Prep Talk

Area wrestler named state's best

North Myrtle Beach wrestler T.T. Prayther was named the state's Wrestler of the Year by the S.C. Wrestling Coaches Association on Friday.

Prayther finished his senior year with a 51-0 record, winning his third straight individual state championship last week. He finished his career with a record of 204-13.

Fort Dorchester's Robert Quinn was named the Class AAAA Wrestler of the Year; Eastside's Corbin Martin won the Class AAA award; and Chesterfield's Dalton Harper won in Class A/AA.

Read Saturday's edition of The Sun News for the full story.

Georgetown hires next football coach

Carvers Bay defensive coordinator Tyronne Davis was hired Tuesday as the next head football coach at Georgetown.

Davis was chosen over Georgetown assistant and co-athletic director Brian Mahan, who is expected to remain on the staff at Georgetown. Davis, a Clemson graduate, inherits a program that finished 1-9 in 2007 and is 3-26 on the junior varsity level over the past three seasons.

``He'll have his job cut out for him,'' Georgetown principal Michael Cafaro said. ``It will be a difficult task for Tyronne, but, with his skill and knowledge, I think he can do it.''

Cafaro said Davis' work at Carvers Bay, where the Bears reached back-to-back Class A, Division I championship games, was a major factor in the hire.

``Winning is contagious,'' Cafaro said. ``In order to teach winning, you have to be a winner yourself.''

Georgetown narrows candidate pool to 2

One of two in-district applicants will become the next head football coach at Georgetown.

Current assistant Brian Mahan, who also serves as the school's co-athletic director, and Carvers Bay defensive coordinator Tyrone Davis were announced Monday as the school's finalists for the opening, which was vacated when Barry Avant was fired Feb. 1.

They interviewed Monday and Principal Michael Cafaro said the school will name its next head coach Tuesday afternoon.

Read more in Tuesday's edition of The Sun News.

What are the chances for MB on Saturday?

Saturday should be one of the more exciting days in Myrtle Beach basketball history. Both basketball teams will be participating in the Class AAA Lower State championships at The Citadel.

The girls face an opponent they have gotten used to seeing over the past few years, North Charleston, which has beaten the Seahawks in each of the past two postseason. The Cougars lost a lot from last year's team, however, so I think Myrtle Beach is the favorite on paper.

How do you guys think the girls will do?

The boys face Crestwood, perhaps the most talented team in Class AAA basketball. That doesn't mean the Seahawks can't win, but they will definitely have to play well. Crestwood beat Georgetown - a team Myrtle Beach beat twice during the regular season - by 15 on Tuesday, but from most accounts, Crestwood didn't play really well either. The Seahawks aren't super impressive on paper or in person, but I think that helps them lull teams to sleep. Myrtle Beach shares the ball as well as any high school team I can remember. Their selfless play helps them on both ends of the court.

How do you guys think the boys will do?

Class AAA Lower State boys championship
Who | Crestwood vs. Myrtle Beach
Where | McAlister Field House at The Citadel, Charleston
When | 8 p.m. Saturday
Tickets | $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available through Myrtle Beach High School's athletic department by calling 843-445-2048.

Class AAA Lower State girls championship
Who | North Charleston vs. Myrtle Beach
Where | McAlister Field House at The Citadel, Charleston
When | 6 p.m. Saturday
Tickets | $8 in advance or $10 at the door. Advance tickets are available through Myrtle Beach High School's athletic department by calling 843-445-2048.

3 named to North-South rosters

Three area seniors have been chosen to participate in the North-South All-Star basketball games, according to documents obtained by The Sun News.

North Myrtle Beach forward Daryl Edge, Myrtle Beach guard Darius Hemingway and Andrews forward Michelle McGee will all compete for the South in the event, which will be held on March 15 at North Myrtle Beach High School.

Edge averaged 22.5 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, failing to reach double figures only twice all season. Hemingway has averaged 13.7 points per game to lead Myrtle Beach into Saturday's Class AAA Lower State championship. McGee averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds, helping the Yellow Jackets to an upset in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.

Read the full story in Thursday's edition of The Sun News.

