Hawks Wrestlers Aiming High As Season Heats Up

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston - The old adage of “learning to crawl before you can walk” certainly applies in many respects to building a successful athletic program. It certainly describes what the basketball program at Ashley Hall is working towards as they seek to become a competitive program in the SCISA ranks. Wins have been hard to come by as Ashley Hall competes in a region that is considered among the most competitive in SCISA with First Baptist and Northwood Academy annually competing for state championships in the largest classification. Bryan Bednar is in his first season as the varsity head coach and has worked to begin the rebuilding process with a large number of underclassmen. The Panthers finished last season with one win and the current team had not won a game as of Jan. 15, but has been competitive in several contests. “The region is competitive and experienced at the top. The leading contenders are veteran teams with strong upperclassmen, physical play, and established systems,” reports Bednar. “They tend to execute well, defend consistently, and close games late, which separates them from younger programs. “Overall, it’s a region where experience, depth, and discipline matter, and most contenders have been together for multiple seasons.” Bednar has focused on development and gaining experience this season. He has seen improvement in those areas, as well as other aspects of competitive athletic teams. “This team’s potential is in its growth and development,” he says. “With three juniors and two freshmen starting, we are a young group gaining valuable varsity experience. While the record isn’t where we want it, our focus is on improving fundamentals, competing harder, and building confidence and accountability. “My expectation is that we get better each day, play with more consistency and effort, and lay the foundation for long-term success. This season is about learning, resilience, and setting the culture for the future. Forming the starting lineup for most games are three juniors and two freshmen. The junior starters are guards Molly Mettler and Sally Rowson , and forward Catherine Perkins . Freshmen starters include point guard Camille Marier and forward Amelia Lennon. Bednar says Marier, Mettler and Perkins are performing as the top leaders within the program. He counts on their leadership and experience as player to set the tone and bring the motivation to work and compete. Seeing time off the bench this winter junior guards Mary Collins and Minka Tang ; sophomore guard Erica Gree n, and freshman guard Adya Sharma .

 By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor Kingstree – The Williamsburg Academy boys basketball team got off to a pretty good start, winning six of its first 10 games. And when you hear how much time the Stallions got to spend together before starting their season, the record looks even more impressive. “The state championship game was on Saturday,” Williamsburg head coach Kevin Burrows said in reference to the school’s football team beating Colleton Prep Academy 36-14 for the SCISA Class A state title on November 22. “Monday was our first game (a 55-46 loss to Wilson Hall ), so we got to practice for a couple of hours on Sunday. “We were banged up, but we played. We just got off to a late start. We’re getting to where need to be condition-wise and getting into basketball mode. The first two weeks were kind of rough.” Six of the players on the 10-man roster were on the football team, and each has played a significant role in the early going. They are junior Charlie Caulder , senior Micah Ballder , junior Al Casselman , junior Marlin Morris , junior Sammy Tomlinson and junior Seth Cherinko . The leading scorer is junior Ethan Jones , who is averaging around 14 points a game. He is joined in the starting lineup by Caulder, Balder, Casselman and Morris. Caulder was next in socirng with 10 points and a team leading 7.0 rebounds. Balder was averaging 8.0 points, a team high 5.