Mullins rebuilds, Hemingway set for another title run

For the last three years, Mullins boys coach Mark Gerald has had the luxury of seeing pretty much the same players, the same starting lineup take the floor each and every night for the Auctioneers.

Needless to say, this season will be quite a bit different.

Mullins finished as the Class 2A state runner-up last season, and had a couple of key pieces coming back.

But Division-I commitment Eric Smith transferred to a North Carolina prep school, and two more key players are out until after Christmas for other reasons.

Only Bobby Crawford returns with significant playing experience, and he averaged right at three points a game.

“We’re basically starting over,” Gerald said. “But we’ve got a hungry group of young kids. People came to know Eric and Saquan (McFarland) and those kids, and I think they’ll grow to know these.

“We have high expectations at Mullins. It doesn’t really matter who’s out there.”

As with a lot of teams, Gerald is hoping the experience his squad gains in its non-region schedule will pave the way for another successful march through Region 8-2A.

The Aucs will have to contend with Marion, Dillon and Cheraw for another shot at a state title as well.

“There’s a lot more teaching going on now during the practices than there has been in the past,” Gerald said. “And that’s rewarding, too. It’s always rewarding as a coach to see your players take what
you say and transfer it out on the court.”

Another big difference for Gerald this season is his health. The long-time Aucs coach missed much of the first part of last season dealing with treatments for colon cancer.

But so far, his road to recovery has been smooth.

“It’s always in the back of your mind,” Gerald said. “It’s really more of a mental thing than physical. But all of my checkups have been clean.

“Being on the basketball court is like therapy for me anyway.”

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Hemingway. The Tigers fell to Calhoun County in the Class A lower state finals last season, but return four of five starters.

“We only lost one player, but it was a big one in Tashan (Fredrick),” Hemingway coach Barry McFadden said. “It’s tough to lose a player like that, but we feel we have a strong nucleus coming back that
should help get us to where we want to be.”

Fredrick averaged almost 25 points a game for the Tigers, but they’re bolstered by the returns of Quintin Brown, Shaquille Wells and Jazjuan Wilson.

“I think we’re the deepest we’ve ever been since I’ve been here,” McFadden said. “We can go to or three deep at the one, two and three positions.”

The Tigers might need every bit of depth they have. Region 8-2A is the deepest it’s been in years, McFadden said.

“Carvers Bay, Latta, Johnsonville can all beat you on a given day,” McFadden said. “They have a lot of talent coming back on every team, so it’s going to be a tough battle for the region crown.”

Class 3A will have a different look to it as well. Wilson has a new coach in DeAndre Scott, but their top two scorers (Alan-Michael Thompson and Shahmel Bracket) have graduated.

Lake City lost several key players, as did Marlboro County, last year’s Carolina Classic champions.

Darlington lost Donnie James, but gains another potent scorer in the form of Jordan Scott, a transfer from Hartsville.

In Class 4A, Hartsville returns a mostly veteran team, and the South Florence Bruins’ young squad of last season has a year under it’s belt. The Knights of West Florence will field a young group this season.