Boys Varsity Basketball
Make it nine in a row for Manning
Manning had already won eight in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 15.6 points) and they went ahead and made it nine on Tuesday. They secured a 57-53 W over the Mullins Auctioneers. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Monarchs' disadvantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina basketball rankings (they are ranked 100th, while the Auctioneers are ranked 26th).
Leading Manning to victory were Taivon Carter and Lovell Stevenson. Carter went 7 for 12 on his way to 17 points in addition to seven boards and four blocks, while Stevenson dropped a double-double on 16 points and 14 boards. That's the most points Stevenson has posted since back in January of 2024. The team also got some help courtesy of Lovon Stevenson, who posted eight points and seven rebounds.
Manning smashed the offensive glass and finished the game with 16 offensive boards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Mullins only pulled down nine offensive rebounds.
Despite the loss, Mullins saw an underclassman step up: sophomore Dakarai Worley dropped a double-double on 29 points and 13 boards. Those 29 points set a new season-high mark for Worley. Another player making a difference was Deyon Ford, who put up 16 points and six assists.
Manning's win was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-2. Those victories came thanks to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 60.2 points per game. As for Mullins, with the defeat, they broke their eight-game winning streak and moved their record to 12-2.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Manning will square off against Atlantic Collegiate Academy at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Atlantic Collegiate Academy is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 62.5 points per game this season. As for Mullins, they will challenge East Clarendon at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.
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Branchville nips Scott's Branch
The crowd at Thursday's league challenge between the Branchville Yellow Jackets (Branchville, SC) and the host Scott's Branch Eagles (Summerton, SC), observed Branchville's basketball team edge Scott's Branch by a margin of 64-61.
The Yellow Jackets (4-6) will now prepare for their challenge against Military Magnet Academy (North Charleston, SC). The Eagles come into the A Region 5 challenge with a 5-11 record. In their last challenge, Military Magnet Academy was tipped by Bethune-Bowman (Orangeburg, SC), 70-48, in a league challenge.
In their next game, the Eagles battle the St. John's Islanders (John's Island, SC) in a A Region 5 challenge, on Tuesday, January 14. Scott's Branch will attempt to better on its 4-10 season record. The Islanders come into the challenge with a 1-12 record after their 73-31 league loss to Baptist Hill (Hollywood, SC).
East Clarendon takes a loss
East Clarendon was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their fifth straight defeat. They lost 66-42 to the Mullins Auctioneers. The Wolverines were up 42-23 in the first quarter but couldn't hold on to the lead.
Mullins found their leader in sophomore Dakarai Worley, who went 8 of 14 on his way to 18 points along with eight boards and five assists. Worley is also on a roll when it comes to steals, as he's now grabbed two or more in the last 13 games he's played. Amir Lee was another key player, putting up six points along with 11 boards and four steals.
East Clarendon's loss dropped their record down to 5-9. As for Mullins, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won nine of their last ten contests, which provided a nice bump to their 13-2 record this season.
East Clarendon will look to defend their home court on Tuesday against Atlantic Collegiate Academy at 7:30 p.m. As for Mullins, they will head out to take on Kingstree at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Mullins is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 63.5 points per game this season.
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Laurence Manning Academy takes a loss
Laurence Manning Academy played a tough matchup on Tuesday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They lost 60-35 to the Pinewood Prep Panthers. The Swampcats haven't had much luck with the Panthers recently, as the team's come up short the last five times they've met.
It was another big night for Jayden Alexander, who went 6 of 11 from beyond the arc on his way to 28 points and four steals for Pinewood Prep. Alexander has been hot for a while, having posted two or more steals the last nine times he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Tre Green, who went 6 of 12 on his way to 15 points and seven rebounds.
Laurence Manning Academy's loss dropped their record down to 6-8. As for Pinewood Prep, the victory (which was their fourth in a row) raised their record to 12-5.
Laurence Manning Academy and Camden Military will face off at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday without much rest having both just played. As for Pinewood Prep, they will look to defend their home court on Friday against First Baptist School at 7:30 p.m. Pinewood Prep is facing First Baptist School at the right time seeing as First Baptist School is stuck on a seven-game losing streak.
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Clarendon Hall comes up short
Clarendon Hall was not able to break out of their rough patch on Thursday as the team picked up their sixth straight defeat dating back to last season. They took a blow against the Holly Hill Academy Raiders, falling 71-43. One positive for the Saints, at least, is that this was the most points they've scored all season.
