The Scott’s Branch Middle School boy’s basketball team is operating and playing like a well-oiled machine under the leadership of coaching phenom Mr. Eric Caldwell. The team has weathered a number of challenges. Some of the previous players have gone onto the Junior Varsity Team, having successfully won the region title last year for Class 1A Middle School Boy’s Basketball. They come into this season with all opponents looking to take their hard-earned position as number 1. Those teams may not realize that these young athletes have matured and work diligently to keep themselves competitive and firing on all cylinders.
Their schedule is action-packed against teams within Clarendon County and abroad. These teams always apply various defensive tactics to thwart the Eagles’ progress on the road back to basketball greatness and the championship. The first game of the season was against CE Murray. The Middle School Eagles flew higher, faster, and longer over the Eagles of CE Murray. The Eagles then traveled last week for their second game against Bishopville to take on the Lee County Stallions. The game was intense as it amounted to being a basketball clinic for the Stallions. Game play was punctuated from the 1st quarter by all starting five players. Nyren Bowman, Keith James, Quentin Blanding, Fre’Jon Bennett and Danni Ragin. Finishing the game Eagles 43, Stallions 14. Bringing the Eagles record to 2 and 0.
Monday, the Eagles hosted an exciting home game against Kingstree. The Jaguars had previously beaten the Eagles the past two seasons. The Jaguars were a notable powerhouse in Middle School basketball. However, the Eagles had regrouped, reconstructed their defense and offense, and came away with the Eagles 39 and the Jaguars 33.
Coach Caldwell stated, “Since the beginning of the year we have played really good team ball. Our defense is starting to come together, we are led by two 8th grade students Nyren Bowman and Big South All Star 3 point champion Keith James. We are playing one game at a time, hoping to reach the big game at the end of the season. Improving as we move along.”