State wrestling

Here are the area wrestlers who have qualified to compete at this Saturday's state individual championships. The Class A/AA event will be held at Gilbert High, and the Class AAA event will be held at Airport High.

Class A/AA
103    Jamar Gore    Loris   
112    Laquindian Bromell    Loris
125    Terrance Cox    Loris   
130    Harry James    Loris   
135    John Nichols    Loris   
140    Jamaine Dyson    Loris   
145    Colloyd Jackson    Loris   
152    Alfonzo Oliver    Loris   
160    Maurice Morris    Loris   
189    Jonathan Willard    Loris   

Class AAA
112    Tyler Burnell    St. James   
112    Richie Schneider    North Myrtle Beach   
119    Maurice Grandison    Myrtle Beach   
119    Dylan Hansen    Carolina Forest   
125    Brandon Salters    Myrtle Beach   
125    T.T. Prayther    North Myrtle Beach   
135    Rob Spallone    Carolina Forest   
140   Joey Bilenki Socastee   
152   Bryce Greene    North Myrtle Beach   
160    Eric Holian    Socastee   
189    Taylor Collins    North Myrtle Beach   
189   Caleb Desjardins Myrtle Beach   
215    Chip Hester    North Myrtle Beach   
HW    Chad Rogers    North Myrtle Beach   

Area QB headed to Ivy League

Myrtle Beach quarterback Drew Ellis will play collegiately in the Ivy League at Princeton.

Ellis, the all-time leading passer in school history, finalized his decision this weekend. He visited the school's New Jersey campus several weekends ago and was basically waiting on admissions to finalize his acceptance.

``It's such a big relief,'' he said. ``No I don't have to worry about what I'm going to do next year. There's no worrying about applications.

``It's the perfect blend of great football and academics.''

Ellis, who is 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, is one of three quarterbacks the Tigers will bring in this year.

``It will be good for me to get up there and compete,'' he said. ``I'm going to try to make the travel team this year and see what happens from there.''

And then there were three ....

Three area teams are left in the basketball playoffs.

Myrtle Beach's boys and girls teams won Friday and are still alive. Georgetown's boys advanced with a upset win at North Charleston.

Here is the schedule for the Lower State semifinals:

Monday, Feb. 18
S.C Class AAA Lower State semifinals: Marlboro County at Myrtle Beach, 7

Tuesday, Feb. 19
S.C Class AAA Lower State semifinals: Brookland-Cayce at Myrtle Beach, 7; Georgetown at Crestwood, 7

NBA player to have jersey retired

Former Myrtle Beach basketball star Ramon Sessions, now a member of the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, will have his No. 33 jersey retired in a ceremony between Myrtle Beach's playoff games on Friday night. The girls game begins at 6:30 p.m. and the boys game will follow.

Sessions was the Class AAA state Player of the Year in 2004 as a senior. He averaged 25.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 3.8 steals per game during his stellar career. He played collegiately at Nevada, leaving after his junior year to enter the NBA Draft. He has spent much of this season, his rookie year, with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA Developmental League. He was recalled by the Bucks on Feb. 1.

The NBA is on a break this weekend for the all-star game, allowing Sessions to fly home for the ceremony.

Here are a few of Sessions' achievements at Myrtle Beach:

Class AAA State Player of the Year 2004

All-State 2003 and 2004

All-Region 2002, 2003 and 2004

Toast of the Coast 2002, 2003 and 2004

Toast of the Coast Player of the Year 2003 and 2004

2008 Shrine Bowl combine schedule announced

South Carolina announced its Shrine Bowl combine schedule for the spring and summer of 2008 on Thursday.

Four combines will be held: April 19 at Dorman in Spartanburg; April 26th at Airport in Columbia; May 24th at Wilson and June 14th at Irmo in Columbia. The combines are used to evaluate rising senior players for participation in the Shrine Bowl and to help players receive college scholarships.

Each player's height and weight will be measured and they will be tested on the vertical jump,. 40-yard dash, pro agility shuttle and bench press. Registration at each combine will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a 10:15 a.m. meeting. Testing will be performed from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The cost is $20, payable only in cash, per person. Each player will receive a t-shirt for participating.