LAURINBURG — End-of-year accolades rolled in for the Scotland boys and girls basketball teams this week as five players were named all-Southeastern Conference for their performance on the hardwood.
On the boys side, sophomore Niem Ratliffe and senior Willie Douglas were honored by the conference, and they also received recognition from North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association. Scotland’s top two scorers this season were named third-team all-district in District 8.
For the girls, senior Ashlyn Dial, junior Khasiya Sellers and junior ShanQaylia Stanton made the all-SEC squad for the third consecutive year, and head coach Janie Hodges was tabbed by her peers as the conference Coach of the Year for the third season in a row.
Stanton was also selected as the Co-Player of the Year in the SEC, sharing the award with Lumberton’s London Thompson.
The Scotland boys finished 11-13 overall this year and tied for fourth in the SEC with a 5-5 conference record. The Scots, coached by Matt Justin, did not qualify for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A playoffs.
Ratliffe, like most of Scotland’s youthful core, played his first full season on the varsity roster this year and showcased his budding potential as a high-scoring guard. The 5-foot-10 sophomore averaged 13.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game.
Douglas, a 6-foot-4 senior, paced the Scots in scoring and blocks. A key reserve from Scotland’s 2015 SEC championship-winning squad, Douglas averaged 14.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per contest as a starter this year.
Richmond’s Jaylan Terry was awarded SEC Player of the Year, and Raider coach David Laton shared Conference Coach of the Year honors with Hoke’s Quame Patterson. The Bucks and Raiders shared the SEC regular season championship, but Richmond won the conference tournament title.
The two schools had three all-conference selections apiece — Wesley Baldwin, D’Cota Cummings and Silas Love were named for Hoke, and Lavell Ellerbe and Leon Ziegler joined Terry for Richmond.
Pinecrest also had a trio of players named to the squad in Donnie Haith, Andrew Harmony and Brandon Harrell.
Lumberton’s Mike Dunbar and Purnell Swett’s Mathias Carter wrapped up the selections.
The Scotland girls clinched at least a share of the SEC title for the fifth straight year, sharing the crown with Lumberton. The Scots compiled a 17-10 mark and finished 9-1 against conference foes. Hodges’ team earned a bid to the NCHSAA 4A playoffs, but Scotland was ousted in the first round for the third consecutive season.
Dial, a 5-foot-4 guard, capped her stellar prep career with another appearance on the all-SEC squad, posting season averages of 10.8 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.3 steals per game.
Stanton also earned her third straight all-SEC honor, averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals per outing this season. The 5-foot-6 junior led the Scots in points, assists and steals.
Sellers was Scotland’s final representative on the all-conference team — the 6-foot-2 junior averaged 10.7 points per game and led the team in rebounds (10.6) and blocks (1.9).
Lumberton had the most all-SEC selections with four as Thompson joined Randi Bullard, Mariah Locklear and Jasmine McBride.
Hoke and Pinecrest followed with two representatives — Jaque Bradshaw and Malogang Matthews made the team for the Bucks, and Jamaye Leak and Labrittia McCain were named all-SEC for the Patriots.
Richmond (Zelda McLaughlin) and Purnell Swett (Paige Sweeney) rounded out the schools with one player each.
Logan Martinez can be reached at 910-506-3170. Follow him on Twitter @L_Martinez13.
