Clarendon Hall girls basketball team comes up short of state tournament
Boys coach Rick Atkinson happy with team's effort
Summerton – The Clarendon Hall girls basketball team had a magical run to the SCISA AA
state championship game last year, the first time that had happened in 50 years.
The Lady Saints knew they weren’t going to be able to do that this season. Clarendon Hall was
moved to AAA for all sports but football due to SCISA’s reclassification. However, Clarendon Hall missed
out on being selected to the state tournament.
“It’s been a tough year,” said Clarendon Hall head coach Johnny Horton, whose team inished with
an 8-10 record. “The girls played hard for me every night. This season has definitely been below my
expectations. We are AA school at heart playing AAA.”
Senior Mandy Wells and senior Ashlee Berry led the Lady Saints in scoring. Wells was
averaging 14.0 points per game, while Berry averaged a double-double. She scored at a 12.0 clip while
averaging 10.0 rebounds.
Two other senior joined Wells and Berry in the starting lineup in Brooke Corbett and Maggie
Harrington. Freshman Mckenna Jefferys was the other starter.
The remainder of the roster was made up of freshmen. They were Brynli Brewer, Emery
Earnhardt, Camlin Haley, Logan Osteen and Aubree Richardson.
CLARENDON HALL BOYS GO WINLESS
The Clarendon Hall boys basketball team finished the season without a victory, losing all 15 of its
games. However, head coach Rick Atkinson has chosen not to look at the record but to instead focus
upon the effort put forth by his players.
“When you go through a season like this, you expect to have some of them quit,” said Atkinson,
who just completed his second season in this stint at Clarendon Hall. “It would be a case of it’s not worth
to be going through it. Not one of our players did that. They all stuck with it and gave great effort.”
Atkinson said nagging injuries hindered the Saints throughout the year, disrupting the ability to
development chemistry. Also, a flu bug hit the team as well.
The Saints were led by a pair of seniors in Evan Reynolds and Griffin McIntosh. The 6-foot-4-
inch Reynolds led the team in rebounding, pulling down an average around 17. Reynolds was selected to
the All-Region team. McIntosh, an honorable mention All-Region selection, was the leading scorer.
There were two other seniors on the roster in Drayton Barrett and Jamie Bryan. “I appreciate
the leadership they gave us as seniors,” Atkinson said.
Atkinson had two freshmen in his starting lineup in Wyatt Simpson and Bobby Singleton. He
was happy with the development of both players.
“I’m pleased with the progress of Wyatt Simpson,” Atkinson said. “He’s a ninth-grade post player
who started every game. He’s shown a lot of promise for the future. Bobby Singleton started most of the
games. He’s an excellent shooter, and I’m looking forward to having him in the program.”
Freshman Andrew Pritcher will be back as will three junior varsity players called up at the end
of the season in Kaine Rose, Chandler Powell and Willson Epps. Rose scored 17 points in his varsity
debut.
“I look forward to having these boys at SCISA Play Days (during the summer),” Atkinson said.
