The Richard Winn varsity boys’ basketball team seemingly hit a brick wall over the past three games and found themselves frustrated and on the losing end of those contests, two of them at home against region foes Spartanburg Christian and Oakbrook Prep. The third loss over the past week came on the road at the hands of non-region Mid-Carolina High School in Prosperity.
Jan. 8, the Warriors of Spartanburg Christian came to town to show off their superior skills as they handily defeated the Eagles, 89-43. Two days later the Eagles traveled across the Broad River Bridge into Newberry County to match up against the Mid-Carolina Rebels. The irony of this game was found in the coaching staff of the two schools. Rebels coach Emmanuel DeWalt is one of RWA coach Joe Pitt’s former players from a team he coached prior to joining the staff at RWA. DeWalt’s Rebels, like the SCA Warriors, proved themselves superior as the visiting Eagles surrendered yet another stinging defeat, 94-41, in the same week.
RWA’s senior Logan Gibbons and sophomore Cameron Cooper posted 18 and 17 points, respectively, for the Eagles in the Mid-Carolina contest while Rebel Zach Parker led all scorers with 23 points for Mid-Carolina. RWA players Reid Johnson added three points, Patrick Pope had a two-point basket and Jason Branham contributed a free throw point.
Tuesday night’s home contest against Oakbrook Prep’s varsity boys was even more humbling for the RWA team, trailing 74-34 at the halfway point in the game. The Eagles struggled the entire first half to find a way to beat the Knights’ size, quickness, and stonewall full court press, and, as a result, the Knights took full advantage of the Eagles’ costly turnovers. While the Eagles fought back and never surrendered, the 109-48 final score reflected on the scoreboard, served as an ugly reminder of the outcome and as a nail in the coffin.
Cooper led the Eagle scoring with 24 total points while knocking down six three-point baskets, four of those coming in the second quarter. Unfortunately for the Eagles, Cooper went down and out with a knee injury about mid-way through the fourth quarter. Nine other Eagles posted points in the scorebook. Freshman John Coleman added four points and five teammates contributed three points each – Pope, Mitchell Gibbons, Corey Davis, Logan Gibbons and Johnson. Mason Gibbons and Joseph Goldin added two points apiece, and Branham scored a free throw. Oakbrook had four players scoring double digits, but it was John John Caldwell who led all Rebel scorers with 24 points.
Pitt will likely get back to the “drawing board” and map out a new game plan for his varsity Eagles as they practice and re-group to host another region opponent (Greenwood Christian) Friday (Jan. 18).
