Knights avoid winless season in region

Stratford’s boys basketball team made sure it didn’t end the region slate without at least one victory.
The Knights played one of their more complete games and edged Wando 53-52 last week in their next-to-last game of the season.
Senior Vernon Lowndes led the Knights with a game-high 21 points and knocked down five 3-pointers in the first half. Fellow senior Teandre Hansley chipped in 19 points.
“For us, it’s all about confidence,” said SHS coach Troy Johnson, whose team improved to 9-14 overall and 1-6 in region. “We came out (against Wando) and hit some shots early. We built some confidence and played better on defense.”
Demetre Rivers, a junior forward, and Hansley were the team’s top scorers, averaging 18 and 17 points respectively.
In addition to Lowndes and Hansley, point guard Markel Epps is also a senior.
Epps averaged four points and three assists per game.
The Knights will return two starters next season in Rivers and Thad Thompson.
Rivers and Lowndes led in rebounding at seven and six boards a game.