High school notebook: Conway girls changing hoops culture

The Conway girls basketball team has already broken one less-than-desirable streak by making the playoffs.

Now, the Tigers are hoping to end a much more significant one. With a win over Fort Dorchester at home in the opening round of the playoffs on Tuesday, it would mark the program’s first postseason victory since at least the 1990s, before current coach Shamae Hemingway even played for Conway.

“We can only dictate what it is now. We know what it is in the past,” said Hemingway, who is her ninth season as the team’s head coach. “This itself is a new generation of kids. This is a good group. This is the best group since that playoff group in ’07-’08. I know they want to make a new culture of Conway basketball.”

The year she referenced was the last time the Tigers made the playoffs. They lost to Berkeley 46-45 in a heartbreaking defeat at home that both Hemingway and the Conway faithful had hoped was a sign of better things to come.

Before then, the team had qualified for the playoffs just one time in the previous eight seasons. But a short time later is when Hemingway made another move that would pay off for the future. She launched a summer travel team to get the area youth more involved as well. It turned into a feeder program, one with its stamp all over the current team.

The likes of Zareka Chadmon, Janecia Hemingway, Aishera Williams and others came up the ranks together, and they formed the nucleus of a team that this year made a significant jump.

“We were able to start a group knowing that I needed to do that to help the program. Now that is that group,” Shamae Hemingway said. “This isn’t something where you can just pick up the ball in November and expect to win, unless you just have pure studs.”

Conway’s strides this year have shown how the long-term development could pay off in chunks. After missing out on the playoffs each of the last seven years – often by a single game – the Tigers finished second this year with a 7-3 record in region play. It’s the most region victories and overall wins (14) the team has had under Hemingway.

The exact year of the team’s last playoff victory wasn’t immediately known (official records were only available as far back as 2000). Either way, at least most of the team’s current contributors were not even born the last time Conway tasted postseason success.

“A lot of people say I have a young group. Technically I kind of do. But it’s a group that has been playing for a long time,” Hemingway said. “The last two years we have been close to making the playoffs. … I think this year, we did grow some and it allowed us to finish it out some. I would hope with the growth that we did show, it would help us continue on.”

ANOTHER YEAR OF PLAYOFF ROAD WOES?

The South Carolina High School League playoffs are set up to offer a significant advantage for home teams in the opening round of the playoffs, be it for football, baseball, softball or any of the other sports using the current Nos. 1-4 seeding process. In basketball, it’s no different.

The teams that earned a first-round home game, courtesy of a top-two finish in their region, won 79.5 percent of their playoff openers a year ago. Much like football – where home teams in the state’s lower three classifications won 79.2 percent of the first-round matchups that year – those that played better during the regular season were usually able to carry that into the postseason.

The biggest disparity a year ago was in Class AAA girls. Only one team, St. James, won a road playoff game. In Class AA girls, only two teams won away from home in the opening round, and AAAA and A girls and AAA boys accounted for only three upsets.

Those types of figures – which tend to follow suit year in and year out – may not be a good sign for the whole of the local teams that qualified for the postseason. Fifteen teams earned a playoff bid, but only six of them are at home.

What’s more, the few lower-seeded teams that make it out of the first round rarely do so again the second. Teams playing at home in the second round win at a rate of 87.5 percent. Based on seeds alone, there were no upsets in Class AAAA (boys or girls) or in Class AA boys in that round last season.

So while matchups and getting hot this time of year can provide a boost, it is almost always the chalk that wins in the end. Another example from last year’s playoffs continued to prove that point. Of the 32 teams that advanced to either the Upper or Lower State playoffs, only one (the Lower Richland boys in Class AAA), were not a No. 1 or No. 2 seed.

