Cane Basketball To Begin Region Play

The varsity Hurricane squads played their first home games of the season last weekend with both squads falling to Spartanburg Christian Academy and Greene County.

On Friday Monticello native Chris Arp brought his school’s team to town for some on the court action. The Lady Canes fell 43-27 while the Canes fell 63-49.

Boys varsity head coach Chris Pennamon noted that his squad lost to a more physical and very well disciplined team in Spartanburg Christian Academy.

“Coach Arp has gotten himself a nice group of boys to come to SCA this year,” he said. “We had a very off shooting night from everyone on our team. We only made three three-point baskets all night.”

M.J. Whitlock scored 17 points, followed by Keon Maddox with 15 points, DeMario Thomas with 7, and Johari Stone with 6.

Against Greene County on Saturday, the varsity boys once again came short to the Tigers with a 69-60 loss.

“On Saturday we once again could not hit any outside shots. We shot nine percent from outside the paint. Inside the paint we were 87 percent.”

Whitlock had 17 points, followed by Maddox with 12, Jordin Thomas and Stone each added 10.

Coach Pennamon went on to say,” If we could have made our jumpers it would have been a better outcome for us, along with playing better defense. When there are four players in double digits you should not lose. It shows a lack of focus on the defensive end of the court and too much focus on the offensive end of the court.

With region action beginning this weekend with action against Social Circle and Union County, an 8AA region team that made it to the state playoffs last year, Coach Pennamon has reiterated to his squad that they have to really play defense.

The coach said that for the first few games of the season the coaching staff was trying to let the boys play to see who could do what. He said with so many new players to the team and many of them being young and missing summer workouts there was much to be done.

“We didn’t have MJ Whitlock, Austin Cumbess, Connor Bradley, Canius Dennis, Graeme Williams and a few others over the summer and without being able to secure a scrimmage after football & cross country season we really didn’t know what we had.”

Social Circle will bring a young 6-2 squad to town Friday for competition that begins at 4:30 p.m. with the junior varsity squad and continue with the varsity.

The varsity boys coach is looking for an interesting match-up both days with a young squad on Friday and an experienced Union County team on Saturday. The Union team is bringing everyone back from their state playoff team, said Coach Pennamon.

“Union is very athletic and loves to push the tempo on both ends. It should be some exciting basketball being played over this week with the middle school getting after it on Wednesday then the varsity finishing the week off.

The varsity squads only will play Saturday, Dec. 14 beginning at 2 p.m.

Coach Pennamon encourages everyone to come out and support all the Hurricanes squads this week with the middle school and varsity.