Expectations are high for Kingstree girls basketball team

Kingstree – The Kingstree High School girls basketball team has won 36 games the past two

seasons. That includes going 20-4 last year and advancing to the third round of the AA state playoffs.

Even though the Blazers return just two starters from that team, that hasn’t tempered the

excitement surrounding the program.

“This is the first time there is a high level of expectation for this team and program going into the

season” said KHS head coach James Price. “We all have to manage how we handle that, simply by

working hard every day to get better as a team. Let’s see where that leads us once we get into February

and March basketball.”

Kingstree got off to a 9-2 overall start, but was just 1-2 in Region 7. The two returning starters are

also two returning All-Region performers in sophomore forward Naydia Shaw and junior guard Demia

Mosley.

Shaw is averaging a double-double, leading in scoring at 19.0 points per game and rebounding at

10.8. She’s also averaging 2.6 assists and 3.5 steals. Mosley is averaging 12.2 points, 3.1 rebound, 2.3

assists and 3.6 steals.

The other starters are junior Nyla Wallace, sophomore Jaiden McKnight and sophomore

Kamarie McCrea. Wallace is averaging 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, a team high 2.9 assists and 4.4 steals.

McKnight leads in blocked shots at 3.9 to go with 3.3 steals, 5.8 rebounds and 4.5 points. McCrea is

averaging a team high 5.0 steals along with 5.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists.

The other members of the rotation are senior Harmony Mosley and juniors Kylee Kelty,

Lashonda Cooper and Toshonda White. Kelty is averaging 2.4 points and 3.7 rebounds.

Price said the players are still growing into its roles.

“It’s still early in the season and we are trying to find our identity,” he said. “There has been some

inconsistency which is to be expected when you have players taking on new roles this season. They get to

really see what it means to be accountable to their teammates and coaches.”

KINGSTREE BOYS OFF TO 4-10 START

The Kingstree boys basketball team is in its first season under head coach Shawn Evans. The

Blazers won only four of their first 14 games, starting 0-3 in region play.

KHS lost nine players from last year with just one returning starter in senior guard Mal'aki

Matthews. The other starters are senior guard ChiQuan Giles, freshman wing Paul McKnight,

sophomore forward Maleek Dukes and junior post player BJ Washington.

Ther other members of the rotation are sophomores Jordan McClary and JohMetrius Chandler

and freshmen Kayden Scott and ZyMarreon McKnight.

Evans said the Blazers are still developing.

“We are still trying to play our roles and play them with confidence at a high level,” Evans said.

“The players have expressed to me multiple times that they have not played up to their potential nor

expectations. To hear that type of accountability from such a young team shows me the maturity, hunger

and eagerness to turn things around.”

SIX BLAZERS FOOTBALL ALL-REGION PICKS

Kingstree had six players selected to the All-Region 7 football team. They are Tyleek Dukes,

Xavier Dukes, Adeigeon Archie, BJ Washington, Malcolm Salters and Mycheal Edwards-Wallace.

Tyleek Dukes and Edwards-Wallace were both selected to the South Carolina Football Coaches

Association AA All-State team. Edwards-Wallace, senior defensive tackle and offensive guard, was also

a Shrine Bowl selection.

Edwards-Wallace had 45 tackles, 16 of them for a loss. He also had two interceptions.

Edwards-Wallace helped open holes for Dukes to have major success at running back. Dukes ran

for 1,798 yards and 21 touchdowns on 274 carries. As a defensive back, the junior had 47 tackles, three

tackles for loss and two INTs.

Xavier Dukes, a senior wide receiver/DB, had 43 tackles and two interceptions. On offense,

Xavier had eight catches for 208 yards and three TDs. Archie is a junior guard and defensive tackle.

Salters, a senior, started at offensive tackle and defensive end. He had 32 tackles and five TFLs.

Washington, a junior outside linebacker, led in quarterback sacks with nine and shared the lead in

TFLs with 17. He had 50 tackles.