Swamp Foxes poised to repeat

Marion girls basketball coach Leon Sturkey likes his team’s chances to repeat as Class 2A state champions.

With nine players returning from last year’s squad, the Swamp Foxes feel good about the upcoming season. But Sturkey has some concerns.

“Just like last year, staying healthy is the key,” he said. “Our kids are a year older, and we have to get used to being the hunted instead of the hunters.”

“First of all, we need to be in shape. We have to hit the weight room so we’re stronger and not falling all over the court and getting pushed around,” Marion junior center Geneika Brantley said. “Second, we have to focus.”

Sturkey will lean on the 1-2 punch of Brantley and junior forward Candace Wright to provide scoring and leadership. Brantley averaged 17.1 points, 12 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 1.5 steals last season.
Wright followed with 14.6 points and nine boards per game.

The rest of the Swamp Foxes will have to follow their lead if Marion wants to hoist the state trophy again.

“Depth could be an issue for us,” said Sturkey, whose team went 25-2 last season. “I would like to see some of our younger players respond in big-game situations.”

“We have a big target on our backs right now,” Brantley said. “Everybody wants to beat us now that we’ve won the state title.”

Marion isn’t the only team looking to make a return appearance to the Colonial Life Center in Columbia. Darlington watched Lower Richland celebrate the Class 3A title at its expense, and is looking for
revenge.

But the road will be much tougher this season. The Falcons lost two of their top three scorers from last year’s team: Kierra Patterson and Antionette McPhail to graduation. Shebria Jett took her eight
points and 40 percent 3-point shooting to Hartsville to play for coach Pat Hewitt.

“We lost 34 points per game from those three players,” said coach Brian Rozzelle, whose team averaged 62 points per game en route to a 25-3 record last season. “We know we’re gonna have to go
inside more this season.”

The Falcons are returning second-leading scorer and rebounder Jazz Green. Green averaged 12.1 points and seven boards per contest last year, and will be joined by center Jessica McCall.

“Jazz Green is our mainstay. She’s going to get everyone involved until it’s time for her to take over,” Rozzelle said. “Jessica McCall was our freshman sensation last year. Her job will be to control the
inside.”

Darlington did add a piece to its lower state puzzle. When Jordan Scott transferred from Hartsville to play for the Falcons, his sister Lauren moved along with him.

“Lauren Scott’s going to start for us this year,” Rozzelle said. “But she’s going to have to learn my style of basketball.”

Rozzelle added this season is going to be a challenge.

“This is where the real coaching comes,” he said. “We can’t go out and recruit people, so we have to do the best we can with what we have.

While Darlington is aiming for another chance at a state title, Wilson is looking to unseat the Falcons as the top team in Class 3A’s lower state. The Tigers lost to Darlington in last year’s lower state
championship game at Marlboro County High School, and coach Ann Talbert said her team is motivated.

“The Lady Tigers enter this season with high expectations. Nine seniors will lead the squad this season and we hope to do something historical,” she said. “We haven’t forgotten that loss in the lower
state Championship last season. We don’t talk about it a lot but it is in the back of our minds every day when we go to work.”

Despite losing Brittany Davis, Wilson returns four starters. Guards Tish White and Brittany McIver both averaged over 10 points per game last season and will be joined by senior Shamaine Bactoe.

Talbert is also expecting huge things from her frontcourt.