carson Ridgway signed to pitch for University of South Carolina Union.
“I got to know their coaches through my Summer Ball team and really have a good and personal connection with each and every one of them,” Ridgway said. “That helped with the decision.”
Elaina Frommer signed with the Columbia College Soccer program. Demarie Washington signed with The Citadel Track and Field program.
