New stars but same old Indians blow out Jackets

Gaffney’s Donald Sims, driving to the hoop against York on Saturday, leads the team in scoring this season at 22 points a game.

Ledger Sports Editor

Seems that, for the Indians to be successful this season, Gaffney coach Mark Huff should be using a radical new offensive scheme and a top-secret pressing defense.

After all, the Indians lost two all-state forwards, AZ Reid and Sidney Rice, and return role players from a team that captured two state titles.

But the Indians are winning big - very big.

Gaffney improved to 13-1 with an 83-44 victory over York on Saturday. It was the team’s eighth in a row.

Gaffney coach Mark Huff said he’s not surprised by the team’s success.

“I felt last summer in team camp we had a chance to be pretty good,” Huff said. “We played well together and we have some good chemistry.”

And good players. Role players on the two state champion teams, like Donald Sims, Nick Melton and Phillip Buckson, are having break-out seasons.

Sims is leading the team in scoring at 22.1 points a game. He’s also shooting a remarkable 40 percent from the three-point line and 89 percent from the foul line.

“Donald is really playing well,” Huff said. “He’s stepped up and I’m very happy for him because he works so hard.”

Melton has increased his scoring average to nearly 14 points a game. He’s also a force on the boards, averaging three a game. He’s made 73 percent of his free throws and 38 percent of his long-range bombs.

After a slow start, Buckson is giving the Indians a strong inside presence, averaging 12.2 points while dominating defensively, grabbing nearly nine rebounds. He’s also blocking nearly four shots a game. Brawny Julius Wilkerson, the team’s other inside player, is averaging nearly eight rebounds a game and nine points.

The team’s other starter, point guard Ques Tate, has run the team’s quick-strike offense flawlessly. He’s averaging 6.7 assists a game. He had nine in the team’s win over York.

“We’ve shot the ball well,” Huff said. “I knew that we had kids who could score.”

Despite their success, the Indians are far from a finished product.

“We have to do a better job defensively,” Huff said. “We need to limit the other team’s offensive rebounds.

The Indians didn’t practice Tuesday because of exams. They will return to the court today in preparation for Friday’s region game at Northwestern.