Friday, Dec. 12, 2008

Georgetown loses big man for one week

Gadsden-Gilliard takes break from basketball for North-South game

Georgetown product Kinard Gadsden-Gilliard has enjoyed the final week of his prep foot ball career, but it's also tough to be away from his premier sport.

Gadsden-Gilliard, who will play for the South in Saturday's North-South All-Star game, was off to a hot start on the basketball court before return ing to football this week. He's worked mostly at tight end in practice this week and could see solid playing time in the noon game at Doug Shaw Stadium.

``It's easier [being away] know ing that my team came up with a win,'' said Gadsden-Gilliard of Georgetown's 50-48 overtime win over Kingstree on Tuesday. ``That took the pain away.''

The 6-foot-5 senior said the Bulldogs struggled early but several reserves have since step ped into key roles to help provide depth. Gadsden-Gilliard said he was averaging about 26 points per game before leaving the team, and expects teams to focus on him once he returns.

``There are going to be a lot of gimmick defenses this year,'' he said.

It will be a busy weekend for Erskine Johnson, and a busy two weeks for his offensive line coach at Conway High, Charles Divine.

After playing in the North- South game on Saturday, John son will be honored Sunday after noon in Charlotte, N.C., by the Carolina Panthers with the team's Community Captain Award. He'll accept the award then be allowed to remain on the sideline for the Panthers' game against Denver.

Divine has taken in some of the North-South practices this week, will attend the game, then will spend some time at Wofford College in Spartanburg, where another of his senior linemen, Tim Fowler, will be participating in next week's Shrine Bowl.

``It's pretty hard to screw them up, they're that good,'' Divine said of coaching two linemen to all-star seasons. ``A lot of times the players make the coach. They're a special group of kids, so it's easy to coach them and be productive.''

Both the North and South teams were forced inside on Thursday due to the rainy weather that blew through the region.

The South team practiced in the gym at North Myrtle Beach, while the North team worked out in the gym at St. James. The teams did not practice for a second time, and gave the players an afternoon to relax.

Both teams are scheduled to hold their final dress rehearsals for Saturday's game this morn ing from 9-11 a.m. at the Ripken Experience.

The North-South All-Star game will be broadcast live on the Internet at sccoast.net. The game will be archived on the site and can be watched through Jan. 31, 2009.

HTC also streamed all home Myrtle Beach football games on the Internet this past season and plans a similar service during the Beach Ball Classic later this month.

Staff writer Alan Blondin contributed to this report.