NEESES -- Where are all the girls?

That was the first thought Jarvis Davis had when he put his eyes on the Hunter-Kinard-Tyler girls' basketball team this year.

"All I had been told was that H-K-T was a basketball school, and there was only like 10 or 11 girls there," Davis said. "I remember talking to my dad about it, and he said it was because the girls probably didn't know me."

Davis was expecting more girls to turn out. He ended up with 10, but 10 was all he needed because Saturday in Columbia, Davis will lead H-K-T (22-5) against C.E. Murray for the Class A girls' state championship.

"I am just overwhelmed," he said. "This is just amazing...a true blessing from God that he has let me have the success I am having. I wanted the girls to improve, and I said one day we could win the state championship. I never thought it could be this soon. Here we are playing for a state championship."

Davis was a football and basketball star at Spartanburg High in the mid-90s, and originally committed to Clemson. He wound up playing both football and basketball at Fayettvile State. Coming from that background, Davis said he was a little hesistant heading into this year, his first coaching girls.

"I was real excited," he said. "I was hesistant, but once I got out there and started coaching these girls I saw how they grasped what I was trying to teach them. They were great player. I love the girls. They play hard and practice hard. I never thought it would come this far."

This far is where everyone wants to be, and Davis said his Lady Trojans got to Saturday's state title game by improving throughout the season.

"They are a lot different," he said. "They have come together as a team. One person that I think about, Sheila Jamison. Her confidence went from a two to a 10. I used to have to tell her to take a shot, but now she will shoot. I hear a lot of them from fans...they tell me how much this team has improved.

"It's been a great ride," he continued. "It's been an up-and-down ride. We played a real good schedule against some 2-A, 3-A and 4-A team that helped us."

From hesitant to anxious, Davis said he is looking forward to Saturday's game against C.E. Murray. There are pictures of H-K-T champions past in the school's gym and all year the coach said he has been telling his team they could be up there as well. This is their chance.

"I think it's going to be a great game," Davis said. "C.E. Murray has a great team, and a lot of athletes. I just hope that when our girls are on the court they just blank everything out, and hopefully we can get that win and that is when I can really celebrate.

"I'm not going to be satisfied...we have all come too far not to win."

T&D Sports Editor Brian Linder can be contacted via e-mail at blinder@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5553. Check out his blog, Welcome to Linderland, at www.thetandd.com.

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