L-R: #10 WILL LAND SR-GUARD, #3 BRENT BELL SR GUARD, #12 TRUSTIN MERCER SR-GUARD, #14 MIA CURLEE SR-GUARD, #3 EMMA HUNT SR-PG, #2 EMI GRACE WOOD SR-GUARD, #10 CAROLINE JORDAN SR-FORWARD
Last season, both the girls’ and boys’ programs made it to the region championship, but both teams fell short to Trion. Both Tiger squads made it to the state playoffs, with the girls drawing a tough draw to Mount Pisgah while the boys made it to the Elite 8, falling on the road to Savannah to put the cap on the 23-24 season. The season also would mark the 3rd straight Christmas Tournament Golden Ball for Coach Nathan West.
While yes, winning the Gold Ball is an amazing accomplishment, Coach West wants his players to remain focused one game at a time, and do everything with a purpose.
“I think here at Darlington, we have a standard; that standard is success. I don’t want us to take anything for granted and focus on the task ahead of us. My expectations are that we play hard and that everyone has each other’s back.”
After losing an absolutely massive class in which they would lose back-to-back player of the year in Damarion “D-man” Floyd and numerous All-Region selections, the Tigers have reloaded their clip with a surplus of talent and experience. Seniors Trustin Mercer and Will Land have improved over the past few years, and look to blossom this year. Brent Bell comes back for his junior year, and sophomores DJ Hall and Unity transfer Jordan Wilkerson look to grow into the program after providing some decent experience in their freshman campaigns. He will rely on this experience and talent this year, as the Tigers play a brutal non-region schedule and then move on to a brand new region that is wide open.
Now, let’s take a glance at what the Lady Tigers have to offer this year. Coming off of numerous successful seasons, the Lady Tigers look to continue their hunt in the state tournament.
According to Coach Samantha Rush, this new core group was able to really hold their own last season and step up when it mattered.
“Our seniors this year have grown and improved in some larger roles after losing a big senior class the previous year. They really embraced them and were able to trust the process every day, and we were able to get better as a team.”
Her expectations for her players are just what you think they are; play hard and do the little things.
“I want us to trust the process. I want us to compete, and show up every day. I want our hard work to feed over in the state tournament. As the coach, I want us as a program to lay a foundation.”
Coach Rush will turn to a big senior class that has certainly been able to leave their mark on the program. Seniors Emi Grace Wood, Caroline Jordan, Emma Hunt, and Mia Curlee will look to once again be major contributors, and be key leaders for the Lady Tigers. Juniors Presley Dixon and Sidney Rush have come into their own as they have gone through the program and will be seeing much larger roles and gaining a lot of experience and opportunities this year.
Darlington is a very strong community. It’s not just one person; everyone wants to be a part of something special, and that’s exactly what the basketball programs look to provide to a tight-knit Tiger faithful.
