Hanahan Hawks finding confidence and success on the court

Hanahan boys’ basketball coach Pieter Smits knew the first half of the basketball season might be a struggle. After all, some of his key personnel also played football and the transition from the gridiron to the hardwood court can be a tricky journey.

But now that the season is in full swing, and conference play has commenced, the Hawks have found success. While their winning percentage for the season was just .222 entering this week’s play, the Hawks have been impressive in Region 8-AAA play with a 3-2 record, including a victory over the No. 2 team in the state, the Manning Monarchs.

“The win definitely gave the confidence we needed,” said Smits, whose team went 3-2 in the first round of region play and was scheduled to play Bishop England Tuesday night. “We played in so many tight games that we couldn’t find a way to make a free throw or a layup. For the guys not to fall apart speaks volumes of their character.”

Four members of the basketball team also played football for the Hawks, who had their season pushed back by a week because of a tropical storm and then made a deep run into the third round of the playoffs. The quartet included guard Logan Ammons, forward/center Davis Wood, center/forward Wesley Crain and Mer-Shervon Campbell.

Ammons suffered an injury once he joined the basketball team when he was fouled on a drive to the basket and hit his head on the hardwood. The injury left Ammons with 14 stitches and cost him two and a half weeks of the season.

But that was then and this is now for the Hawks.

The victory over the Monarchs showed just how far the Hawks have advanced under Smits, who guided the team to 14 victories last season.

In late December, the two schools met and Manning jumped to an 18-2 lead at the end of one stop and never looked back en route to a 60-32 victory.

But the Hawks showed they could hang with the state’s No. 2 team last week. Hanahan and Manning were tied 29-29 at halftime and the Hawks shone in the third quarter, to take a 48-43 lead. The Hawks held their breath and hung on to win by two points as Richard Horry and Akim Alston had big roles in the win.

The Hawks followed that up with another close encounter, a 52-48 victory over Waccamaw.

The Hanahan girls began action this week with a 2-12 record, including 1-4 in league play.

PHILIP SIMMONS BASKETBALL UPDATE

In other basketball news, The Philip Simmons girls’ team continues to be a contender in Region 6-AA. Dustin Williams’ squad was 11-7 heading into this week’s action, including 2-3 in region play.

The 2-3 record gives the Iron Horses fourth place in the region. If the team can hold onto fourth place, it will qualify for the playoffs. The Iron Horses were scheduled to play region leader North Charleston on Tuesday.

The boys’ team was 6-11 heading into this week’s action and was 1-4 in league play.