Clarendon Hall's loss dropped their record down to 0-5. As for Holly Hill Academy, the victory snapped their losing streak at five games and leaves them with a 3-5 record.
Clarendon Hall will take on Lee Academy at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. As for Holly Hill Academy, they will face off against Calhoun Academy at 7:15 p.m. on Monday.
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Girls Varsity Basketball
Mullins can't hold off Manning
Manning Monarchs (Manning, SC) supporters left the game satisfied Tuesday as they witnessed their basketball squad nudge the visiting Mullins Auctioneers (Mullins, SC), 56-55 in a league match.
With the victory, Manning advances its record to 5-8 on the year. The Monarchs host Atlantic Collegiate Academy (Conway, SC) to face the Armada in a AA Region 7 match on Friday, January 10. The Armada enter the match with a record of 2-9. Atlantic Collegiate Academy lost 43-40 in their recent league match against Lake City (Lake City, SC)
The Auctioneers now own a 4-3 record. They put it on the line next when they host East Clarendon for a AA Region 7 match on Friday, January 10. Mullins will face a Wolverines squad coming off a 45-38 league loss to Kingstree (Kingstree, SC). The Wolverines record now stands at 2-6.
Scott's Branch's luck changes for the better
After having lost a blowout in their previous game against Crestwood, Scott's Branch was happy to have turned things around on Friday. They walked away with a 39-27 win over the Williamsburg Academy Stallions. That looming 39-27 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Eagles yet this season.
Despite the loss, Williamsburg Academy still got an impressive performance from Audrey Wadford, who posted 11 points. Trystan Burrows was another key player, putting up six points.
Scott's Branch moved to 4-6 with that victory, which also ended their five-game losing streak. As for Williamsburg Academy, they are on a seven-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 1-8.
Scott's Branch has already played their next contest, a 42-41 win against Dillon on the 28th. As for Williamsburg Academy, they also didn't take long to hit the court again: they've already played their next matchup, a 45-33 defeat against Manning on the 28th.
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Cherish Cochran's big game can't quite lead East Clarendon over Mullins
East Clarendon was the 53-38 winner over Mullins when they last played one another back in February of 2020, but their luck changed this time around. The East Clarendon Wolverines took a 59-50 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Mullins Auctioneers on Thursday. The Wolverines just can't catch a break and have now endured four losses in a row.
Several Wolverines players turned in solid performances despite ultimately coming up short. Perhaps the best among those players was Cherish Cochran, who posted 25 points and three steals. With that strong performance, Cochran is now averaging an impressive 16 points per game. Another player making a difference was Kierstin Woods, who earned 13 points and five rebounds.
East Clarendon's defeat dropped their record down to 2-7. As for Mullins, they moved to 5-3 with that win, which also ended their three-game losing streak.
East Clarendon will host Atlantic Collegiate Academy at 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday. As for Mullins, they will head out to challenge Kingstree at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Kingstree is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 51.6 points per game this season.
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Laurence Manning Academy has no trouble against Pinewood Prep
Laurence Manning Academy hadn't done well against Pinewood Prep recently (they were 2-7 in their previous nine matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Tuesday. Everything went the Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats' way against the Pinewood Prep Panthers as the Laurence Manning Academy Swampcats made off with a 50-25 victory. That 25 point margin sets a new team best for the Swampcats this season.
Laurence Manning Academy has been performing well recently as they've won five of their last six games, which provided a nice bump to their 7-3 record this season. As for Pinewood Prep, they are on a three-game losing streak that has dropped them down to 1-3.
Laurence Manning Academy will head out on the road to take on Wilson Hall at 6:15 p.m. on Friday. The timing isn't great for Wilson Hall: they have been struggling with three straight losses at home, while Laurence Manning Academy has snatched up three consecutive wins on the road. As for Pinewood Prep, they will take on First Baptist School at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.
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Clarendon Hall fells Holly Hill Academy
The Clarendon Hall Saints basketball team scored 36 points and limited the host Holly Hill Academy Raiders to 16 in the Saints non-league triumph on Thursday.
The Saints now have a 4-0 record. They play next when they travel to Lee Academy for a non-league game on Thursday, January 16.
With the loss, Holly Hill Academy falls to 1-7 on the campaign. The Raiders host Calhoun Academy (St. Matthews, SC) to confront the Cavaliers in a non-league game on Monday, January 13. The Cavaliers go into the game with a record of 5-8.