Thomas Heyward boys roll through regular season

Thomas Heyward boys roll through regular season

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Ridgeland – Coming off a state championship football season, several members of the Thomas Heyward Academy team ventured into the basketball season with high hopes.



The group of winners already had one ring but were hoping for a shot at another ring come playoff time. Well, the SCISA state playoffs in basketball have arrived and Thomas Heyward is right where they hoped they would be.

As of Feb. 7, The Rebels were sitting at 15-5 overall and 8-2 in region play, putting them in position for a second-place finish in the region standings. The season started a little up and down as the players adjusted to running the floor instead of a football field but it appears they are playing their best when it counts the most.

Three of the team’s five losses came by a total of eight points, including two losses by a point, so the competitive fight is clearly present.

The strength of the team is balance and depth as the Rebels rely on every player to contribute in their role. Offensively, the Rebels are led in scoring by junior Tony O’Banner, who also happens to be the best football player in SCISA. O’banner is averaging 19.6 points per game to go with 5.1 rebounds per outing.

Fellow senior captain Kelan Fripp is adds 13.8 points per game while junior Jaiden Powell is good for 8.3 points per game.

Sophomore Kiran Boggess is scoring about seven points per game while senior Beau Pinckney adds about five points. Junior Josh Gibson is the top rebounder at 5.3 boards per game. He also averages 4.8 points per game.

Remaining members of the boys team include seniors Jaden Edwards and Mitch White, and juniors Myles Stanley and Tanner Reed.

The girls team also entered this season with high hopes but a key early season injury to senior leader Brooke Smith put a damper on the prospects. In four games early, Smith was averaging 10.8 points and 8.8 rebounds.

The girls roster is loaded with talented underclassmen so the future looks bright. Two freshmen have been among the leaders this season. Ella Hunter is averaging 6.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, while Marlie Needham is averaging 8.2 points per game.

Junior Olivia Meadors also contributes 6.3 points per game.

As of Feb. 7, the girls team had a 2-13 record overall and were winless in region play.