Long Cane Academy Sports News

January 11, 2006

Cavalier Basketball Off to a Good Start

     Cavalier basketball is in the air.  After pondering whether or not to field two boys teams and two girls teams for the 2005-2006 season, the coaching staff—Dr. Ernest Stokes, Teresa Goff, and LeRoy Terrell, surprisingly discovered more than enough players needed to field all four teams, and all are competing well in the very tough SCISA Region 2-A.  “It seemed last spring that we would not have enough varsity boys to have a team this season,” Dr. Stokes commented.  Returning players, including senior guard Jamie Smith, junior point guard Clay Weathington, junior guard Jabe Clegg, and sophomore Patrick Guin, were ready to play, but more players would be needed.  A late decision by junior center Brad Bridges to resume his varsity career after a year’s absence, and commitments by senior Michael Collier and freshman Nick Bowick completed the team.  Junior forward John Self also recently joined the team after transferring back from Wardlaw.  After seven games this season, the Cavaliers are 4-3, with 4 region wins, two coming against Pleasant Grove, and one each over Aiken Prep and Covenant Christian.  The Cavs’ three losses include a close 34-27 loss to archrival Wardlaw.  Team leaders in the early going are Brad Bridges who is averaging 14.1 points and 13.7 rebounds per game; Jamie Smith, 10.9 points per game; and point guard Clay Weaghington with 6 assists per game.

The Lady Cavaliers did not field a varsity team last year, but they are building on the unblemished season racked up by last year’s middle school team—undefeated with a perfect 13-0 record.  When asked about the team’s outlook this season, Coach Teresa Goff was enthusiastic.  “Our varsity girls team will be young this year, but the future looks bright ahead.  If we play as a team, we could compete well,” Coach Goff said.  Moving up from last year’s undefeated middle school team are sophomore Brittany Collier; and freshmen Amber Bussey, Tiffany Morgan, Jeanie Lynn Price, Ashley Shealy, and Bridget Weaghington.  Joined by veteran junior players Charley Ann Trammell, Jennifer Banks, and Samantha Storey who recently transferred back to LCA, the Lady Cavs are also 4-3 and off to their best start in seven years.  The team is led by Amber Bussey (7.5 points, 9 rebounds per game), Charley Ann Trammell (5 point average), Ashley Shealy (6 rebounds per game), and Bridget Weaghington (5 assists per game).  Contributing to the team’s early success are 8^th graders Shanna Bridges, Nicole Brown and Jade Deason.  These girls also anchor Coach Goff’s middle school team when not playing varsity.  Other girls on the middle school girls team are 8^th graders Amber McGee and Ashley Madden, 7^th grader Breanna Paysinger, 6^th graders Stephanie Guin and Sara Shaufelberger, and 5^th grader Samantha Hodges.  The middle school Lady Cavs, 1-1 after two games, anticipate having another excellent season.

November 15, 2005

Cavaliers JV Football Team Shows Promise for 2006

     The Cavalier JV football team lost all of its games this season, but you wouldn’t know it from the talk around campus.  The performance of this year’s JV team, the first Cavalier JV squad in over 12 years, seems to have generated a lot of enthusiasm among the Long Cane school family.  Building on this kind of spirit plus living through a fall without a varsity team for the second time in three years, the Cavs hope to field both a varsity team and a JV team in 2006. 

     “Just you wait.  Next year these guys will show folks what they can do”, assistant coach Buddy Rushton commented recently.  “Yes, some of them will move up to the varsity while some will anchor another JV team.  The experience they got this year will be so valuable next season.”

Dr. Ernest Stokes, LCA headmaster and athletic director, was also excited.  Dr. Stokes, who has indicated that he may take the varsity team back over as head coach in 2006, was also very pleased with the season.  “Something is always missing anytime you don’t have varsity football.  We are a small school and enrollment dictates what we can do.  I was apprehensive this fall with our football outlook, but I’ll have to say that this year’s JV team answered a lot of questions.  Yes, it really does look promising for LCA to field two experienced teams next fall.”

    The final stats for the 2005 Cavaliers JV squad are now in the record book.  Offensively, tailback Johnathan Clegg, an 8^th grader, led all scorers with 14 touchdowns and a total of 90 points.  Johnathan gained 891 yards rushing for an average of 8.25 yards/carry.  Johnathan also racked up 527 yards in kickoff and punt returns.  Sophomore Patrick Guin, while playing in only two games, scored three touchdowns and 20 points, and gained 168 yards rushing for an average of 8 yards/carry. C.D. Weaghington, a 6^th grader, rushed for 91 yards and freshman Nick Bowick for 44 yards.  Patrick Guin had six returns for 305 yards while Nick Bowick tallied 119 return yards.  While this year’s team relied primarily on the run, quarterback Gage Banks, another 6^th grader, passed for 134 yards on 7 completions.  Leading all receivers was Nick Bowick with four receptions for 69 yards; Johnathan Clegg also had four receptions for 64 yards.  The team’s leading punter was 7^th grade safety Grant Willis who averaged 30 yards per punt on 7 punts.

     Defensively, Johnathan Clegg led the way with a total of 52 tackles, including 7 sacks, 7 grills, and 2 blocked PAT’s.   Freshman Colby Clegg followed with 44½ tackles, including 7 sacks, 4 grills, and two fumble recoveries; Patrick Guin and Grant Willis with 35½ tackles each; Nick Bowick, 30½ tackles; and 7^th grader Cody Cameron, 20½.  Patrick Guin also tallied 7 sacks.

     Spring practice promises to be exciting this May as the Cavaliers get a head start on 2006.

"CAVALIERS"

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