By David Shelton Senior Writer Pamplico - The Hannah-Pamplico boys golf team had a strong season but saved their best for the last event of the 2025 season. The Raiders came up a stroke short in the bid to win the region championship but turned in a strong performance at the Class A state tournament in Chester, South Carolina. Hannah-Pamplico shot 346 in the 18-hole event, good enough for second-place in the team standings. Dixie High won the state championship. “It was a good showing for our boys,” coach Jay Watson said. “This was a competitive group. We basically had six players for most of the season until right at the end we added one, Two of our top five players never played golf until last summer. They got hooked and then started putting in the work to get better.” Two members of the team finished among the top 10 individually, good enough to earn all-state honors. Senior Gage Foxworth shot 83 for his round, good for ninth-place. Eighth-grader Austin Taylor shot 86 to finish 10 th overall. “Happy for those two. Getting all-state is a big deal,” Watson said. Junior Tyler Bowen finished 13 th overall and freshman Zachary Turner finished 18 th . Mason Hanna, a first-year player who also played football and basketball, was 32 nd overall. Turner also played junior varsity baseball this spring and joined the golf team after that season was completed. Johnsonville, the team that edged Hannah-Pamplico for the region championship, ended up in fifth-place in the state tournament. “We share the same home course so the boys are friends and play a lot together,” Watson said. “It’s good competition between the two teams. We were disappointed to lose in the region but finishing second at state makes up for that.”  Watson has a long affiliation with Hannah-Pamplico athletics. His father, Tim, was a coach at the school for more than 40 years. Watson is the school’s resource officer.

By David Shelton Senior Writer Pamplico – With several quality teams in the Lower State, it is difficult to pick a favorite to win the Class A Lower State softball title. However, one of the teams that should be in the hunt this May is the Raiders of Hannah-Pamplico . The Raiders have been one of the top contenders for the last several years, winning the Class A state championship in 2023. The last three seasons have produced at least 20 wins. While the early record of 5-7 overall and 3-2 in region play is not optimal, it is clear that if this team gets hot at the right time, another deep run is a possibility. Coach Amber Knight has a handful of veteran players who have been a part of the recent success but the Raiders have yet to get clicking on all cylinders. Nonetheless, several players are putting up solid numbers through April 7. One is junior catcher Meredith Stone , who was hitting .692 with three homeruns and 19 RBI through the first 12 games. Senior outfielder Payten Poston was hitting .481 with 13 runs scored while junior outfielder Savannah Owens was hitting .370 with 10 RBI. Junior infielder Chloe Cooper was hitting .343 with 12 runs batted in. Inside the circle, pitcher Kadence Poston , a junior, has been quite effective. Through 52 innings, Poston fanned 82 hitters while posting a 1.06 earned run average. Opponents are hitting just .150 against the Class A all-state candidate. The only other senior on the roster this spring is Jadan Lee , a catcher and third baseman who has been a productive hitter in past seasons but has been limited to just five games early. Two juniors are outfielder/second baseman Khloe Jones and first baseman Madison Newton. Sophomores include outfielder Logan Owens and outfielder/infielder Allie Nettles. Rounding out this year’s roster are freshman infielder London Lee and seventh-graders Khloe Avant , Kaylie Avant and Ava Johnson . The baseball team also looks to make the Class A playoffs. As of April 7, the Raiders were 4-7 overall and 2-3 in region play. The top two pitchers this spring are Payton Farmer and Mason Smith . Sophomore Jonah Poston is on the shelf early but should be a good hurler when healthy, Boone Johnson and Jackson Fitch also are expected to see time on the mound in various roles and situations. Johnson is one of three returning starters on the infield at first base. Sophomore Kolby Hyman is back at second base while junior Davis Kimbrough is a steady glove at shortstop. At third base is Ty Daves , who missed last season but was a starter two seasons ago. New behind the plate this spring is sophomore Dewey Kimbrough , who looks to be a solid receiver. Due to a football injury to centerfielder Jamarcus Williams , the Raiders have only one returning starter with senior Wade Poston back in left. Fitch will replace Williams and Daniel Chandler , the designated hitter last season, is working in right.

