Ask Orangeburg-Wilkinson swingman Rayshawn Harrison what the strongest part of his game and he’s not shy about giving a confident answer.

“Everything really,” he said.

Harrison will get no argument from the Bruins’ coaching staff, especially since his energetic, all-around play on both ends of the court has sparked the team to five consecutive victories entering tonight’s home game against Stratford. Ironically, the streak began two weeks ago against the same Knights when Harrison came off the bench to score 20 points to rally O-W to a 70-64 overtime win.

“He’s been the catalyst,” O-W head coach Alex Barron said. “The Stratford game, he came off the bench and did a good job and I like his aggressiveness. I like the way he goes to the basket. He’s probably six-feet, but I like his toughness. He’s real aggressive, and aggressive on defense and that’s what we’re looking for. He’s a senior. He’s been around awhile and he’s kind of taking charge and being the leader with his play.”

Three days prior to the comeback win, Harrison missed a critical free throw late in a 49-45 loss to Dutch Fork. Seeing how quickly Harrison rebounded from the setback and how his on-court toughness carries over to the rest of the team prompted head coach Alex Barron to promote Harrison into the starting lineup, replacing Sterling Lucas.

Over the past four games, Harrison has continued to display his versatility in averaging 17 points and ranking among the team leaders in rebounding and steals.

“Coach just told me to keep working hard,” he said. “I’m a tough fellow so I just keep working hard every chance I get. When the team is down, I try to pick them up.”

The lineup switch has also served to motivate Lucas, who has played much of the season hobbled by an ankle injury dating back to football season. He scored a team-high 15 points coming off the bench in Tuesday’s 55-38 win over James Island.

“I think that motivated (Lucas),” Barron said. “He has a bad ankle, but that motivated him because the last game he had 15 points and I think he might have had about seven rebounds. So that motivated him and it becomes a competition thing. Those are two competitive guys. It’s just that one of them has an injury and Rayshawn’s playing well, and Sterling understood.”

Such team unity is something Harrison said was missing last year and will serve the Bruins (14-3, 5-0) well as they enter the second half of their Region 7-AAAA schedule. When asked what it will take for O-W to clinch its first region title since the 2003-04 season, Harrison said “defense, defense, defense.”

Barron also believes Harrison will have to continue serving as an all-around team catalyst for O-W to accomplish its regular and postseason goals.

“He’s just going to have to be consistent,” he said. “He has to continue to do what he’s been doing – rebounding, playing defense and scoring. He can’t wait on the other guy. He’s got to continue to do the last 4-5 ballgames – taking charge with his play. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but his play, he can lead by example. He’s come to play the last few games. Hopefully, he can continue that all the way through.”

The boys’ game will follow the girls’ varsity contest slated for a tentative 6:30 p.m. start pending on the completion of the junior varsity contests. The Bruinettes (19-1, 5-0), ranked fifth by Maxpreps.com, the High School Sports Report and the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association, are seeking their 17th straight victory – the program’s longest winning streak since the 2003-04 season.

T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5547. Discuss this and other stories online at TheT&D.com.

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