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds, while Casselman was averaging 9.0 points and 4.0 steals. Morris was averaging 5.0 points and 6.5 rebounds. The first two off the bench are freshman Rylan Berrry and Tomlinson. Berry is the sixth man and was averaging around six points a game. Tomlinson, an offensive lineman on the football team, provides some size inside. He was averaging around four points and three rebounds a contest. Cherinko was averaging three points and two steals. The other members of the team are junior Wyatt Dennis and junior Isaiah Bui . Burrows admitted that the team’s early success has been a bit of a surprise even to him just because he knows how little practice time the team has actually had. “Some teams have been together since mid-October,” Burrows said. “We didn’t get together until the middle of November. There were a few games where we were just feeling our way. We had guys who were still banged up from football, and we had a few games slip by us we probably could have won. “We’re having to get into basketball shape. Basketball is a game where you have to play on both sides of the court. I think we’ll get better and get stronger as the season goes on, both mentally and physically.” Williamsburg plays in a strong region in Region 3-AAA. The other four teams are defending state runner-up Pee Dee Academy , Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach , which played for a state title two seasons ago, Florence Christian School and Dillon Christian School . Despite that, the Stallions have some lofty goals. “We want to at least be in the region final,” Burrows said. “We want to win the region and hopefully get into the playoffs. We feel like that’s a realistic goal.” WILLIAMSBURG GIRLS START 4-9 The Williamsburg girls basketball team won four of its first 13 games. In the early going of the schedule, senior Audrey Wadford was leading the way with a 19.3 scoring average. Junior Perry Wise was averaging 6.3, sophomore Abby Ward at 5.7, eighth-grader Corrine Kellahan was averaging 4.4, and sophomore Maggie Jones was averaging 3.0. Other members of the team are senior Sophie Kellahan , junior Shay Carraway , junior Blakely Hundley , sophomore Aleeya Reed , freshman Sophia Jacobs and freshman Avery Belue . BASEBALL, SOFTBALL UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP Britton Morris and Jada Cox are a little over a month away from coaching their first games as the respective baseball and softball head coaches for Williamsburg. Williamsburg will open both seasons on February 24 at home against Calhoun Academy . Morris takes over for Tyler Boyd , who was the Stallions head coach for 10 years, leading them to a state title in 2022. Morris had been hired to be the junior varsity head coach after having graduated from Columbia International University where he played for four years. When Boyd made the decision to leave for the football head coaching job at Lamar High School , Morris became the varsity head coach. “I’m feeling great about being back in the swing of baseball,” Morris said. After playing for four years, it’s a lot different being on the other side of the lines, but I feel like I’ve got a lot to bring to the table. Being a first-time head coach, I know there’s not a lot of expectation on us, but we aren’t expecting for the standard to dip for where Coach Tyler had it. “We want to continue to grow and improve even after losing a few key pieces from last year’s team (which went 19-5). There’s going to be a lot of young guys who have he opportunity to step up as well as some of the veterans who are going to need to step up into a bigger role. Overall, we’ve got guys chomping at the bit to get started, and I’m right there with them.” Cox takes over for Pat Wildes , who decided to retire after 42 years of coaching, the last several coming at Williamsburg. Cox was the junior varsity head coach last season while helping some with the varsity. She feels that familiarity with the players will help her in her first year in charge of the varsity. “Normally many new coaches woul be feeling nervous, but not me,” Cox said. “I’m feeling excited and confident about this season. I’m ready to get things rolling on the ballfield. “I got the opportunity to sit back and watch these girls play last year, and this group of girls have heart and fight, and that’s something that you can’t teach players. That’s what makes me excited.”

2026 Marks the 40th Year of South Carolina's only regular newspaper covering prep sports news that is dedicated to "Recognizing the Achievements of Young Athletes"

Wilson High School's top rated, 6-foot-7-inch guard Josh Leonard is a leader on the team and making an impact on both ends of the court.

Blythewood's highly regarded forward, Chase Thomas during the 2025 state title games against Summerville.