Johnsonville avenged their Jan 13 loss to Hanah Pamplico with a 47-39 win on Feb 12th. Images courtesy of Tamara Rhodes

Raiders reach third round of Class A state playoffs

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.

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Sumter – The regular season in high school football is always special, but there is nothing that compares to the postseason. Looking at the brackets, seeing what has to happen for this particular matchup to happen, the anticipation of said matchups and the excitement that builds up as teams try to make a run toward a state championship. With the reclassification put forward by the South Carolina High School League for this year, all of the classifications will have a different vibe. Class A no longer will have Christ Church , Southside Christan School and St. Joseph’s because of the multiplier rule, but it does have a new dominant force in Abbeville . The Panthers, long a force in AA, is now in Class A and has to be seen as the prohibitive favorite. Still though, you’ve got to play the games and see what happens. We can’t do that, but we can fill out the bracket to see who we have facing off for the championship in Orangeburg the second week of December. WHO’S IN: Upper State Region 1 : 1. Abbeville 2. Ware Shoals 3. Whitmire 4. Dixie 5. McCormick 6. Calhoun Falls Region 2 : 1. Lewisville 2. Lamar 3. Lee Central 4. McBee 5. C.A. Johnson Region 3 : 1. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 2. Blackville-Hilda 3. Calhoun County 4. Ridge Spring-Monetta 5. Williston-Elko Lower State Region 4 : 1. Bamberg-Ehrhart 2. Ridgeland 3. Denmark-Olar 4. Hardeeville Region 5 : 1. Cross 2. Branchville 3. Baptist Hill 4. Scott’s Branch 5. Military Magnet 6. Bethune-Bowman Region 6 : 1. Lake View 2. Hannah-Pamplico 3. Latta 4. Carvers Bay 5. Johnsonville 6. Green Sea Floyds FIRST ROUND Upper State C.A. Johnson (2-8) at Abbeville (8-1) Dixie (7-2) at Blackville-Hilda (8-2) McCormick (3-7) at Lamar (7-3) Calhoun County (3-7) at Lee Central (5-4) McBee (4-5) at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (9-1) Williston-Elko (2-7) at Ware Shoals (4-5) Calhoun Falls (1-8) at Lewisville (9-1) Ridge Spring-Monetta (5-5) at Whitmire (3=7) Lower State Green Sea Floyds (1-9) at Cross (8-2) Scott’s Branch (4-6) at Ridgeland (6-4) Military Magnet (2-6) at Hannah-Pamplico (7-2) Carvers Bay (4-6) at Denmark-Olar (3-6) Hardeeville (3-7) at Lake View (8-1) Johnsonville (4=6) at Branchville (8-2) Bethune-Bowman (1-9) at Bamberg-Ehrhardt (6-2) Latta (5-5) at Baptist Hill (6-3) The first round of any high school sports playoff is usually filled with blowouts, and that could easily be the case with these 16 games. However, there are intriguing matchups in this group. While Blackville-Hilda has to be the favorite with an 8-2 record, it will take on a 7-2 Dixie squad. Ridgeland finished second in a weak Region 6, while Scott’s Branch came on strong down the stretch to go 4-6. Carvers Bay is 4-6 and will play at 3-6 Denmark-Olar . Latta at Baptist Hill will be an intriguing matchup because the Vikings pound the ball while Baptist Hill pushes the ball through the air. Johnsonville may be just 4-6 and going against an 8-2 Branchville squad, but Johnsonville is the 2-time defending lower state champion. Don’t look for them to go down easy. First-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Blackville-Hilda, Lamar, Lee Central, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Ware Shoals, Lewisville, Ridge-Spring Monetta. Lower State: Cross, Scott’s Branch, Hannah-Pamplico, Carvers Bay, Lake View, Branchville, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Latta. SECOND ROUND Upper State Blackville-Hilda at Abbeville Lee Central at Lamar Ware Shoals at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Ridge Spring-Monetta at Lewisvlle Lower State Scott’s Branch at Cross Carvers Bay at Hannah-Pamplico Branchville at Lake View Latta at Bamberg-Ehrhardt This is the round where the fun starts to kick in with matchups of teams with gaudy records and outstanding reputations. Also, with the Class A regions so widespread, you can easily get pairings of teams that aren’t geographically close, thus leading to first-time matchups. The two most noteworthy showdowns in this round would be 2-loss Blackville-Hilda playing at 1-loss Abbeville. The Panthers will be favored and are led by Damarcus Leach . He will be going up against a future teammate at South Carolina in B-H’s Jaquel Holman . The best lower state matchup will have 2-loss Branchville at 1-loss Lake View . Second-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Lamar, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Lewisville: Lower State: Cross, Hannah-Pamplico, Lake View, Bamberg-Ehrhardt THIRD ROUND Upper State Lamar at Abbeville Lewisville at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler Lower State Hannah-Pamplico at Cross Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Lake View You’ve got the three champions of the upper state regions and the three region champions from the lower state still alive. The other team in the upper state is No. 2 seed Lamar , while No. 2 seed Hannah-Pamplico is the fourth lower state team. In years past, a matchup between Lamar and Abbeville would be a premier showdown. While Lamar is still a top program, Abbeville is simply a cut above. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler has had a great season, but Lewisville has been on a mission after going out in the second round last season. These lower state matchups would be fun to watch as the pairings have two teams that go about their business in different ways. Third-round winners: Upper State: Abbeville, Lewisville Lower State: Cross, Bamberg-Ehrhardt SEMIFINALS Upper State Lewisville at Abbeville Lower State Bamberg-Ehrhardt at Cross This would be the “collision course” game of the upper state bracket. Lewisville and Abbeville have been dominant all season. The lower state game will be a pairing of two teams that like to pound the football. However, Bamberg-Ehrhardt has senior quarterback Chanston Crosby to give it a better passing option. Semifinal winners: Abbeville, Bamberg-Ehrhardt STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Abbeville vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt The Red Raiders will present a physical challenge, but Abbeville has tremendous throughout its roster, especially on the defensive side of the ball. However, I go back to what I said at the beginning of the story. Abbeville has to be considered the favorite to win until someone beats it. Your state champion: Abbeville

