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SEHS boys end non-region play still looking for answers
SEHS Boys basketball celebrates
South Effingham's boys celebrate Corbin McGuire's three-point shot at the buzzer to send their game with George Walton Academy to overtime Dec. 30, 2023. George Walton won 49-42. (Photos by Donald Heath for the Effingham Herald.)
Published: Jan 3, 2024, 3:59 PM

By Donald Heath

Special for the Effingham Herald

 

SAVANNAH – South Effingham’s boys have been looking for a spark throughout the non-region portion of their basketball season.

Then, junior guard Corbin McGuire hit the Mustangs’ biggest shot of the basketball season – a contested three-pointer at the buzzer Dec. 28, 2023, to send a game against Georgia Walton Academy to overtime.

Maybe, a jovial holiday celebration, albeit a few days past Christmas, had arrived for SEHS at the St. Andrew’s Holiday Classic on Wilmington Island.

But no. George Walton pulled the game out in overtime, 49-42, sending SEHS to its ninth straight loss.

Bah, humbug.

Now the Mustangs have rival Effingham County coming up on Jan. 5 in Springfield.

“I wish we could have won this one and maybe give us the boost we need,” McGuire said. “It is what it is. None of these games count (in the region standings). We’ll be ready to go against Effingham.”

Coach Rico Campbell has an inexperienced group after losing all five starters from last season and he used the holiday tournament to mix and match different combinations.

Nelson Rivers
South Effingham's Nelson Rivera (12) harasses the three-point shot of George Walton Academy's Logan Blalock (1) during the St. Andrew's Holiday Classic Dec. 30, 2023. George Walton won 49-42 in overtime.
Nineteen players saw playing time a day earlier in a 73-34 loss to St. Andrew’s.

Against George Walton, McGuire, Aidan Harris and Will Harlin each scored nine points. South also outrebounded the private school from Monroe.

“The positive side is we got better the second day than the first day,” Campbell said. “St. Andrew’s shot threes and couldn’t miss. Tonight (against George Walton), we played better defense. This is the first time we’ve held an opponent under 50.

The guys bounced back and played hard.”

McGuire says the team is remaining upbeat, trusting the process of using the preseason to prepare for region play.

“We’re 0-9 but we’ve used these games to get better,” McGuire said. “We’re not playing any cupcakes. We play in one of the hardest regions in the state so we want to be ready. I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves. Our energy, effort, what it takes.”

McGuire is right about the schedule. South hasn’t played a team with a record under .500 this season. The Mustangs have played 11-2 Camden County twice, 7-3 Bryan County twice, 8-2 Burke County.

St. Andrew’s (7-5) wouldn’t be placed in the cupcake category either after playing Glynn Academy competitively in a four-point loss to start the season.

Effingham County (4-6 with a pending game against McIntosh County Academy on Jan. 2) will be under .500 when the teams tip off Friday.

“We haven’t talked about (Effingham) yet. We’ve been focused on us,” Campbell said. “We know they still have a good team, a good coach. We’re looking forward to it.”