The rich tradition of success for the Orangeburg-Wilkinson Girls Basketball program continued on April 13, 2016 as four senior members of the team signed basketball letters-of-intent on the first day of the national signing period to play college basketball.
    The senior players accepting college basketball scholarships were: Tchenavia “Shay” Jackson, a 5’10’ point guard who signed with Coker College; Amari Grevious, a 6’4” center who signed with Winthrop University; Erin Houser, a 6’2’ shooting guard who signed with North Carolina Central University; and Traiana Johnson, a 6’2’ forward who also signed with Coker College.
    Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach Cedrick Simpson described the occasion as “bittersweet” as he will miss having the four seniors as part of the Bruinette program. Coach Simpson said, “Your initial goals in high school are to win championships as a team, but your lifetime goal should be preparing to go to college and do what it takes to get the job you want as an adult. High school is the platform to take you there and I think these were great decisions by all four families for these girls. As their coach, you’re sad to see them go. But you are proud of them too. Our program will miss them, but at O-W we don’t rebuild, we reload, so our basketball team should be fine.”
    Last year, behind the leadership of the four seniors, the Bruinettes went 22-4 making it to the lower state playoffs.