Sonic Christmas Classic: Soaring at the Falcons Nest

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are getting closer and closer to the end of the 2023 calendar year. That only means we are at the beginning of the midseason tournament arc on the high school basketball calendar.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Among the numerous schools that do host a tournament around this period is Darlington HS in the Pee Dee. The Sonic Christmas Classic is one of the smaller tournaments that take place with only four girls teams and four boys teams taking to the court at the home of the Falcons.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We at Prep Hoops also made the trek out of Darlington for Tuesday's games. Without further adieu, here is a look at our top performers from the day it was in basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578628"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2302211,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eIn many a game so far, the Auctioneers of 2A Mullins have been favorites to get into the win column. The play of their star upperclassman two guard is a major reason why. Davis, by far, was the main star of his team's 70-56 victory over another 2A team in Cheraw. He finished with 32 points. The defense for the Braves had no answers for Davis, particularly when he was out in transition and finished strong at the basket. Early on, he displayed his prowess from behind the 3-point arc with a pair of made attempts from behind the arc. Free throw shooting and ball distribution are two other strong points of the star shooting guard.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2927"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Dorrian Hickman","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mullins HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Speaking of seniors….Mullins is a team with five of them listed on its roster. Veteran leadership is a reason why the Auctioneers have had a successful start to the 2023-24 season. With 11 points, Hickman was another reason why Mullins managed to hold off what was a valiant effort by 2A Cheraw. The Auctioneers drained six of their shots from behind the 3-point line with three of those departing from Hickman's hands. He is listed at 6-foot-2. Hickman, similar to Davis, also typically plays at the two in the backcourt. With nine wins on the campaign, Hickman's Auctioneers are more than halfway from equaling the 16 wins they managed in 2022-23.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2a4b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2302214,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jaden Carraway","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cheraw HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eCarraway's 2A Cheraw assembling dropped the first boys' contest of this year's Sonic Christmas Classic in a 70-56 to another 2A bunch from Mullins. Coaches and players typically look for positives – even after losses. If there was one for the Braves it was their ability to stay in the game when it appeared an Auctioneers rout was in the works. Carraway finished his game with 12 points to aid the Braves' cause. Carraway also displayed how proficient he can be from behind the 3-point line. The Braves had three successful tries from behind the arc with two of those coming courtesy of the standout 2025.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2b3b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2302216,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Christian Douglas","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cheraw HS ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eImportant production from one of the Braves' five seniors was another reason why Cheraw managed to keep it relatively close with a tough Mullins team. The Braves were on the less than desirable end of the 70-56 decision to the Auctioneers, but the 11 points Douglas placed on the board were a reason why Mullins did not completely run Cheraw off the Darlington HS floor – when it appeared to be the case early in the third quarter. Douglas also will bolster a team's rebounding efforts. Timely plays and a willingness to draw contact and get to the free throw line are also strengths of the Braves upperclassman.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2c25"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["986186"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2302217,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAs is the case with many boys basketball players, Dubose also plays football during the early and middle portions of the fall semester. He tallied 10 points to lead his Darlington team to a commanding victory over Lamar. Dubose plays wide receiver on the football field along with having played his travel basketball for [program_tooltip program_id='2078752' first='Upward' last='Stars']. Dubose can get crafty and creative with his ball handling capabilities. He knows when the correct time is to pass and when the right time is to score. Another one of Dubose's strengths is understating the art of drawing contact to get to the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2cbd"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2302219,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2367665' first='Deron' last='Ross']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Darlington HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eEven though Darlington closed out the first day of its Sonic Christmas Classic with a dominant victory over Lamar, it did so with a very balanced scoring attack. Their freshman guard was part of that balanced scoring effort as Ross finished with 11 points. If Ross hauls in an offensive rebound, he is very likely to put it back for a successful two points. A midrange jump shot is also part of his overall offensive repertoire and he plays with a fearless attitude as he has no problem attacking the rim even if a number of defenders are waiting. Ross will play productive minutes as either a one or two guard in the backcourt.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2da3"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":2302221,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Keenan Harrison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Darlington HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eA pair of Keenans were also part of Darlington's successful efforts against Lamar. One was a junior who finished with 11 points. Harrison brings junior varsity experience to this rendition of Darlington basketball and, of course, worked his way up to varsity status. He managed to have plenty of success from behind the 3-point line for the game against Lamar as he made a pair of his 3-point attempts. In fact, he had two of the four threes that the Falcons made as a team. Harrison also displayed his ability to draw contact and give his team additional opportunities at the free throw line.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6582c7cff2e88"} /-->