PICKENS — Although the Lady Blue Flame basketball squad’s season came to a premature end with a 38-37 first-round playoff loss at Clinton last month, Pickens senior Caitlyn Wyatt and head coach Butch Morris have continued to rack up individual accolades.

Wyatt was recently named Western AAA Player of the Year, and has been honored with a selection to play in the annual South Carolina North-South All-Star game to be played March 19 in Myrtle Beach.
Morris said he can’t remember another Lady Blue Flame hoopster ever being honored as Region Player of the Year. Wyatt was unanimously selected by the region’s coaches.

“We’ve had a couple I know finish second in that voting,” he said. “But to my knowledge, Caitlyn’s the first to win that from Pickens High School.”

The senior averaged a double-double this season, with 16.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.
“It’s really nice to see how a kid develops over their four years and to see them at this point in their senior year really taking advantage of their abilities,” Morris said.

The coach said Wyatt is a shining example of the ideal high school player.
“Caitlyn’s really worked hard, had a positive attitude and is very unselfish,” he said. “She’ll be the first one to tell you that it’s not about her, it’s about her team.”

When reflecting on Wyatt’s career with the Blue Flame, one moment stands above all others in Morris’ mind. It came after the Blue Flame wrapped up play in a tournament in Anderson in December.
Wyatt’s teammate Molly Dransfield had just lost her father in a tragic boating accident, and Wyatt was named to the all-tournament team.

“As soon as they were finished with Caitlyn and she got her medallion for the all-tournament team, she immediately left the court, went over to the bench area, took it off and gave it to Molly,” Morris said. “That just says so much about her character and what she thinks of her teammates.”
Wyatt will be joined by a familiar face on the sidelines of the all-star game, as Morris, also honored as Western AAA Coach of the Year last month, has been chosen to participate as an assistant coach for the North squad.

Morris was actually informed of his selection in October, but chose not to discuss it publicly.
“I just haven’t said much about it,” he said. “I like to keep that kind of stuff under the radar.”
“Butch has done an outstanding job,” PHS athletic director Steve Corn said. “We’re really proud that he’s been given this opportunity. He’s very deserving of it.”

Morris, a 1985 PHS grad, has led the Lady Blue Flame to the postseason in each of his 11 seasons at the helm of the program.
Corn is quick to praise Morris and the job he has done as coach at his alma mater.
“We’re just so fortunate to have a coach like him to represent our school and our athletic department,” Corn said. “He cares so much about this school and takes great care of our student athletes.”
Morris echoed Corn’s statement.
“I love Pickens High School and I love the opportunity to represent the girls’ basketball program,” he said.