 By Billy G. Baker Publisher Moncks Corner --The 2025-26 SCHSL State Basketball Finals for the 12 surviving boy’s teams comprised from Div. I AAAAA, Div. II AAAAA, Class AAAA, Class AAA, Class AA, and Class A will be contested at the Colonial Life Center on the campus of the University of South Carolina between March 5 through March 7. It will be time to watch slam dunks, downtown tre’s, blocked shots and March Madness invading the heads of thousands of prep basketball fans! The AAAAA Div. I boy’s finals is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday March, 6. The Div. II gold medal round is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday March, 6 while the AAAA boy’s final is to be played at USC at 6 p.m. on Saturday March, 7. The AAA boy’s state finals will be played out at 4 p.m. on Friday March, 6 with the AA boy’s finals set for 4 p.m. on Thursday March, 5. The Class A boy’s championships will be at noon on Saturday March, 5. The Lower State boys’ finals will all be played at the Florence Civic Center on February 27-28. The upper state boy’s finals will be played on agreed neutral sites on February 27-28 also. Div. I AAAAA Boy’s Preview: Can Ridge View win their third straight boy’s state basketball championship when the gold medal round is contested for Div. I AAAAA at 8 pm in the Colonial Life Arena at USC on Friday March 6? Their fans certainly will have a short drive to cheer Josh Staley’s team on. Last year the Blazers defeated Blythewood 71-47 to earn their second straight title with Korie Corbett pouring in a game-high 23 points and Yale Davis contributing 13 points. After that big win Coach Staley said, “That’s how you prepare,” he said. You prepare to play a whole game, and the work you put in comes out in moments like this.” With Corbett and Davis graduated the new stud on the Ridge View team is Talon Staley and the team does not have quite the playmakers around him they had a season ago. Ridge View lost to Div. II foe Westward 64-61 on Jan. 5 and that verified this observation. So, who are the candidates to take Ridge View’s place in the gold medal round this year? Could it be number two -ranked Dorman or third ranked Dutch Fork, or even number five Byrnes? Never count out a Thomas Ryan coached Dorman (13-5) team. When you have been there and won it all several times you can always figure it out so watch out for the Cavaliers. They are led by senior PF Will Bush (4 pts), junior SG Aaden Bruton - Smith (12 pts), and junior PG Jaden Johnson (12 pts). Bret Jones is doing an excellent job coaching up Dutch Fork (16-2) and you never know when the Silver Foxes’ football magic might run off on the basketball team. The Foxes are by senior PF Justis Bell (21.5 pts), junior PG Samajae Govan (16.4 pts) and “ KJ ” Dupree (9.3 pts). Layne Fowler has built a solid program at Byrnes (15-3), and the Rebels must be in the gold medal round conversation. They are led by top junior PG prospect Colt Fowler (24.2 pts), senior F Sukhi Singh (15.5 pts) and junior SF Fabian McClintontock (14.7 pts). From the Lower State, Cane Bay (17-2) could play a dark horse role. Head coach Shawn McKeen tells the HSSR, “We definitely expect big things from this team.,” he said. We have good talent and we are very deep.” The Cobras are led by soph SF Jamel McKinney (11.9 pts), junior G Jahleel Sanders (10.6 pts), and senior SF Amare Merrell (9.7 pts). Brad Dobbels is an excellent X an O coach, and his Ashley Ridge (16-2) round ballers must be considered contenders also. They are led by senior G Clayton Everett Jr. (21.3 pts), senior G Shayne Pinckney (10.9 pts) and junior PG Javion Gathers (9.4 pts). West Ashley (15-3) is certainly capable of making a charge in the playoffs also under head coach Tre McLean They are led by senior PG Kendall Mack (15.3 pts), junior F Jackson Terrell (13.2 pts), and junior SG Maurice Cannon (10.8 pts). HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Byrnes or Dorman vs. Cane Bay or Ashley Ridge Div. II AAAAA Preview: Goose Creek head coach Blake Hall spent a lot of time in his huddle talk with his players following a gut wrenching 81-71 double OT loss in the Div. II AAAAA finals against Greenville last year at the Florence Civic Center. The Gators are currently 18-1 and they