Who are the greatest high school basketball teams?
Throughout the prep season, student athletes provide a brand of entertainment that rivals the colleges and universities seen on ESPN U. The action that people of all ages go wild for, and remain loyal to, are their respective sports programs in school districts across South Carolina.After watching my alma mater Mullins High School, and another school I’m very familiar with, Marion High School, participate in the state championship games in Columbia, something came to mind. The Auctioneers and Lady Foxes were among the best teams in the state of South Carolina and played outstanding during the 2008-2009 season.
However, did the “Fab Five” of Eric Smith, Stacy Wilson, Donte Cooper, Seqwan McFarland, and Darnell Coleman form a possible “dream team?” Did they make a case to be recognized as the school’s all-time greatest team? What about the prior season? That's when the squad went 24-1 with all-star and Class 2A State Player of the Year Andrew Crawford.
Did Geneika Brantley, Candace Wright, Shaquita Taylor, Jessica Grant, Amber and Amira Timmons not only make history winning the Class 2A state championship, but became the best Lady Foxes team ever assembled?
Growing up in Marion County, a number of great teams brought prestige to their programs. I remember Marion’s “twin towers” Quincy Gause and Terrell McKelvey in the early 1990’s. Coach Taft Watson couldn’t lose a game out in Terrell’s Bay with Lawanda Boatwright, Connie Reaves, and Latonya Williamson. Mullins coach Fred Senter could name a few “all-time greats;” including his squads that featured players like “Buffy” Graves, Sasha Reaves, Nicole Williams, Martina Smith, Dawn Turner, and Kristi Smith.
Darlington’s Bryan Scott and Orlando Hudson, along with Myrtle Beach Seahawk Travis Spivey were fun to watch during what I call the best season I ever witnessed at MHS. Coach Mark Gerald opened the 1996-1997 season with a 17-0 record and his team reached the lower state final after a “cinematic” come-from-behind victory over Jermaine O’Neal and an Eau Claire team attempting to win four consecutive state championships.
Radford University basketball assistant coach Cedric Smith was an all-state senior guard along with Curtis Williams. Those two were highly regarded in the state and proved it on the court. Dawani Fladger had all the right moves providing an inside presence, while Ryan White was a sniper behind the arc. It was a perfectly balanced team that included a versatile John Johnson, Sedric Owens, Kevin Bethea, Donald Hardnett,Marcus Leggett and athletic defender Alex White.
I could go on and on talking about this squad. Our school packed buses and traveled in droves to playoff games in Darlington, Columbia twice, and Orangeburg. Reakwon the Chef released the classic “Purple Tape” around that time, and with me being the biggest fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, it provided the soundtrack to the most memorable sports moment in my area.
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on 04/05 at 11:00 AM
