By CINDY CROSBY
The Salkehatchie Indians were eliminated from the NJCAA Division I Region X Post-Season Tournament following a 68-66 loss to No. 2 seed Caldwell Community College. The championship game was played March 5. In game one of the tournament,the Indians, seeded as the No. 4 seed, defeated No. 5 Cape Fear. Advancing, the Indians went on to overtake No. 1 Brunswick Community College with a score of 62-51 in game two.
In the win over Cape Fear on Tuesday, March 1, Kailee White scored 25 points and recorded 3 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals. Derrick Sinkler added 17 points and had 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Other scoring included Trevur Smalls 16, Lee Langstaff 12, Tre’von Spillers 8, and Kharye Cayne 4.
Playing against No. 1 seed Brunswick Community College on Thursday, March 3 in the semi-finals, Salkehatchie was led by Smalls with 18 points and 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals. Other scoring included Sinkler 14, Langstaff 11, and Cayne 4.
No team or individual stats were available for the loss to Cape Fear as of press time.
The Indians finished the 21-22 season 19-13 overall and 8-6 in Region X.
Interim Head Coach Matthew Bennett was named NJCAA Region X Coach of the Year for 2021-22. Three players received post-season honors including DJ Sinkler – First Team All-Region X, Lee Langstaff – First Team All-Region X, and Kharye Cayne – Region X Defensive Player of the Year.
“We had a heck of a season,” said Bennett. “I want to thank the sophomores for believing in me and for making this incredible run. We were not even picked to be relevant in our conference and here we were playing in the post-season championship game. I wish we could have won the game. To our young guys, the returners, let’s do everything we can in the next 365 days to try to get back her next season.”
