Girls
The Cambridge Academy Lady Cougars ended the 2022-23 season hoisting the championship trophy as they were crowned the SCISA 1A state champion. This season, head coach Amanda Deason and her squad are looking to do the exact same thing.
“We want to do exactly what we did last year,” said Deason. “We have to stay disciplined and we have to play as a team.”
The Lady Cougars should not have much trouble achieving that, as they only lost one senior to graduation. That senior was Faith Harvley, who averaged 6.7 points per game and a team high of 8.9 rebounds per game last season. According to Deason, the Lady Cougars should be just fine.
“Losing (Harvley) was a big hit to the post, but we added two new post players,” said Deason. “We have a special group of four seniors this year, so I think we’ll be okay.”
One of those seniors is captain Jillian Mapes, one of the most important pieces to this Lady Cougar squad. Mapes averaged a team high of 11.7 points per game last season, while adding 4.6 rebounds per game. It doesn’t stop there, as Mapes is even more fierce on defense. According to Deason, Mapes will be key in securing another title.
“She can play anywhere on the court,” said Deason. “She is the leader of our basketball team, plain and simple.”
Other key pieces for the Lady Cougars include senior Indya Southerland, who averaged 8.6 points per game and 2.3 steals per game last season, as well as senior Alex Cockrell, who averaged 6.5 points per game and a team high of 3.5 steals per game last season.
The Lady Cougars open their season on November 27th against Greenwood Christian.
Boys
When head coach Jacob Lethco took the job at Cambridge Academy last season, he became the fourth coach in four years. With a final record of 2-19, the Cougars were certainly in a transition period last season. However, Lethco is determined to bring long-term success to the Cougar basketball program.
“I’m very excited for this season,” said Lethco. “We’re bringing back three guys who were really thrown into the fire last season, so I’m hoping with another year of experience that we can win some of the games we were competitive in last year.”
In the spring, the Cougars lost Spence Hagood and Seth Massey to graduation. This year’s Cambridge squad is young. There are no seniors on the roster. However, junior guard Maddox Lee, who averaged a team-high of 15 points per game, including a 38-point performance in which he hit nine three-pointers, is set to take on the leadership role. According to Lethco, Lee, the two-time all-region selection, will be crucial to the success of the team.
“Maddox can really shoot the ball,” said Lethco. “Everybody knows what he can do.”
Another key piece for the Cougars this season will be Andrew Wiley. Wiley averaged 10.5 points per game and a team high of 9.5 rebounds per game as a freshman, including multiple impressive performances against much bigger upper-classmen. According to Lethco, Wiley will be where the Cougars win games.
“Like I said, everyone knows what Maddox can do, but we’re going to hit the next level with Andrew,” said Lethco. “He was getting used to varsity basketball last season, so I think he will really take the next step this season.”
Other key pieces include junior Jaret Proctor, who averaged 4.2 points per game and 3.1 rebounds per game last season, as well as Noah Harvley and Mac Price.
The Cougars started their season 2-0 with victories over Oconee Christian Academy and Palmetto Christian Academy of Greenwood. Their next regular season game is November 27th against Greenwood Christian.