Patrick Henry hoops coaches happy with seasons

By Dennis Brunson

           hssr.com Associate Editor

           Estill – The seasons didn’t go quite as planned for either of the Patrick Henry Academy basketball teams. However, both boys head coach Claude Terry and girls head coach Anthony Creech had no complaints with the effort put forth by their teams.

           “Although our record didn’t show it, when we played our best basketball we could play with any team in the league,” said Terry, whose squad posted an 8-16 overall record.

           As for the season, it was good,” Creech said. “It was our first year playing AAA basketball (moving up because of reclassification), and I thought we did a great job every night. Things didn’t go as planned, but overall, we had a great year.”

           The Patrick Henry girls went 14-8 on the season, reaching the quarterfinals of the state tournament. They beat Spartanburg Day School 56-39 in the first round before falling to Spartanburg Christian Academy 62-48 in the quarterfinals.

           Both teams had three players selected to the All-Region 4-AAA teams. Making it for the girls were Lillian Lucas, Laney Futch and Emilee Stanley, while the boys picks were Rowen Croft, Daivon Glover and Mikell Tucker Mathis.

           Lucas, a senior, led the Patriot girls in scoring with a 15.4 points-per-game average, 3.5 assists and 3.8 steals. She also grabbed 6.2 rebounds a game.

           Futch, a senior, led in rebounds with a 12.4 average and in blocked shots at 2.2. She also averaged 8.4 points, 2.1 assists and 3.3 steals. Stanley averaged 72 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.6 steals.

           Another key performer for the girls was junior Saquoia Sexton. She averaged 6.7 points and 6.0 rebounds.

           Croft, a senior, led the PHA boys in scoring at 20.1 to go with 7.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals. Glover averaged 11.7 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals. Mathis led the Patriots in rebounding at 9.5, assists at 3.9 and blocked shots at 1.2. He also averaged 10.9 points.

           Sophomore Michael Mizzell had a solid season. He averaged 5.6 points and 2.7 rebounds.

           The PHA boys showed their ability to hang with the top teams in the first round of the state tournament. The Patriots took a 21-win Calhoun Academy to triple overtime before losing 71-68.

.          “Our seniors and team fought hard with a triple-overtime loss to Calhoun Academy in the first round of the playoffs,” Terry said. “I’m proud of my team.”

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