Fischer makes small strides in first year at St. James

Mark Fischer is used to undefeated regular seasons.

After his first year at St. James ended in significantly different circumstances, he started his off-season program by turning the microscope upon himself. The Sharks finished 3-7 in Fischer’s initial campaign.

And even though it was the team’s third-best finish in eight years of existence, Fischer was doing anything but patting himself on the back.

“I went in thinking a little bit higher of myself,” Fischer said. “I went a little bit too hog-wild. I might have been teeing off on 18, but the kids were still on one.”

Fischer turned his former gig, Louisa County (Va.), into a state powerhouse. However, he admitted that his biggest fault in his inaugural season at St. James was that he coached as if this year’s Sharks has been in his system for years.

It’s a mistake he’s not willing to repeat.

But it’s also one that doesn’t appear to turning St. James players and potential players off to football.

The Sharks, who failed to make the playoffs, started their offseason conditioning two weeks ago. On the first day, approximately 50 would-be returning and first-year players showed up. That list doesn’t include at least 20 eighth-graders who will join the high-school ranks come June.

At that time, Fischer said he hopes to have his first-year mistakes corrected. He and most of his coaches will participate in clinics with coaches from the University of Virginia, the University of Richmond and Hampden-Sydney College (also in Virginia). Fischer has also arranged meetings his former defensive coordinator from Louisa County.

The St. James coach believes all that will continue to help him change a program that is now 19-63 in eight years of football. Some small glimpses of hope during 2011 makes many believe that progress won’t stop, even if it is at a relative slow pace.

“I thought there were moments we really showed an understanding for what we were trying to accomplish,” Fischer said. “I don’t want to say we made some huge strides. But you could see there were some moments in the last four-five games that it really seemed to make sense. You could see it in their execution.”

Surf and Turf update

The Surf and Turf Kickoff is starting to shape up to be one of the better regular-season football events in 2012.

And fans of Conway and Myrtle Beach who are already planning on attending will soon have the ability to start purchasing discounted tickets. The event’s Web site, www.surfandturfkickoff.com, has gone live. There, fans can learn more about the 2012 event.

Tickets will sell for $12 at the gates. However, $10 tickets will go on sale via the site.

“This is brand new for the fans,” event coordinator Mark Stafford said Monday. “They’ve never done this before.”

In addition to the discounted tickets, fans who purchase online will also receive freebies and discounts at area sponsors. Details on that are expected to be released sometime next week.

The 2012 event will feature a football double-header. Conway will play Northwester at 5 p.m. on August 25, Week 1 of the high school season. Later that night, Myrtle Beach will play Irmo. Both games will take place at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

More details for the 2013 release are on the site, as well. On Aug. 23, 2013, Myrtle Beach will take on long-time North Carolina power Richmond County. The next day, Conway, Irmo and Northwestern will all take on opponents who have yet to be announced. It was originally planned for those three opponents to also come from the North Carolina ranks.

Beach Ball watch

As basketball seasons commence around the season, keep an eye on several 2011 Beach Ball Classic participants.

Bishop Gorman (Nev.), which won the Beach in 2009, is ranked No. 9 in the USA Today Super 25 preseason poll. The Las Vegas school returns five senior starters, including guard/small forward Shabazz Muhammad.

Ranked as the top senior in the class of 2012 by several recruiting services, Muhammad watched the early signing period come and go as he continues to weigh his college options. He’s considering Kentucky, Texas A&M, Kansas, Duke, Arizona, UCLA and UNLV, according to ESPN.com.

State cheer finals

For those of you who missed it, Aynor and Waccamaw finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the Class AA state finals on Saturday at the Bi-Lo Center in Greenville.

The Blue Jackets, who two weeks ago won the Lower State finals, were edged out by six teams from the Upper State. In the finals, Aynor finished with 224 points, 54 behind first-place Liberty. Waccamaw ended the competition with 212 points.

The only other area team to participate in the state finals, Conway, finished ninth in Class AAAA.