Coach Perry Smalls to retire following SCHSL Playoffs.
By CINDY CROSBY
cindyc4@yahoo.com
The Colleton County High School Lady Cougar Basketball team grabbed second place in Region VII-AAAA after a rather unconventional 7-2 win over Hilton Head High School Tuesday Feb. 11. Yes, you read that correctly — the final score of the playoff implication game was really 7-2. And, if that isn’t mind-boggling enough, it was 3-0 through the third quarter.
“If Hilton Head would have beaten us by 3-points or more, they would have gotten into the playoffs and we wouldn’t have,” explained Coach Perry Smalls in a post-game interview. “With the new SCHSL point system (points allowed), it is no longer just about wins and losses. Hilton Head’s Coach Sean Rochester was trying to hold us under scoring 5-points in the game. We (both coaches) knew what our strategy would be heading into the game, but I didn’t share it with my girls before the game because I didn’t want them to be distracted.
“In the fourth period, Coach Simmons and I got together and decided to let them play a little bit,” said Smalls. “I think we got a little cold, because we were sitting in defense all night. It all worked out in the end. If I would have been in Coach Rochester’s shoes, I would have done the same thing. He is a good friend of mine and all I can say is kudos to him because it almost worked.”
Coach Perry Smalls, who took over the Lady Cougar Basketball program in June 2015, is retiring from coaching at Colleton County High School. Recently married, Smalls plans to play a larger role in his family’s business. But first, he will lead his No. 2-seeded team into the SCHSL AAAA Lower-State Basketball Playoffs.
“When I came back here five years ago, my goal was to win a region championship and to get this program back to where it was when I was here as an assistant years ago,” said Smalls. “I believe I have done a good job toward those goals and will leave the program in good shape for the next head coach. I will support the next coach as much as I can. Being a coach here at Colleton County has been great for me and I appreciate all the support across the years.”
Smalls and the Lady Cougars will have a shot at the Lower-State title beginning Tuesday Feb. 18 when they host Myrtle Beach High School in the opening round.