By David Shelton Senior Writer Pamplico – Building quality depth is difficult, even more so on the Class A level where numbers are significantly thinner than those at the bigger schools. Hannah-Pamplico head football coach Trey Woodberry has worked hard to establish some consistent, dependable second and third-team personnel but has not been very successful. Nonetheless, the Raiders’ starting 22 has been pretty good, winning four of their first six games. But a key injury at a key position has Woodberry hoping for improved health before the end of the season. “I would put our starting 22 up against any team in Class A,” the coach said. “When the right guys are on the field, we are as competitive as any team. But, some of those go both ways and it’s tough at times. We’ve tried to get some other guys some experience but we’re not there yet. The other option is stay healthy.” In the Raiders’ loss to Lake View on Oct. 4, their first region loss of the schedule, Hannah-Pamplico lost veteran starting quarterback Wade Poston early in the second half. The game was tied 7-7 at the half but the offense stagnated and the result was a 31-7 loss. “We need Wade on the field for us to be effective but we’re going to have to work without him for a few weeks,” Woodberry said. “We couldn’t do anything offensively with Wade out. They put nine in the box to stop the run and we just didn’t have an answer.” Poston, through five and a half games, has passed for 750 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for nearly 400 yards and six scores. The heavy lifting in the run game falls on all-state candidate Jamarcus Williams , who has rushed for 887 yards and six touchdowns. He also is an effective receiver. Another key performer is two-way starter Tylin Jenkins , who plays receiver and cornerback. He leads the team in receptions (15) and yards (298) and has been a lockdown corner, according to Woodberry. Starters along the offensive line include returning starters Mason Hanna , Will Faulkenberry , Brandon Cox and Dewey Kimbrough . Faulkenberry is a fourth-year varsity player and Hanna is a third-year starter. Avery Lyerly and Khi Brown also get reps. Cox, a linebacker as well, has been a leader defensively. The Raiders have region games remaining with Green Sea Floyds (Oct. 11), Latta (Oct. 25) and Hemingway (Nov. 1). They have a bye on Oct. 18. The hope is that Poston can return by the Latta game, which could decide second-place in the region standings.

Lewisville WR Jacorreun Howze on the run after a catch.

Willie Kennedy from South Florence, MLB with 29 tackles this season.