Title-hungry Wando girls claim Florence tennis crown

The Wando girls tennis team picked up a championship to begin the 2009 season. But it's the possible championship at the end of the season that drives the 33 girls who make up the team.

The Warriors played in the prestigious Florence Tennis Association's girls championship and beat some high-profile foes to gain the title.

I feel strongly that we can win the state championship," said Becky Williamson, in her 11th year as Wando coach. "They kind of proved they have the ability when they won the tournament. There's some things we have to tweak, but we're on the right track."

The Warriors beat Forsyth Day (Winston-Salem, N.C.), West Florence, Ashley Hall and Providence Day (Charlotte) to win in Florence. The Warriors opened the regular season with a 6-0 victory over a competitive Pinewood Prep team. Five players picked up their first individual victories: seventh-grader Melanie Allen-Moultrie, freshman Legare Passailaigue, freshman Catherine Martin, junior Clair Larkin and junior Alexis Prickett, who had to sit out a year after transferring from Hammond.

The Warriors also have some veterans, including No. 1 singles Corin Hall and the talented doubles duo of Kayla Heller and Alex Klein.

Wando added some strong non-conference foes to the schedule, including Ashley Hall, Hilton Head and Bishop England. Hilton Head is the defending Class AAA state champ, and the Bishops won the AA state title.

Basketball talent

The Lowcountry lost some top-notch basketball players to graduation in May, but there are many talented players who will play on the hardwood this winter, including Berkeley's Bruce Ellington and Fort Dorchester's R.J. Slawson. Both players are listed among the top 100 senior players in the country according to Scout.com.

Ellington is the No. 52 senior in the country, according to Scout. He's 5-10, has blazing speed and an impressive list of basketball scholarship offers. He has a four-star ranking and is the No. 12 point guard in the land.

Ellington, an All-Lowcountry selection in football, lists his top five schools: Clemson, South Carolina, Miami (Fla.), Tennessee and Southern Cal. All schools have good football and basketball programs.

Slawson is No. 69 on the list. He is 6-8 and is the No. 12 power forward in the country. He's already committed to play for USC. His lists of schools included USC, VCU, Clemson, Auburn, Alabama, Cincinnati and College of Charleston.

Both players played for the AAU traveling team Team TMP, which is sponsored by Trademark Properties. Their AAU coach is Antoine Saunders.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com.m .or at 937-5592.