are playing like a snowplow clearing the way of downtown Fargo, North Dakota these days. The HSSR is confident that Goose Creek will emerge as the Lower State boy’s champions this season. Who they square off against in the state finals is anyone’s guess right now. From the court, after the game last year, Coach Hall let his feelings out after the defeat. “You can not beat a team when they shoot almost 40 free throws,” said Hall. “I told our guys that you have no control over the officiating, but you must play through it. For the most part I thought we did, but it was too much to overcome.” Before coming to Goose Creek 20 years ago, Coach Hall won a state title at North Charleston High School. He was a two- time HSSR-SCISA all-player at Pinewood Prep under Hall of Fame coach Pat Eidson . Goose Creek is led by senior guard Ja’Quell Brown who scored 27 points against Greenville in the finals last year. They have seven players back who played in the state title game a year ago. Greenville, under first year veteran head coach Yerrick Stoneman , are currently 13-4 but they have lost to some out-of-state powerhouse teams, and they are undefeated in their region. Coach Stoneman is also a state championship coach, and he will have his team playing their best come playoff time. Greenville returns three starters from last year’s gold medal winners led by senior PG Caden Coleman (17 pts) who had 21 points in the big game. Senior F Gavin Griffin (16.6) is also back along with junior SG Tucker Scholl (14.6 pts) a game. Westwood (16-1) is currently capable of making it to the gold medal round led by senior PG Jayden Crews (14.5 pts), senior D’Marcus Thomas (12.4 pts), and Cylan McLeod (10.6 pts). Fort Mill (15-4) has also turned some heads with their recent OT win over Byrnes. They are well-coached by Myron Lowery . Fort Mill is led by soph PG Jermier Nelson (21.1 pts), senior SG AJ Washington (17.8 pts), and senior G Wallace Campbell (13.6 points). Riverside (16-2) could be a spoiler before the dust settles in March. They are led by senior F Sebi Boyogueno (6-4, 190) who is avearaging31 points a game. HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: (Rematch) Greenville vs Goose Creek The AAAA Boys Preview: The SCHSLAAAA boys’ basketball championship will be last state finals match-up played starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday March, 7 at the Colonial Life Arena at USC, and wonder who the final wo teams will be left standing to battle it out in the gold medal round? The big news in AAAA boys’ basketball coming into the season was the return of Dion Bethea to the Gray Collegiate (14-2) team where he had coached six War Eagle teams to AA titles in the past before leaving two years ago to become an assistant at Georgia Southern . Coach Bethea recently told the HSSR , “We’re just trying to build the championship culture back,” he said, “With me leaving for a year it kind of got broken up a bit.” Gray is being led by 6-6 Kennesaw State signee Levi Bell along with Irmo 6-6 PF transfer Jayden Rivers. These two studs are a key reason why the War Eagles must be considered top contenders for the AAAA title this season. Lancaster defeated North Augusta 69-55 last year in the finals, but the Bruins suffered heavy graduation losses, and they are currently (8-11) are not ranked. However, senior PG Malik Tinlsey (18.4 pts) is having a solid senior season once again. On the other hand, the North Augusta boys of head coach Tony Hararell contenders but they must find a way to get ahead of region for Gray Collegiate, a team they lost too in December 64-56. Four players on last year’s team returned to the NA team this year. They are led by top scorer G Quh’mareon Webb who had 10 points in last year’s state finals. Others are G Jodan Rouse , G Tojan Nabriat , and Zayvion Harris. Darlington’s (15-4) recent win over Crestwood kept them 5-0 in their region and head coach Brad Knox has put together a solid team. The top two players on the team include senior G LaHenry Yarbrough (17 pts) and senior G Rodney Spears (9 pts) as the top two scorers on the team. Chapman ( 14-3) head coached by Jared St. Charles , has a solid team in the AAAA upper state and they could make a deep run in the playoffs. They are led by junior