Pee Dee's Hammond, Richardson win Region Player of the Year awards
Hammond, Lady Eagles win state; Richardson helps boys to runner-up finish
Mullins – Pee Dee Academy just missed bringing home a double state championship in SCISA AAA basketball. PDA beat Orangeburg Prep 37-34 to win the girls championship, while the boys lost to 3-time defending champion Hilton Head Prep 45-19.
One thing the Golden Eagles did double up on was Region 3-AAA Player of the Year awards. Senior Rebecca Hammond claimed the girls award while senior Colby Richardson was the boys selection.
Hammond averaged 17.7 points per game for Pee Dee, which finished with a 23-4 record. She averaged 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 steals. Richardson averaged 18.1 points, 1.6 assists and 5.4 rebounds for the boys, who finished with an 18-8 overall record.
Joining Hammond on the girls All-Region tam were senior Claire Eskridge and senior Claire Owens. Eskridge averaged 3.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, a team high 2.6 assists and 3.1 steals. Owens averaged 5.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.9 steals.
Hammond was also named the region tournament Most Valuable Player and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Eskridge and Owens.
Joining Richardson on the boys All-Region team are senior Miles Trussell, senior Bennett Causey and senior Jamison Rogers.
Trussell led the Eagles in assists at 2.9 to go with 6.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals. Causey averaged 7.7 points and shared the team lead in rebounds at 5.4 with Richardson. Rogers averaged 4.5 points, 2.9 rebounds ad 2.6 assists.
Richardson and senior Ethan Carroll were named to the region All-Tournament team. Carroll averaged 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds on the season.
Boys head coach Kyle Drew was named the Region Coach of the Year after Pee Dee shared the region regular- season crown with Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach.
The Pee Dee girls shared the region regular-season title as well – with Florence Christian School. However, they won the region tournament before bringing home the program’s first state championship since 2008.
Head coach Megan Thomas said it’s still hard to fathom they are state champions.
“I’m not sure I have just one word on what it means to win the state championship,” said Thomas, who played for Pee Dee. “I’m beyond proud of my girls. We set a goal at the beginning of the season to make it to the state championship and win it.
“I watched them work all season and grow as a team. They put in the time and the effort, and they believed it was possible. I’m so happy for all my girls, especially the seven seniors. They deserved this. They have all been so fun to coach and it was a joy to win.”
The other seniors for the girls are Madison Baxley, Caroline Elvington, Katie Estes and Kyndal Larymore.
The other senior boys are Storm Garris, Jake Rogers, Hayden Spivey and Owen Turner.
