By Thomas Grant Jr.
The first season at Chapin for girls’ basketball head coach Terance Jones ended a round short of the Lower State finals.
The Lady Eagles were defeated 59-34 at Goose Creek on Feb. 24 in the third round of the S.C. High School League playoffs.
Sami Stephenson had eight points and 10 rebounds and Amoria Wright had nine rebounds for Chapin (16-10).
This was the highest win total for the Lady Eagles since it went 18-7 in the 2008-09 season. They also won the Kay Yow Division of the Beachball Classic, finished third in Region 4-5A and earned a first-round bye and home game.
Chapin accomplished the latter without senior forward Reagan Haggard, who suffered a season-ending knee injury.
In addition, freshman guard Alaya Douglas was named Region Newcomer of the Year and Stephenson and Amoria Wright were named to the All-Region team.
“What a year!!!,” Jones tweeted. “This group will go down as one of the best teams in program history. We worked our butts off to be in position to play for the lower state title. We fought through adversity and injuries, but we kept pushing forward. Thank you to my staff and players for great year.”
SOUTH CAROLINA COACHES ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN’S SPORTS PRESEASON SOFTBALL POLL
Class 5A Division I: 1. J.F. Byrnes; 2. Summerville; 3. Sumter; 4. Lexington; 5. Clover; 6. Dorman; 7. Ashley Ridge; 8. West Ashley; 9. Boiling Springs
Class 5A Division II: 1. Catawba Ridge; 2. St. James; 3. West Florence; 4. Woodmont; 5. Berkeley; 6. North Myrtle Beach; 7. Indian Land; 8. Chapin; 9. Nation Ford; 10. Gaffney
Class 4A: 1. Gray Collegiate; 2. York; 3. AC Flora; 4. North Augusta; 5. Midland Valley; 6. Hartsville; 7. South Florence; 8. Westside; 9. Fountain Inn; 10. Darlington
Class 3A: 1. Aynor; 2. Belton-Honea Path; 3. Oceanside Collegiate; 4. West-Oak; 5. Hanahan; 6. Crescent; 7. Loris; 8. Palmetto; 9. Dillon; 10. Chapman
Class 2A: 1. East Clarendon; 2. Saluda; 3. Chesnee; 4. Buford; 5. Ninety-Six; 6. Woodland; 7. Pelion; 8. Chesterfield; 9. Marion; 10. Mid-Carolina
Class A: 1. Latta; 2. Lewisville; 3. Hannah-Pamplico; 4. Whitmire; 5. Branchville; 6. Dixie; 7. Lamar; 8. Lake View; 9. McBee; 10. Ware Shoals
(Photos by Rob Gantt)