SG Grayden Humphries (16.4 pts), senior SG Hawk Smith (12.2 pts) and soph PG Cade St . Charles (10.4 pts). Other teams in AAAA with deep playoff run potential are May River (17-2), Midland Valley (13-4), Hartsville (11-5), Daniel (11-7), and Camden (12-5). HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Chapman or Camden vs Gray Collegiate Class AAA Boy’s Preview: The AAA boys’ basketball championship will be battled out on Friday March 6 at 4 p.m inside the Colonial Life Center at USC and the HSSR feels strongly that the Christ Church (14-1) boy’s bus will arrive early for the event. Last year Keenan defeated Powdersville 58-53 in the boy’s AAA finals at the Florence Civic Center as the Raiders won their 10 th state title. It was Keenan head coach Zach Norris’ 8th state title at Keenan. Powdersville suffered heavy graduation losses are currently (5-13). Keenan (15-5) is led by soph PG Antonio Caughman (14.5 pts), soph PF Bryson Schofield (9.4 pts) and senior F Broderick Andrson , Jr (8.4 pts). Christ Church is head coached by veteran John Butler . The Cav’s are led by senior SG David Dixon (14 pts), senior Big Man Jonathan Perry (13.4 pts), and senior PF Jude Hall (9.2 pts). Keenan might be challenged by Loris (16-3) in the Lower state finals, and this would be a classic game between the country boys from a rural community versus a group of players from the big city of Columbia. Loris is coached by Andrew Eads . The Lions are led on the boards by Big Man MyKhai Bell (8.3) and in scoring by senior G Nigel Miller (15.6 pts), senior G Khalid Sherman (14.4 pts), and senior G Khalil Sherman (11.9 pts) Fox Creek (13-4) could also make a run. They are coached by Tim Butler. They are led in scoring by junior G Chanze Allen (14.5), junior Kobe Sims (13.4) along with junior Justin Vining (12.9). HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Christ Church vs Keenan or Loris The AA Boys Basketball Preview: The AA boys’ basketball championship finals will begin at 4 p.m. on Thursday March 5 inside the Colonial Life Center at USC. You might have a better chance guessing the power ball numbers then predicting what two teams are going to meet in the AA boy’s finals this year. Last year Atlantic Collegiate Academy defeated High Point Academy 58-52 to win the AA title at the Florence Civic Center. High Point Academy (17-2) is likely to be back in the finals, but Atlantic Collegiate Academy (7-8) is in a rebuilding season, although they are 5-1 in their region right now. High Point Academy head coach Lee Sartor will forever be known as the man who coached Zion Williamson at Spartanburg Day a few years ago. Coach Sartor came to High Point from Erskine College where he served as the head coach for several seasons. High Point returns two key starters from last year’s runner-up team. They are junior F J’Sean Sanders (18.9 pts), and senior G Deylen Whitaker (10.7 pts). Senior guard Chris Copeland (14.6 pts) is a newcomer to the team. The HSSR had been high on Andrew Jackson (12-3) until they suffered back-to-back losses against Central and Loris on Jan. 16-17. AJ are led by two top scorers in senior SF Zeke Clyburn (21.4) and senior G Samias Seegars (18.8). The success of the football team must be carrying over to Central (13-5) as head coach Desmond Sowell’s team is 5-0 and appeared headed to winning a region title. The Eagles are in scoring by senor G Tazhie Webber (17.4 pts), Jordan Crowder (16.9 pts) and senior G Jakari Hollomon (11.9 pts). Hampton County (13-4), coached by Joshua James, could be a lower state challenge to High Point. They are led in scoring by senior G Darius Brooks (16.6), senior SG Jacquin Solomon (12.90) and soph SF Maryln Adkins (10). When Chesnee (12-6) beat Liberty (15-4) 48-25 on Jan. 16, that altered some thinking about what upstate teams might be able to challenge High Point Academy. We will just have to wait and see. HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: High Pointe Academy Vs. Hampton County The Class A Boys’ Basketball Preview: The boy’s SCHSL Class A state finals will take place on Saturday March 7 at 2 p.m. inside the Colonial Life Arena at USC. Last year Denmark - Olar defeated Abbeville 58-52 at the Florence Civic Center to earn the school’s first boy’s state