Kingstree girls basketball team comes through with another strong season

           Kingstree – For the fourth straight year, the Kingstree High School girls basketball team had a strong season. The Blazers posted a 19-5 overall record, went 10-2 in Region 7-AA for second place and reached at least the second round of the AA state playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

           The only detriment to the season for head coach James Price and his squad was the fact it ended after just the second round. KHS smoked Woodland 64-18 in the first round before having to go on the road and losing to Timberland 62-59 in the second round. Still, Price has a justification as to why it was a very good season.

           “The season as a whole was successful,” said Price, who has led Kingstree to a 77-22 mark over that 4-year period. “We finished 19-5 overall and 10-2 in the most competitive region in AA. Our five losses were all to teams that made it to the Final Four (semifinals of their respective state playoffs) in Military Magnet, South Florence, Timberland and Atlantic Collegiate. Two o those teams are in the state finals (Military Magnet and Atlantic Collegiate), so I know we are trending in the right direction with the level of competition we try to schedule each year.”

           The Blazers were led by junior center Nay’Dia Shaw. She was not only chosen as the Region 7 Player of the Year, but she was also named to the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association AA All-State team.

           Shaw led Kingstree in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. She averaged a double-double of 19.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game to go with 5.0 assists and 4.7 steals.

           Shaw was joined on the All-Region team by senior Demia Mosley. She averaged 11.1 points, 2.5 assists, 2.6 steals and 3.0 rebounds.

           Other top performers were junior Kamare McCrea, senior Nyla Wallace, senior Kylee Keity and senior Toshanda White. McCrea averaged 5.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.4 steals, Wallace averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 steals, Keity 1.0 points and 3.0 rebounds, and White 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds.

           Price believes Kingstree is set to have another strong season next year.

           “The program is in a strong place, and we are excited to begin preparing for the ’26-27 season,” he said.

           WASHINGTON BOYS ALL-REGION PICK

           Benjamin “BJ” Washington was named to the boys All-Region team. The senior averaged 7.5 points a game.

           Junior Joshua Brown, sophomore Kayden Scott and sophomore Paul McKnight were honorable mention selections. Brown was the leading scorer at 10.0, while Scott averaged 8.4. McKnight averaged 4.4.

           The Blazers went 5-18 on the season, winning just one of their 12 region contests. Head coach Shawn Evans said his team gave its all throughout the season despite being hindered by injuries.

           “This year had an early theme of ‘next man up’ due to the number of injured players coming from football,” Evans said. “Although we never had our full roster, their buy-in increased because of the number of open roles. I’m proud of how hard they fought through all the obstacles.

           “Commitments have already been made for next year by the players on their own. We are turning the page.”