By CINDY CROSBY
cindyc4@yahoo.com
The Colleton County Lady Cougars have started the season red hot after going undefeated and capturing the Earl Campbell Pre-Season Thanksgiving Tournament Championship at Whale Branch High School on November 25-27. Colleton County is currently off to a 3-0 start on the regular season with wins over Swansea High School (44-32), Military Magnet (50-28) and Wade Hampton High School (52-27).
In the Earl Campbell Pre-Season Thanksgiving Tournament, the Lady Cougars earned wins over Burke High School (48-38), Ridgeland (46-12) and Allendale (39-35). Omari Kirkland led Colleton County in all three games scoring 44 points. Other overall points included Zy’Aire Johnson 25, Jade Frazier 22 and Makayla Chisolm 24.
Against Swansea Wednesday Dec. 4, Kirkland led with 21 points. Ashley Bowman had 11 points and Chisolm had 6 points.
Kirkland continued her hot streak scoring 19 points against Military Magnet. Other scoring included Chisolm 12, Frazier 10, Johnson 3, McClain 2 and Brown 2.
In the home court win over Wade Hampton High School Saturday on Dec. 7, Kirkland ran the court, scoring 28 points. Other scoring included Frazier 14, Johnson 4, Savage 2 and Bowman 1.
“Right now, I think we are playing good basketball,” said Coach Perry Smalls. “We are shooting the ball well and staying ahead on defense. We also have some players stepping up. Omari Kirkland is leading the team in scoring, averaging about 24 points a game. Jada Frazier is playing a lot better at point guard and averaging about 12 points. We have a sparkplug in Makayla Chisolm, who is coming off the bench at the right time. Ashley Savage is continuing to play hard and with heart, while Ashley Bowman is getting better under the boards.”
“I think the Military Magnet and Swansea games proved we can play,” said Smalls. “We are guard heavy. I believe we are just as good as any of team with guards right now. The Thanksgiving tournament really helped us and got us off to a 3-0 start. It also determined the roles players would be given and defined our depth on the bench. We are going to continue to get better as we face some tough competition in the upcoming weeks.”
Colleton County was scheduled to travel to Battery Creek on Tuesday Dec. 10 and First Baptist on Friday Dec. 13.