title sending head coach Hercules Davis into a happy retirement. Marcus Rivera, a one-time mayor of Barnwell, is the new coach, and the team is currently 6-15 but 4-1 in the region and playing much better. They are led by junior G Christian Rivera (27.1 pts), and the top rebounder is 6-7 William Ross (6). Number two, ranked Abbeville (10-2), has an excellent opportunity to get back to the state finals. Veteran head coach Douglas Belcher has the Panthers 8-0 in the region right now. The team is led by senior Jaden Baylor (19.1 pts), soph G Jamerion Williams (14.7) and soph G Jamiyus McManus (10.6 pts). Bethune - Bowman (14-3) is ranked number one in the latest Class A boy’s ranking. They lost twice to bigger schools in competitive games, but their 60-51 loss to Scott’s Branch (8-9) recently is a bit concerning. The team is le dby senior SF Terrance McFadden (16.4 pts), soph G Jaeon Bell (11.7 pts) and junior G Kejuan Guinyard (8.6 pts). Horse Creek Academy (14-4) is also 7-0 in region play coached by Chon Matthews . They are led in scoring by soph PG David Kearse (10.1 pts). The HSSR feels like Carvers Bay (13-4, 5-0), head coached once again by Jeff Mezzatesta, could be the lower state champion when the dust clears. They are led by junior PG Jamie Graham (18.3 pts), senior G Kenard Heyward (14 pts), and soph G Ethan Morris (10.6 pts.). Watch out for teams like CA Johnson (11-7 & 7-0) and Latta (11-3, 5-1) as they have strong teams as well at Class A level. HSSR Prediction For Gold Medal Round: Abbeville Vs. Carvers Bay

Abbeville's leading scorer is senior Jaden Baylor , who averaged 16.8 points and 7.0 rebounds last season. He is averaging 20 points and seven boards this season.

By Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Edior St. George – The Dorchester Academy girls basketball team has four returning starters from a team that went 16-8 a year ago and came within a basket of playing for the SCISA AA state championship. So it is no surprise the Raiders are having a successful 2025-26 campaign. They won 15 of their first 17 games and started 3-0 in Region 2. The four returning starters are junior Palmer Kizer , junior Alyssa Grooms , junior Rylee Weathers and sophomore Emery McClure . The newcomer to the starting five is a senior in Rylee Matthews . The first two players off the bench for Dorchester are senior Lyla Owens and freshman Madison Downey . Other members of the team are sophomore Emma Branch and sophomore Brinley Pope , both first-year varsity playes. McClure leads the team as she is averaging a double-double with over 10 points and 10 rebounds per game, respectively. She’s also averaging four steals a contest. The Raiders have a balanced scoring attack as Weathers and Grooms are both averaging double figures. Matthews is averaging double figures in rebounds. Kizer, who is averaging four steals a contest, is the defensive catalyst, according to veteran head coach Callie McClure . “Kizer is at the top of our defense, setting the tone on that side of play,” said Coach McClure, who saw the Raiders drop a 44-43 decision to Laurens Academy in the semifinals. “She is feisty and quick and never runs out of gas.” DORCHESTER BOYS OPEN 9-8 The Dorchester boys basketball team won nine of its first 17 games and was 1-1 in region play. With four games still left to go in the region, Raiders head coach Nick Mcalhany thinks the best is yet to come for his team. “We still have not played our best ball yet,” Mcalhany said. “We’re looking forward to doing that as we get into region play.” Dorchester went 10-13 last season. They lost to Carolina Academy 62-53 in the first round of the AA state tournament. Senior Abe Shuler is the leader of the offense, averaging around 15 points a contest. Joining Shuler in the starting lineup are senior John Quattlebaum , junior Austin Varn , sophomore Carter Beeks and freshman Colson Williams . Other members of the team are sophomore Boone Gruber , sophomore Graham Varnadoe , senior Bradley Sievert , junior Lathan Hartzog , sophomore Warren Judy , sophomore Clayton Ziegler and junior Will Quattlebaum . Dorchester is joined in Region 2 by Faith Christian , Charleston Collegiate and Cathedral Academy .

Wilson High School's 5-Star Junior Basketball Prospect, Josh Wilson.