AREA BASKETBALL NOTES

▪ On Monday, the SCHSL released its findings from a brief investigation into the Timberland-Andrews girls basketball incident from last week. During the game, six players from each team were ejected after a fourth-quarter fight erupted. The High School League will allow each team to participate in the playoffs. However, player suspensions from both team have occurred, according to the release, based upon each player’s involvement in the fight. It was not immediately clear how many players were suspended from each team, or for how long. But either way, Timberland will be playing local school Waccamaw on Tuesday night somewhat shorthanded.

▪ The Conway girls game against Fort Dorchester was moved to 6 p.m. Tuesday. As of last check, the rest of the area’s first-round games would remain at the standard 7 p.m. time.

▪ Toast of the Coast nomination instructions have been sent to area coaches. The deadline is Monday, Feb. 22. Questions may be directed to ian@ianguerin.com.

ALL-REGION BASKETBALL HONORS

As basketball teams around the state wrapped up their regular-season games, regions also gave out plenty of hardware over the weekend. So far, four area standouts were named their respective region’s Player of the Year, while three coaches earned top honors for that category.

Below is the list of regions that have released their top squads.

Postseason awards for Region VIII-AA boys and Region VIII-A girls have yet to be released.

REGION VI-AAAA BOYS

Carolina Forest’s Duane Moss, Ismael Garcia and Damon McDowell were joined by Conway’s Jimmy Nichols and Socastee’s Jason Cudd on the All-Region VI-AAAA squad. Panthers coach Brian Brunson, who also steered the team to a share of the region title, was named the Co-Coach of the Year along with Sumter’s Sean Jones.

West Florence’s Cartier Diarra, who recently verbally committed to Kansas State, was named the region’s Player of the Year.

Player of the Year: Cartier Diarra, West Florence

Co-Coaches of the Year: Brian Brunson, Carolina Forest; Sean Jones, Sumter

▪ Cedric Rembert, Sumter

▪ Jalen Corbett, Sumter

▪ Charles Patton, Sumter

▪ Duane Moss, Carolina Forest

▪ Ismael Garcia, Carolina Forest

▪ Damon McDowell, Carolina Forest

▪ Sharone Wright, West Florence

▪ Justin Ford, South Florence

▪ Dominique Small, South Florence

▪ Jimmy Nichols, Conway

▪ Jason Cudd, Socastee

REGION VI-AAAA GIRLS

Conway’s Aishera Williams and Janecia Hemingway, Socastee’s Mia Angelo and Shayla Baldwin and Carolina Forest’s Alexis Tomlin were the five locals named to the all-Region VI-AAAA girls team.

Sumter’s Jessica Harris was selected as the region’s player of the year.

Player of the Year: Jessica Harris, Sumter

▪ Kyra Wilson, Sumter

▪ Anna McBride, Sumter

▪ Aishera Williams, Conway

▪ Janecia Hemmingway, Conway

▪ Mia Angelo, Socastee

▪ Shayla Baldwin, Socastee

▪ Jazmyn Jackson, West Florence

▪ Qianna Hodge, South Florence

▪ Alexis Tomlin, Carolina Forest

REGION VII-AAA BOYS

North Myrtle Beach’s Josh Livingston, Chris Johnson and Cameron Koehler earned Player, Newcomer and Coach of the Year honors in Region VII-AAA after the Chiefs won the division title on the final day of the regular season.

Joining Livingston on the all-region first team were Jackson Hurston of St. James, Myrtle Beach’s Bryce Schneider and Wilson’s Blake Walker and Jamal Bryant.

