Coaches from across the county will all tell you just about the same thing — this season of Horry County high school basketball has the potential to be spectacular. Of course, December is an easy time to be optimistic. Everyone has a chance to be great, and best-case scenarios are on the table. But at […]
Coaches from across the county will all tell you just about the same thing — this season of Horry County high school basketball has the potential to be spectacular.
Of course, December is an easy time to be optimistic. Everyone has a chance to be great, and best-case scenarios are on the table. But at least for these opening weeks of the season, local programs have good reason to be upbeat.
For Horry County, those in the new Class 5A Beach Region have shown that they could be putting on quite a show once January region play rolls around.
Conway and Carolina Forest approach the Christmas holiday with continued success.
The Tigers kept winning ways rolling last Friday, Dec. 13, with a 51-41 win over Dillon, a tough top-10 Class 3A program. The junior duo of Trevon Johnson (15.5 points per game) and Jordan Jenkins (back on the court after missing the first several games of the year) looks to continue to key Conway’s success as the pair plays alongside senior standouts like Avery Brantley and Javion Crawford, who both are averaging over 10 points per game.
Carolina Forest, which has a spotless record so far this season, is quickly becoming a squad with must-watch potential. The Panthers had a hot stretch last week, going 3-0 and picking up strong wins over Stratford (85-45) and No. 8 South Florence out of Class 4A (63-59). If freshman JJ Gray continues to average over 17 points per game as he has over the team’s 6-0 start, head coach Emmanuel DeWalt’s team is going to be more than a team to watch — they’ll be a candidate to earn a Beach Region crown after going winless in region play last season.
Others around the Beach Region will have plenty to say about Conway and Carolina Forest’s quest for the crown. Myrtle Beach is hoping senior John Simmons can provide a spark and take over some games. Socastee has started the year 6-2 and loves what senior Bryson Sams can do (21.9 points per game). St. James will use the next several weeks to get its new-look team to gel ahead of Jan. 7’s region opener against Myrtle Beach.
The team that will act as this year’s wild card, though, might just be the Chiefs of North Myrtle Beach.
Head coach Ryan Walker likes the team he has on the court for 2024-25, and for good reason. The Chiefs fell just short against No. 7 Loris (Class 3A) in a 53-50 road loss last week, but Walker saw a preview of what his team might be able to do over the course of the year in the loss.
Senior Wells Hill provides leadership that can take over games down the stretch. Other seniors CJ Oxendine and Landon Cloninger will help to anchor a team that is senior-heavy and emotion-filled. There’s a belief that North Myrtle Beach can win just about any game they’ll step onto the court to play this year, and a lot of that has to do with the leadership that Walker will get out of standouts like Hill, Oxendine and Cloninger.
North Myrtle Beach and Loris will face off in a much-anticipated rematch on Friday, Dec. 20, at North Myrtle Beach High School (a 7:30 p.m. tip).
Loris head coach Andrew Eads, who is in his first year coaching the Lions, said even though last week’s rivalry win over the Chiefs was uplifting, Loris is locked in on using these matchups to build toward region action, which begins for the Lions on Jan. 10 at Dillon.
Junior Nigel Miller’s last-minute, game-winning basket against North Myrtle Beach was, to be sure, a memorable moment. Eads said he hopes that it’s just the beginning for his team this season.
“It was a confidence booster for us, but it really didn’t do anything for what we want to do long-term,” Eads said. “We know that, and we’re going to keep going and be ready to work… Our team doesn’t quit. We are in a spot where we have 14 guys, and all of them can go. To have five in and five out at times, and one group picking up another when they come off, it’s just fun to be a part of this.”
Fun and strong play will continue around the county in SCHSL action this year. Aynor (Class 3A) already has five wins after winning just four games last season. Juniors Jamarion Mitchell and Robinson Mendez will help anchor the Blue Jackets.
Atlantic Collegiate dropped a 66-64 overtime game to Mullins on Friday, Dec. 13, but continues to show that they will be a threat deep into the year in Class 2A with the help of senior leader Jamie Brooks and others like Anton Daniels and Jaylen Bellamy.
In Class 1A, Green Sea Floyds and head coach Jared Caudill believe they’ll have a chance to do special things in region play, which starts Tuesday, Dec. 17, against Johnsonville. The Trojans hope standouts like junior Tahj Brown will help to carve the way for an otherwise-young group.
Great basketball is all around the area, and it should continue throughout the holidays.
Girls hoops in focus at Beach Ball Classic
Local girls high school basketball will take center stage starting this weekend, as the 2024 Beach Ball Classic will officially kick off on Friday, Dec. 20, with a full slate of girls hoops action.
Five local girls high school teams will take part in the tournament: Conway, Loris, Myrtle Beach, Socastee and St. James. All of those squads, with the exception of Loris, will have first-day games on Friday. The Lions will begin their tournament play on Saturday, Dec. 21.
Most girls games will take place at the John T. Rhodes Sports Center in Myrtle Beach. Full schedules and tournament information can be found at beachballclassic.com.
Conway, Myrtle Beach, Socastee and St. James all will look to use the tournament to prepare for Beach Region play, which will begin the week of Jan. 7.
St. James, which finished with a 5-3 region record last year and tied for a second-place finish, is hoping to continue to find replacements for a group of seniors that graduated over the offseason. Sophomore Callie Centracchio and juniors Samantha Allen and Raegan Tibbits will likely lead that new group.
North Myrtle Beach guard Katlyn Powers comes away with the ball on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. Photo by Mike Duprez/info@myhorrynews.com
Loris, which already has local wins over Carolina Forest, Conway and Green Sea Floyds this year, will use the Classic to help prepare for region play in Class 3A, which kicks off in January. Seniors Mari’Asia Moody and Janiya Richburg will lead the group alongside standout freshman Dazena Capers.
Elsewhere, top teams North Myrtle Beach (No. 3 in Class 5A-Div. II) and Carolina Forest will play in other holiday tournaments over the break. The Chiefs haven’t lost yet this year (8-0 as of Dec. 16), while the Panthers are looking to put together another strong season after winning 17 games in 2023-24.
Green Sea Floyds will host Aynor on Friday night, Dec. 20, at 6:15 p.m. for a look at those two squads. Atlantic Collegiate will host Marion on Friday in another 6:15 p.m. tip-off.
