South, West teams assert themselves in Region 6-4A race

The rebuilding of the South and West Florence boys’ basketball programs is right on schedule.

After missing out on the postseason last year under new coaches, the Bruins and Knights are in the thick of the Region 6-4A race this season.

South (11-6, 3-1) enters tonight’s game against Carolina Forest tied for first with the Panthers, while the Knights (12-8, 2-2) are tied are with Sumter and are just a game behind. The top three teams from the region make the postseason.

If both South and West make the playoffs, it will be only the third time in the last 11 years that both will have made the postseason in the same year.

“We had moments last year, but we didn’t have any kind of consistency and focus that good teams need to have,” South coach John Schweitz said. “And that’s what I have stressed to them and these kids have bought into it.”

“Our guys are pretty excited,” said Pete Ellis, who came to West after coaching at Marion. “It is exciting to get some big wins and we are just living in the moment.”

Both teams have had their share of big moments this season.

The Bruins’ signature win came against Wilson on Dec. 15, when they defeated the Tigers 66-57. It was South’s first win over the city foe since 2008. South followed that up with a 3-1 showing at the Pepsi Carolina Classic and now have their sights set on what is believed to be its first region title.

“The win over Wilson showed how dangerous we can be if we play at our best,” Holmes said. “Now, we are coming together and it would be great to win a region title.”

Holmes and guard Will Daniels have been the Bruins’ top scorers, but have had plenty of help from Kris James, Erius Rogers and Michael Ellis.

Schweitz calls Holmes, who is averaging 10.8 points and 10.6 rebounds, the team’s most improved player. As the Bruins’ junior varsity coach two years ago, Schweitz cut the New Jersey native, then a sophomore.

Holmes made the varsity squad last year, but didn’t have the impact he is having this year.

“Being cut made me work on game harder,” he said. “Coach Schweitz is a good coach and he got everybody on board and believing. “

“I don’t know if I ever coached a player who has improved so much. He’s got that basketball toughness,” Schweitz said.

Toughness is what Schweitz has stressed and demanded of his teams, whether it’s now or when he was coaching at Francis Marion several years ago. He is not afraid of showing his emotion on the bench, during timeouts and at practice.

“He is tough, but we like it. It makes us play better,” Holmes said.

The Knights started off strong, winning their first four games, and have gotten a pair of big wins in region play. West beat Conway on Jan. 17 for their first region win in three seasons and defeated Sumter 60-52 on Tuesday for their first win over the Gamecocks since 2008.

The Knights’ 12 victories are twice their win total from last year and West is in search of its first region title since 1998.

“Our group is so resilient, we can take it in stride and try not to be high or too low,” Ellis said. “But when we get these wins, we are like, ‘Hey we can do it.’”

And West is doing it without a marquee player. No one on the squad averages more than 8.8 points a game. Ellis uses a deep bench and plays anywhere from 10 to 12 players a game.

Ellis has gotten big minutes from 6-foot-4 twins Tanner and Sawyer Elgin, who are among the area leaders in blocked shots. The Knights have gotten big minutes from junior Akeem Bostick, who had 13 on Tuesday against Sumter, as well as Ryan Ellis, Grey Strait and Shamari Moses.

“We had a lot of young players last year and they were able to develop during summer workouts and have bought in to what we are trying to do,” Ellis said. “I knew it was going to be a lot of work. It was such a huge change for a lot of players I’m very proud and happy where we are right now.”

REGION 6-4A RACE 

Team W-L Overall

South Florence 3-1 11-6

Carolina Forest 3-1 13-5

West Florence 2-2 12-8

Sumter 2-2 13-6

Conway 0-4 8-12 

REMAINING GAMES

South Florence — Carolina Forest (today); at Sumter (Tuesday); vs. Darlington (Feb. 3, non-region); at Conway (Feb. 7); vs. West Florence (Feb. 10)

West Florence — at Carolina Forest (Tuesday); Conway (Feb. 3); Sumter (Feb. 7); at South Florence (Feb. 10)