<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>GIRLS' HIGH </b><b>SCHOOL BASKETBALL</b></span></p>
<b>Hilton Head Island girls fall to Alexander, Ga.</b>

Visiting Alexander, Ga., a versatile girls' high school basketball team, outscored Hilton Head Island 15-7 in the first quarter and gradually pulled away to defeat the Lady Seahawks 45-26 in the semifinals of the Sonesta Seahawk Holiday Classic on Dec. 20.

With the loss, Hilton Head Island slipped to 4-4.

Jasmine Campbell led Hilton Head Island with 14 points. Campbell was the only Lady Seahawk to reach double figures in the scoring column.
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>BOYS' HIGH </b><b>SCHOOL BASKETBALL</b></span></p>
<b>Whale Branch levels </b><b>Swansea, Brynes</b>

On Dec. 20, Whale Branch dominated in a consolation bracket matchup versus Swansea 66-26 at the Shootout by the Sea in North Myrtle Beach.

Camrin Miller led Whale Branch with a team-high 12 points as the Warriors used a balanced offensive attack to beat Swansea.

With the win, Whale Branch improved to 6-4. Through its first 10 games in the 2016-17 season, Whale Branch had also posted wins over May River, Bluffton, Battery Creek and Hilton Head Island. The Warriors have already defeated Battery Creek twice in the 2016-17 campaign.

Following Miller in the Whale Branch scoring column, George Delaney and Xavier Bryan added eight points a piece.

Xyion Youmans and Robert Alston added six points apiece for the Warriors in the victory.

Whale Branch advanced to meet Byrnes in the fifth-place game of the North Myrtle Beach-hosted holiday tournament.

On Dec. 21, Miller and Kenny Brown combined to score 45 points as Whale Branch beat unfamiliar foe Byrnes 70-42 in the fifth-place game.

An accomplished boys' high school basketball program, Brynes captured last season's Class 4A state championship.

With the win, Whale Branch improved to 7-4.

Miller led Whale Branch with a game-high 25 points. Joining Miller in double figures for the Warriors, Brown contributed 20 points.

Both Miller and Brown drained a trio of 3-pointers in Whale Branch's win.

Accompanying Miller and Brown in double figures for Whale Branch in the scoring column, Youmans, another productive performer, netted 10 points.

Alston connected on a pair of 3-pointers and chipped in seven points for the Warriors in the win.

Two Byrnes players reached double figures in the scoring column as Derek Morgan and Hayden Mitchem scored 10 points apiece.
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ff0000;"><b>RUNNING</b></span></p>
<b>Hilton Head Marathon </b><b>selected as state event</b>

The Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) has selected the Hilton Head Island Marathon as the RRCA South Carolina State Marathon Championship.

The RRCA Championship Event Series is the largest grassroots organized running series in the U.S., attracting over 320,000 runners each year.

The 2017 Hilton Head Island Marathon, Half Marathon &amp; 8K will take place at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

Runners will depart from Jarvis Creek Park and follow a course that will take them on the Cross Island Parkway, through several parks, numerous neighborhoods and over Broad Creek.

The scenic marathon course Boston Qualifier is fast and flat except for the bridge crossings.

Post race festivities will include live music, vendors, and a craft beer garden.

To register, volunteer or for more information, call Bear Foot Sports at 843-757-8520 or visit bearfootsports.com.