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History, championships and tragedy.

The 2007-08 school year in The T&D Region ran the gamut of emotions in the field of athletics. It was a year which saw a program “March to History” while others added to their own illustrious legacy. During the past 10 months, student-athletes made names for themselves with their play in All-Star games, while one became involved in a messy “divorce” from a team.

There was also the loss of two local standout student-athletes and a prominent assistant coach which brought into perspective the shortness of life and making the most of the time on this earth.

From the past 10 months, The T&D has compiled the 10 biggest sports stories.

10. Sterling Lucas wins MVP at Shrine Bowl

Before this year’s annual “Clash of the Carolinas” for top senior football players, only South Carolina State had made a solid scholarship offer to the Orangeburg-Wilkinson linebacker. After recording eight tackles, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown-saving interception in the end zone to preserve a victory for South Carolina over North Carolina, Lucas had the college world at his feat. Ultimately, he settled on North Carolina State and will make his debut Aug. 28 in Columbia against the University of South Carolina.

9. Claflin men’s basketball team sets school record for victories

Even by Ron Woodard’s preseason expectations. the 2007-08 Panthers’ team played hoops on another level. Despite now being eligible for the NCAA Division II playoffs as it continues the transition from NAIA, the Claflin men made school history by posting a 24-2 record, beating the likes of Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champion Benedict, and finishing ninth among historically black colleges in the Black College Sports poll.

8. Tommy Brown returns to O-W football

It was the “job switch” neither Reggie Kennedy nor Tommy Brown could have foreseen two years ago, much less two months ago. Kennedy was continuing his work at Orangeburg-Wilkinson to rebuild a program whose last success came with Brown in charge a decade ago. After Brown and Fairfield-Central parted ways, the door was reopened for Kennedy’s return and subsequently, Brown found his way back to Bruin country to begin a second tenure.

7. State champions galore

At least six of the 24 T&D Region schools are spending their summer rearranging the trophy cases. A total of 10 team champions in six different sports (baseball, basketball, track and field, football, volleyball and softball) were won locally this year in the S.C. High School League and SCISA. While Holly Hill Academy racked up half of the titles and Calhoun County (boys’ basketball) and Bamberg-Ehrhardt (baseball) received major attention for the historic nature of their championships, Blackville-Hilda came away with its second state title in football in three years and Calhoun Academy ran through the SCISA Class 2-A playoffs without losing a single game.

6. David Cobb dismissed from South Carolina State men’s basketball team

Following an embarrassing loss to eventual Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament champion Coppin State, the Bulldog reserve forward was kicked off the team as a result of a verbal altercation with an assistant coach. Rather than go quietly, Cobb spoke publicly about the dismissal to The T&D with fellow teamates Everett Spencer, Dale Carn and Robert Baker and made a futile attempt at an appeal. Since then, Spencer and Carn have decided not to return next season and head coach Tim Carter has moved forward in his reconstruction of the Bulldogs by signing seven players for next season.

5 (TIE). Holly Hill Academy dominates SCISA athletics

Big things truly came forth from the small eastern Orangeburg County private school. In winning five state championships in four different sports -- volleyball, football, track and field and softball -- Holly Hill Academy outperformed many of its larger SCISA counterparts. The dramatic overtime victory in football and marathon session in softball only added luster to what was truly the “Year of the Raider.”

Bamberg-Ehrhardt adds to baseball legacy

Thirteen years had passed since the Red Raiders last carried home a state championship trophy. The third try for a title since 1995 proved to be the charm as B-E rallied from an 0-1 deficit in the best-of-three series against Chesterfield to win the final two games. Bamberg’s “Mr. Clutch” Don Sandifer keyed the comeback with a Game Two victory, followed by Zack Godley’s two-hit, six-strikeout shutout performance in the 7-0 deciding victory. It was the school’s 14th S.C. High School League championship -- both a state and national record.

4. Tragedy hits The T&D Region

In a school year filled with joyous moments, the downside was the unexpected and untimely passing of three T&D Region standout athletes and coaches. Both former South Carolina State running back and Denmark-Olar assistant coach Aaron Manigault and Presbyterian and former Edisto “Elite 11” receiver Larry C. Thomas lost their lives in car accidents in December and April, respectively. On May 31, Orangeburg-Wilkinson offensive lineman Carlton Brown died in a drowning accident. More than just being standout athletes, Manigault, Thomas and Brown were standout individuals who left a lasting impression on the people in their lives and leave behind a huge void to fill.

3. The Centennial Celebration

The 2007 football season was a time of commemoration at South Carolina State University. It was a time to pay tribute to a 100-year legacy of football which has produced both college and pro football Hall of Famers, numerous high school coaches and even more productive citizens. The 2007 season also saw new history made as S.C. State played two Football Bowl Subdivision teams -- Air Force Academy and the University of South Carolina -- for the first time ever. Though the Bulldogs fell short of their goal of winning the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship and making the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, the 2007 campaign brought together the past and present generation of S.C. State in an unprecedented manner.

2. Daquan Bowers

By the end of his junior campaign, Bowers was already a household name in the Palmetto State. Before he even stepped on the Clemson University campus, the entire nation would know who “The Predator” is and why ESPN ranked him as the number-one high school prospect in America. Winning Player of the Game honors at the inaugural ESPNU Under Armour All-American Game earned Bowers such high status and provided a perfect ending to a high school career which saw him help the Red Raiders win three Region 5-A titles and advance to the Class A Upper State final twice in three years.

1. Calhoun County boys’ basketball team “March to History”

To describe the 2007-08 campaign as “One for the Ages” does not come even close to describing what the Saints accomplished this past season. In the process of winning their first 11 games, Calhoun County set a new modern-era record for consecutive victories while closing out 2007 by winning the Orangeburg County Sweet 16 Basketball Invitational. On the night of Jan. 15, 2008, in a small church gymnasium, the Saints made state history by routing Fox Creek for their 66th straight victory -- breaking a record which was established the same year head coach Zam Fredrick was born 48 years ago. Two months later, Fredrick made history as the streak reached 78 following Calhoun County’s 67-66 victory over Hemingway in the Class A final. In the process of winning a third straight Class A title and going undefeated for a second straight season, Fredrick became the first SCHSL boys’ basketball coach to lead a team to seven state championships.

(NOTE: The hardcover book “Three-peat: Saints March into History” detailing the 2007-08 basketball season is now available for purchase on-line at www.thetandd.com)

-- 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 on-line at TheTandD.com.

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