West Bladen grad Matt Hill has been named the new head boys basketball coach at South Columbus effectively completing a swap of roles between Hill and former South Columbus coach Bryant Edwards.
Hill resigned as head basketball coach at Lumberton in March, and Edwards who is the son of Bladen County native Worley Edwards, was approved as the new Lumberton boys’ basketball coach in June.
In his three years at the helm of the Pirate hoop program, Hill led Lumberton to a 42-37 record and playoff berths in the each of the last two seasons. His 2018-2019 Pirates posted a 16-11 record.
Prior to taking the Lumberton job in May 2016, Hill had revived a St. Pauls program that won only four games in 2014. In Hill’s first season at St. Pauls, the Bulldogs improved to eight wins then more than doubled that total in 2016 finishing with an 18-8 record and earning a playoff berth.
About returning to the always-tough Three Rivers Conference Hill wryly commented, “I couldn’t stay away.”
During Edwards’ five years at South Columbus, the Stallions had improved from four wins in 2016 to a 12-12 mark in 2018 and a 20-9 record last season that included a trip to the second-round of the Class 2A playoffs.
“They have a great crop of young athletes coming through,” noted Hill about the Stallions. “The most I have seen there. It’s a good time to go there.”
The move also puts Hill back in the conference with West Bladen where he served as an assistant under Knight Coach Travis Pait.
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