Senior scoring leader Patrick Pope takes the ball to the hoop. (Photo/Martha Ladd)
WINNSBORO – All four Richard Winn Eagle basketball teams closed out the regular season at their home nest with victories over the Greenwood Christian Hawks Feb. 7. The Lady Eagles varsity team chalked up win number 23 and remains undefeated as the top seeded region team with an 8-0 record going into region tournament action later this week. The varsity boys’ team also got a timely win over the Hawks, 59-45, to make it the first time this season all four teams, Middle School and varsity, swept their opponents.
With a capacity crowd in attendance, the Lady Eagles put on a show in the first quarter, outscoring the visiting Lady Hawks, 28-0. Holding a commanding lead early on, coach Jason Haltiwanger called off his press and rotated all 10 players in for equal playing time for the rest of the game. Still, the Lady Eagles held the visitors to only two points in the second quarter and 10 in the entire game, with RWA winning 73-10. Five Lady Eagle players scored in double digits. Junior Jessie Stidham and sophomore Jaycie Johnson tallied 14 points apiece, Emily Brigman added 12, Carson Justice had 11 and Alyssa Atkerson scored 10. Anna Cooke contributed 6 points, Cassidy Branham added 4 and Calee Thigpen had 2.
Climaxing the evening’s sporting events was an exciting varsity boys’ game where RWA played with confidence as they pushed the ball up and down the floor to capture the region victory. Once again it was senior Patrick Pope leading the way and tallying the most points, posting 29. He was followed by Cameron Cooper with 8, Mitchell Gibbons had 7, Joseph Goldin added 6 and Mason Gibbons scored 5. Gunnar Hensley and Jason Branham each added a 2-point bucket.
Prior to the varsity boys’ game, a senior recognition ceremony took place, honoring the six senior players and their families – Jason Branham, Anna Cooke, Mason Gibbons, Joseph Goldin, Carson Justice and Patrick Pope. While their basketball playing days at the Eagles’ Nest have come to a close, all six will be major contributors to postseason action on other courts in region and state tournament action. The first round of region tournament action was slated to get under way at Union County High School gymnasium on Thursday, Feb. 13, with the championship games scheduled for Sat., Feb. 15. As of press time, due to wintery weather, it is not certain that these games will be played as originally scheduled.
