Gray Collegiate Boys Eyeing 4A Crown
Gray Collegiate BBall Coach, Dion Betha eyeing a run for the state title.
By WORTHY EVANS
Contributing Writer
Columbia - The Gray Collegiate boys basketball team and head coach Dion Bethea are both on a mission in the Class 4A playoffs: Capture the 4A championship to go along with Bethea’s six 2A crowns, all with the War Eagles.
Last year the Gray boys went without Bethea, who coached as an assistant at Georgia Southern. Under University of South Carolina standout Carlos Powell, the War Eagles finished second in the region and posted a 19-8 record after North Augusta eliminated them in the third round of the playoffs.
This year, with a bunch of returning standouts, Bethea returned to the Gray bench and the team has been on fire.
“I think we’re ahead of schedule,” Bethea said about the team’s resurgence since his return. “Early on it was just buying into the staff that I was bringing back with me from Georgia Southern, keeping the guys healthy and consistently making shots instead of taking shots.”
The War Eagles (23-2 overall, 14-0 Region 4-4A) claimed its first region championship since joining Class 4A. They earned a first-round seeding in the 4A bracket, whipped No.16 South Florence 82-39 Monday and take on region rival and 9th seed Midland Valley (18-8) in the second round Saturday.
If the War Eagles win Saturday, they will advance to a third-round matchup that may feature another region rival—North Augusta (23-3, 12-2). Gray beat the Yellow Jackets twice to win the region championship, but the team remembers that North Augusta ousted the War Eagles from last year’s playoffs in a third-round overtime victory. Noting those two teams, Bethea gives thanks to his region for getting his team ready for all opponents.
“I feel like we had the best region in 4A,” he said. “North Augusta is really good, and well-coached just like Midland Valley and the Aikens (Aiken and South Aiken). We didn’t get any nights off, man. Good basketball taught us a lot about ourselves.”
One team that Bethea continues to talk about in terms of his team’s development is Ridge View. The War Eagles took on the defending 5A Division 1 champs in the season opener and lost 75-51. While being a double-digit loss, Bethea still considers that game one that made the team focus harder on themselves.
“I tell everybody that Ridge View game helped us more than anything else,” he said. “I just felt like we learned a lot about ourselves on a big stage. Their game plan was perfect and for us it showed us a lot about getting our championship pedigree back.”
The Gray boys have several top players leading the way. Among them are 6-foot, 6-inch senior forward and Kennesaw State signee Levi Ball, who averages 15.8 point and 5.9 rebounds.
“Everybody has their own opinion, but I think Levi is the best player in 4A,” Bethea said. “When you look at the stats and stuff is one thing but his play has gone to a higher level.”
Behind Ball are two juniors, guard Jayden Rowe, 6-4, and guard Luis Echevarria, 6-0. Rowe averages 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds and Echevarria 10.5 points. Senior Jaden Rivers, 6-7 has also come along strong as a defender under the glass who is able to score when needed.
Throughout the season, the War Eagles have been less about individual performances than they have been taking care of business as a team. Bethea said this year’s team goes beyond the individuals’ efforts, which results in victories.
“I’m proud about how my guys responded from Ridge View through the region,” he said. “They went out and took care of business. We’re not just individuals. We’re doing it the right way. Levi Ball and Rivers and all are great players, and we want to make sure we get those guys an opportunity to play for the championship.”
