Photos
Blog
NewslettersTonight's high school basketball games
bparker@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5536
By BRANDON PARKER
E-Mail it
Print it
tool name
closeAlso in this section
bparker@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5536
It was just two years ago that Ridgeland High School boys basketball coach Jeremiah Faber would rave about Tremayne Harris, the skillful guard budding on his junior varsity squad. Faber couldn't wait for Harris to take the floor as a varsity player at Ridgeland and join an already athletic bunch.
That moment will finally come tonight, only Harris will be sporting a Hardeeville High School jersey, doing all he can to spoil the season opener for Faber and the Jaguars.
Many other old ties will be rekindled in the first-ever basketball contest between Hardeeville and Ridgeland, two schools that used to be one before Hardeeville opened its doors last season.
"I'm very familiar with Tremayne and a lot of the other players on Hardeeville's team," Faber said. "We scrimmaged them twice this summer and they gave it to us some, so I know it's going to be a very competitive game."
Faber cites rebounding and second-chance points as the keys to deciding this contest, but no factor will be greater than chemistry. New faces will populate a Ridgeland squad that lost all of its starters from a year ago, while Hardeeville is still developing under its second coach in as many seasons.
"I'd like to see leadership from our team and for someone to step forward and play well, so we can start off on the right foot this year," said associate head coach Kevin Wilson.
Here's a look at tonight's other area matchups:
Hilton Head Christian at Beaufort Academy
Plenty of points should be produced in this SCISAA boys matchup, as both teams play an uptempo style on both ends of the floor. Granted, each school's system is still a work in progress, as Beaufort Academy coach Tony Kitchings is entering his eighth game and Mike Colella's past Hilton Head Christian teams have played at a much slower pace.
"I'm normally a control freak and like to execute in the halfcourt," Colella said. "I know we might play a little sloppy in fullcourt, but I can't have a bunch of horses eating hay when they could be running."
Hilton Head Christian's two prize horses are Ethan Gort and Corey MacDonald, while Chris Ernestine and Chris Canavan lead the way for Beaufort Academy, which has asked all of its fans to wear white for this home contest.
Critical to Beaufort Academy's success could be the availability of point guard Larry Stevenson, whom Kitchings said will be a gametime decision after sustaining an eye injury last week.
Wade Hampton at Hilton Head Island
After enduring an up-and-down preseason, Seahawks boys basketball coach Greg Elliott admits that he's a little anxious about tonight's game.
"I just want to see what we've got," Elliott said, "because we scrimmaged well in some things but we tend to play to the home crowd too much, so we'll see if we can do what we need to do."
Up high on that to-do list will be to slow Wade Hampton's Jeremy Ford. The smooth guard has a quick first step to go with an outside touch, which could put the Seahawks on their heels. But if Hilton Head High's fullcourt press proves effective, it could keep the ball out of Ford's hands and create easy transition baskets for the Seahawks.
Battery Creek at Colleton County
Battery Creek's girls will be tested against the favorites to win Region 8-AAAA. Katrece Daniels and April Myers must maintain the offensive play that produced 53 points in a win over Burke in the Mazzanna's Lawn Service BC Classic, but a third weapon must emerge to slow a Lady Cougars team with a strong inside-outside attack.
Uptempo play worked well for Battery Creek's boys last week, yielding many points and two victories. The Dolphins will look to reduce their mistakes and ease coach John Drafts' concerns about their halfcourt offense when they face their former region foes.
Estill at Bluffton
Both Bobcats teams lost the bulk of their starters from last season, so they're eager to see how they measure up against solid Estill squads in Bluffton's season opener.
"We're extremely young, so protecting the ball will be very important for us," said Bluffton girls coach Lonnie Roberts. "There will be some adjustments and it might be a tough start, but we have the ability to win games and be a good team."
@Nyx.CommentBody@