rss
mobile
Feeds
As their AAU basketball coach over the summer, he also knew exactly what makes each West Ashley player successful during the high school season.
But when it came to figuring out a way to slow down the Wildcats' top duo, the Bishop England coach was left with more questions than answers.
"We had a gameplan," DiBattisto said. "But it didn't quite go according to plan."
Unless, of course, you were on the West Ashley side.
Kennedy scored 17 points and Edwards added seven more to lead the Wildcats to a 56-33 win in the boys championship game of the Hilton Oceanfront Resort Holiday Classic on Monday evening at Hilton Head High.
Kennedy made three 3-pointers in the game, two in the first quarter, to help West Ashley build an insurmountable 29-10 halftime advantage. Edwards, on the other hand, provided the inside work and scored six of his seven points in the paint.
Both players were named to the all-tournament team, with Kennedy being recognized as the MVP of the 27th annual event.
"We got D'Montre going, and when he's scoring inside, it all opens up for me," Kennedy said. "It's bigtime because we can play inside and out."
The Wildcats (8-0) built the rest of their offense on their fastbreak attack, which started with an in-your-face man-to-man defense that forced turnovers in the backcourt. West Ashley's length, along with its quickness, led to numerous easy baskets in the opening two quarters.
"Our halfcourt offense hasn't been as good as I'd hoped. So for us to get clicking, we have to create some turnovers and get some baskets in transition," West Ashley coach Ronnie DuPre said.
Charlie Hughes scored 14 points in the loss for Bishop England (7-2), but no other player was able to top four points. Hughes also made the all-tournament team.
"We were just a little shell-shocked playing against a good team in the championship game," DiBattisto said. "But I thought we played very well this weekend. From a confidence standpoint going forward, I'm very excited about our group."
WEST ASHLEY (8-0) Matt Kennedy 17, Earl Lawrence 9, D'Montre Edwards 7, Donovan Burns 6, Darren Gordon 5, Reggie Edwards 4, Shane Heyward 4, C.J. Seay 2, Jumill Hornsby 2.
BISHOP ENGLAND (7-2) Charlie Hughes 14, Alex Abrams 4, Zack Mills 4, Christian Graham 3, Evan Solomon 2, Walker Heffron 2, Andrew Thatcher 2, James Shahid 2.
Girls championship: McDonogh (Silver Spring, Md.) 73, Wando 52
When Candice Hendricks was asked to play center for McDonogh High School, she didn't make any complaints. Sure, she's only 5-foot-10 and rarely taller than the player she's forced to match up against from the opposing team.
But she always knows that same matchup will give her an advantage in one area -- speed. Hendricks prefers to run the floor in McDonogh's fast-paced, up-tempo offense. And as she proved Monday, when she does that, there aren't many players that can run with her.
Hendricks scored 30 points in the girls title game, giving McDonogh a comfortable win against Wando. The Eagles had a 21-4 advantage in fastbreak points in the first half, in which they had a 20-point lead.
"We like to get after it. We like to get up and down the court," said Hendricks, who was named the tournament's MVP. "I love it because a lot of taller girls can't keep up with me. So it makes it easy."
Emily Willoughby scored 18 in the loss for Wando and was an all-tournament selection.
MCDONOGH -- Candice Hendricks 30, Taylor Cummings 14, Margaret Smith 11, Tiersa Winder 8, Taylor Virden 7, Taryn Durant 3.
WANDO -- Emily Willoughby 18, Kierra Campbell 12, Morgan Behrens 10, Danielle Blunt 9, Katie Weaver 2, Tinsley Hallman 1.
Hilton Head High girls, boys lose on final day
The Hilton Head High boys team wasn't able to carry over momentum from its win against Woodmont on Sunday night, and the Seahawks lost to Wilson, 53-36, in the consolation finals.
Clifford Morrow led the Seahawks (3-8) with 10 points. He was 5-for-6 from the free-throw line. Victor Frazier added seven.
Wilson took a 17-point lead into halftime.
"We had trouble with their pressure," coach Ken Updike said. "We made the adjustments at halftime and played a pretty good second half of basketball."
The Hilton Head High girls team didn't fare much better Monday morning, losing 49-33 to Bishop England to finish the tournament 0-3. The Seahawks (2-6) spotted the Bishops a 12-point first quarter lead, despite Sabrina Drammis' nine-point first half effort.
Drammis, however, wasn't able to find the same success after halftime and finished with nine. Margo Dill posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Jean Weisner had six points and 12 rebounds.
"I think we wore down a little bit playing for the third straight day," coach Dave Greenberg said. "They were very well-coached and very skilled. Their kids shot the ball well."
HILTON OCEANFRONT RESORT HOLIDAY CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Boys
MVP: Matt Kennedy, West Ashley
D'Montre Edwards, West Ashley
Charlie Hughes, Bishop England
Edge Warren, Veritas Christian
Tay Drakes, Airport
Brandon Jones, Wilson
Victor Frazier, Hilton Head High
Girls
MVP: Candice Hendricks, McDonogh
Taylor Cummings, McDonogh
Emily Willoughby, Wando
Jessica Reece, Veritas Christian
Shonta McNeal, Airport
Deskeyia Cohen, West Ashley
Janae Simmons, Orangeburg Wilkinson