Coach Of The Year: Cameron Koehler, North Myrtle Beach

Player Of The Year: Josh Livingston, North Myrtle Beach

Co-Newcomer Of the Year: Chris Johnson, North Myrtle Beach, Tyshawn Baines, Lake City

First Team

▪ Josh Livingston, North Myrtle Beach

▪ Jackson Hurston, St. James

▪ Bryce Schneider, Myrtle Beach

▪ Blake Walker, Wilson

▪ Jamal Bryant, Wilson

Second Team

▪ Duncan LeXander, Wilson

▪ Cavonte Gamble, Georgetown

▪ Zach Werba, St. James

▪ Tyrek Epps, Lake City

▪ Adam Zam, Myrtle Beach

Third Team

▪ Robert Swanson, Myrtle Beach

▪ Vence Hannah, Lake City

▪ Maurice Finch, North Myrtle Beach

▪ JaMonty Williams, Wilson

▪ JaQuan Chestnut, Myrtle Beach

REGION VII-AAA GIRLS

Myrtle Beach forward Nia Sumpter led a Seahawk-laden roster for the All-Region VII-AAA team. Sumpter, the region’s Player of the Year, was joined on the first team by teammate Keocia Walker, as well as North Myrtle Beach’s Aquera Johnson, St. James’ Kimmie Hotzelt and Wilson’s Shamiyah Barnes.

The region, which honors three teams’ worth of players, included four total Myrtle Beach players and Jennifer Dennison, who was named the Coach of the Year. St. James’ Abigail Rumpf was honored as the region’s Newcomer of the Year.

Player of the Year: Nia Sumpter, Myrtle Beach

Newcomer of the Year: Abigail Rumpf, St. James

Coach of the Year: Jennifer Dennison, Myrtle Beach

First Team

▪ Nia Sumpter, Myrtle Beach

▪ Aquera Johnson, North Myrtle Beach

▪ Shamiyah Barnes, Wilson

▪ Kimmie Hotzelt, St. James

▪ Keocia Walker, Myrtle Beach

Second Team

▪ Kelsi Bachmann, St. James

▪ Bryanna Goodson, Wilson

▪ Kiana Adderton, Myrtle Beach

▪ D’Asia Gregg, Wilson

▪ Arian Lance, Georgetown

Third Team

▪ Ivey Collins, Myrtle Beach

▪ Rayna Crosby, Georgetown

▪ Bethany Goodrich, St. James

▪ Makala Gore, North Myrtle Beach

▪ Casma Washington, Wilson

REGION VIII-AA GIRLS

Waccamaw’s Samirah Murray and Brianna Brooks, Loris’ Myia Bellamy and Aynor’s Madison Barton were the locals selected to the All-Region VIII-AA girls team. Dillon’s Khamele Manning was named the Player of the Year while Mullins’ Myron Gerald earned Coach of the Year honors.

Coach of the year: Myron Gerald, Mullins

Player of the Year: Khamele Manning, Dillon

▪ ZaaKariah Williams, Mullins

▪ Serenity Williams, Mullins

▪ Brittany McDonald, Mullins

▪ Shacoya Moore, Mullins

▪ Khamele Manning, Dillon

▪ Da”Kheria Samuel, Dillon

▪ Jykya Bell, Dillon

▪ Samirah Murray, Waccamaw

▪ Brianna Brooks, Waccamaw

▪ Ariaher Morrisey, Marion

▪ Myia Bellamy, Loris

▪ Madison Barton, Aynor

REGION VIII-A BOYS

Carvers Bay forward Arkel Williams was named the Region VIII-A Player of the Year after helping the Bears to a second-place finish. He was joined by teammates Tyrek Reed and Dijon Goss on the all-region team. Green Sea Floyds’ Jacquez Geralds and Shammond Williams were the other two locals included.

Player of the Year: Arkel Williams, Carvers Bay

▪ Jordan Porchea, Hemingway

▪ Desmond Pressley, Hemingway

▪ Darius Taylor, Hemingway

▪ Tyrike Lewis, Hemingway

▪ Tyrek Reed, Carvers Bay

▪ Dijon Goss, Carvers Bay

▪ Kartilus McFadden, Latta

▪ Tyquan Porter, Latta

▪ Jacquez Gerald, Green Sea-Floyds

▪ Shammond Williams, Green Sea-Floyds

▪ Aykelle Cross, Creek Bridge

▪ Darius Ford, Lake View

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "High school notebook: Conway girls changing hoops culture."