Staff Report

The Surry Runnin’ Patriots are cashing in on the payoff of a couple of stellar seasons.

Surry placed a total of six players on the North Carolina Home Educators all-conference team.

The girls team saw four players make the cut: Becca Tomkins, Sally Ann Edwards, Molly Hamilton and Hannah Tomkins. Becca Tomkins, Edwards and Hamilton are co-captains.

“They each bring something to the table,” Surry girls coach Glenn Edwards said.

The boys’ Luke Hamilton and Daniel Sheaffer were also voted to the all-conference team for their performances in leading Surry during the season. Surry boys coach Lin Hamilton was pleased the other coaches noticed what he had seen all year long from his star players.

“I was glad because it was chosen by the other coaches in the league,” he said. “It makes it that much better.”

Sheaffer, a shooting and point guard, averaged 18 points, four assists, four rebounds and three steals per game, while shooting 40 percent from the field. Hamilton, a swingman, was selected as Co-Player of the Year after averaging 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals per game.

Lin Hamilton, Luke’s father, and the other conference coaches cast votes for the Player of the Year. However, Lin Hamilton said he did not cast any votes for his own players. If he had, his son would have been Player of the Year on his own.

“I don’t have any regrets there,” Lin Hamilton said. “(Luke)’s had a good year and he’s worked hard.”

The chemistry between Luke Hamilton, a junior, and Sheaffer, a senior, caused each player to perform well.

“They can create their own shots and open up their teammates,” Lin Hamilton said. “Luke and Daniel work off each other quite well, because they’ve played together for a few years.”

The all-conference players will team up May 22 in Winston-Salem for the East vs. West game at the annual NCHE convention.

At 27-3, the girls squad finished won its region and will play in Greensboro Friday and Saturday for the state championship.

The boys team was 18-13 this season.