Gray Collegiate, B-C boys ranked in preseason hoops poll

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Photos by George Matsui

By Thomas Grant, Jr.

Gray Collegiate guard Levi Ball added another honor to his résumé less than a week after signing with Kennesaw State. The senior standout was named an Elite Boys player by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association, joining Josh Leonard (Wilson), B.J. Brown (Sumter), Colt Fowler (J.F. Byrnes) and Caden Coleman.

A Texas transfer, Ball delivered an impressive first season with the War Eagles, averaging 13 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals per game. His return—along with that of head coach Dion Bethea—helps lift Gray Collegiate to No. 3 in the SCBCA Class 4A preseason poll.

Brookland-Cayce, ranked eighth, also enters the season with a new leader. Former University of North Carolina and South Carolina guard Larry Davis takes over for Robert Wells, who departed for Lexington. Davis, a former “Mr. S.C. Basketball,” brings championship experience, having won a state title at Lewisville and reached a runner-up finish at York Prep.

In the girls’ Class 4A rankings, Gray Collegiate is slotted 10th. Defending state champion and Region 5-4A rival North Augusta opens the year as the preseason No. 1.

S.C. BASKETBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION PRESEASON POLL

(Class 4A)

BOYS

  1. Wilson, 2. North Augusta, 3. Gray Collegiate, 4. South Pointe, 5. Lancaster, 6. Seneca, 7. Fountain Inn, 8. Brookland Cayce, 9. Wren, 10. Bluffton

GIRLS

  1. North Augusta, 2 Westside, 3. South Pointe, 4. Camden, 5. Lower Richland, 6. Bishop England, 7. Daniel, 8. Blue Ridge, 9. A C Flora, 10. Gray Collegiate Academy

Airport qualified for competitive cheer final

The Class 4A competitive cheer championship at Colonial Life Arena will crown a new champion this year.

Airport placed 14th to qualify for the final. It will be one of 16 schools looking to succeed Gray Collegiate Academy as champion.

According to athletics director Kevin Heise, the team opted to use this year as a “developmental” year due to a high turnover following the coaching change from Griffin Woods to Katie Nunnerly.

The Lady War Eagles had won three straight titles from 2022-24.

 

 

 

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