Lady Swamp Foxes claim they are “People’s Champ”
Ashley Ridge senior Skyla Tuthill was named the 5A Girls Basketball Player of the Year. Photo by Roger Lee
By Roger Lee
Contributing Writer
Summerville – A nearly flawless season for the Ashley Ridge Girls Basketball team was cut short before the Lady Swamp Foxes had the opportunity to play for a state title.
The South Carolina High School League, on Feb. 25, notified school officials it had deemed a member of the team ineligible. The ruling came after an investigation sparked by an anonymous tip made to the league.
The school went through every appeal process it could and made a good argument that due to the circumstances involved the league should grant the team an exception and allow it to continue its season. However, the league voted to uphold the sanctions, stating among other things that it doesn’t like granting hardship exceptions so late in a season.
“Although we’re disappointed with the decision we do respect it,” Ashley Ridge coach Jimmy Brown said. “Regardless, we consider ourselves the People’s Champ and what we accomplished on the court can’t and won’t be diminished by a board of people and an anonymous tipster. We were 26-1 with an average win margin of 20 or more points. Four of those wins came against four out of the six state champions this year.”
After losing to Spring Valley 69-68 in their first game of the season Nov. 29, the Swamp Foxes won their next 26 games. The team swept its region to claim a region championship.
After earning a bye for the first round of the playoffs, the Swamp Foxes claimed a 66-42 win over James Island and defeated Ridge View 64-60 in a third-round game that went into four overtime periods.
The team was led by senior Skyla Tuthill who was named the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association 5A Girls Basketball Player of the Year as well as the 5A Region 8, MaxPreps and Channel 5 female POY.
Tuthill averaged 21.2 points per game, 5.6 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.3 blocks en route to earning All-State and All-Star honors. The Rice University signee averaged 2.9 assist per game, second only to teammate Kaylin Brown who averaged 3.1. Tuthill hit 70 percent of her free throws this season and was the Swamp Foxes’ top three-point shooter.
Teammates Katie Johnson and Nadia President also received All-Region honors for the Swamp Foxes. Johnson averaged 7.9 points per game and Andrea Kelly 6.6. Brown leads in assists, averaging 3.1 while Tuthill averages 2.9 and Johnson 2.6.
Johnson averages 4 rebounds and Kelly averages 3.8. Tuthill, senior Briana Davidson and Brown are the steals leaders.
Other members of the team are LaChar Lawrence, Taleyah Hartzog, Jameson Foley, Alaina Duggins, Nubia McElveen, Logan Hardy, Ella Reck and Samiah Boatwright.
“Every week we place a scripture on the board in our Locker room that we try to live by that week,” Coach Brown said. “The scripture of the week everything took place was Romans 8:28 & 31. Even now these girls stand firm in these scriptures believing that greater is coming in each and every one of their lives and that what took place doesn’t define this team or our season. We want to thank everyone that prayed and supported us.”
Ashley Ridge Boys
Senior Clayton Everett Jr. represents Ashley Ridge on the 5A Boys All-State Team and was named the 5A Region 8 Player of the Year. Junior Ben Duncan and sophomore Javion Gathers also received All-Region honors.
Everett led the team in scoring, averaging 20.2 points per game. Gathers averaged 11 points and Duncan averaged 10.8. Gathers lead in assists, averaging 4.2. Everett averaged 2.3 assists while Gathers averaged 3.6.
Everett is also the leading rebounder, averaging 8.7 boards per game. Senior PJ Brown averaged 3.8 rebounds and Gathers averaged 3.6. Everett averaged 3.5 steals while Gathers averaged 2.1 and Nasir McElveen averaged 1.
Other members of the team are Jhi Gibbs, Gabe Geddis, Evan Terry, Javari Walker, AJ Ward, Grant Riemer, Taylen Crutcher and Shayne Pinckney.
