Injuries Hampering Progress For Andrew Jackson Academy Girl’s Basketball Early On
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Ehrhardt—In his first season as the head girls’ basketball coach at Andrew Jackson Academy, in 2024-25, Zach Boltin coached the team to a respectable 12-12 record but early season injuries have hampered the team’s goals for improvement this season.
As of December, 10 the Lady Warriors were 1-6, 0-1 and they had played four games without the services of top player 5-11 junior SF McKinnley Beard, who has been out with a quad injury.
“We play a 2-3 defense and McKinnley plays in the middle of our defense, and she does an excellent job for us,” said Coach Boltin. “She is also our top rebounder, so with her out the past four games we have not been as competitive. We expect to have her back in a couple weeks hopefully.
“McKinnley has been on the varsity team since the 8th grade and she was all-region and all-state last season,” said Coach Boltin. “We will definitely be a better defensive team when she is able to come back.”
At the time of her injury Beard was averaging 6.3 points, seven rebounds and 3.8 blocks per game.
“This team has a lot of potential and I truly feel like we will get better when we get over our injuries and get further along into the season,” said Coach Boltin. “I feel like we can make the playoffs and win a game or two also. We just need to get our younger players more game experience. I feel like we will be a much better team down the stretch after the new year.”
Currently the team is led in scoring by second year varsity performer Kinslie Carson. Carson is a junior shooting guard averaging 11 points and 4.3 rebounds a game. “Kinslie is great at driving to the basket where she gets to the free throw line a lot,” said Coach Boltin.
Bella Carigg is a junior point guard averaging 8 points, 3.2 steals and 2.4 assists a game. “Bella is our main shooter,” said Coach Boltin. “This is her third year on the varsity team and she has shown steady improvement.”
A third returning starter from last season is sophomore guard Harlo Sease who is in her fourth season on the varsity despite being just a sophomore. She is currently averaging 6.1 points and 5.4 rebounds a game. “Harlo has been filling in for Beard in the middle of our defense and it is not where she is use to playing on defense,” said Coach Boltin. “Her experience is a big asset to the team.”
With Beard sidelined two younger players have been sharing time in the starting line-up. “We have been rotating sophomore Abby Ayer and freshman Brianna Jacques in Beard’s place, and both came into the season with no prior varsity playing experience,” said Coach Boltin. “Ayer starts a little more and Jacques is normally the first person off the bench.” Ayer is averaging 4.1 rebounds a game.
The team is comprised of 9 total players. The Lady Warriors start three juniors and two sophomores. Freshman guard Kiley O’herion contributes a lot off the bench. Sophomore guard Scarlett Mixson is a returning varsity player who has also been recovering form an injury. Freshman guard Kaitlyn Johnson rounds out the roster and she plays a lot also.
One challenge for the team is that they do not have a true point guard. “Bella and Harlo have assumed the role of point guard for us this season,” said Coach Boltin. “They are doing a good job learning to play a new position.”
The season began on a positive note for the Lady Warriors on November, 17 with a 38-22 win over Faith Christian. In that game Carrigg and Carson each had 12 points with Beard contributing seven points and seven rebounds. Carson also has six rebounds in the win.
The team will participate in two Christmas tournaments over the holidays. They will participate in the Orangeburg Prep Christmas tournament starting on December, 22 with a game against top ranked O-P. On December 29-30 the team will participate in the Colleton Prep tournament and they play CP in the first game.
Prior to these two events the Lady Warriors have games scheduled at Colleton Prep on December, 18 and they are at Dorchester Academy on the 19th. Their losses have come against Holly Hill Academy, Curtis Baptist (twice), WSAHS, Patrick Henry and Jefferson Davis Academy.
Coach Boltin is assisted by Josh Barnes who is the boy’s head coach.
