The high school basketball season is already underway for a handful of local teams, but before things really ramp up, you can get up to speed on the upcoming season with our season preview package.
In this edition, we preview area SCHSL girls teams — Beaufort High, Bluffton, Hilton Head High, Battery Creek, May River, and Whale Branch. Ridgeland-Hardeeville did not provide preview information.
You can also hear more extensive previews of each team on this week’s episode of the LowcoSports Lowdown podcast.
Hear local sports news and analysis every week from LowcoSports founder Justin Jarrett and Wes Kerr on the LowcoSports Lowdown podcast! Available now on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts!
FIVE STARS TO WATCH
• Tatyana Aiken, Sr., G, BLHS: Aiken was a second-team All-Lowco pick last season after leading the Bobcats with 11.9 points and 8.3 rebounds. She’s a true stat sheet stuffer, also averaging 2.6 assists, 4.2 steals, and 2.8 blocks as a junior.
• Chynna Sneed, Sr., F, MRHS: Another second-team All-Lowco selection as a junior, Sneed was a monster in the post, averaging 9.8 points and 8 rebounds to help May River win a region title. Her size and strength make her a matchup problem for most opponents.
• Miley Ray, Sr., G, HHIHS: Already a three-time all-region selection, Ray has averaged double-digit points each of the past two years, and she will have to carry more of the load on an inexperienced team.
• Layla Warren, Jr., G, BHS: Eagles’ primary ball handler averaged 9.4 points as a sophomore and will be a bigger part of the offense this season.
• Starr Reed, Sr., F, BCHS: Dolphins’ leader is tough in the post, averaging team-highs for points (6.7) and rebounds (6.3) last season.
UNDER THE RADAR
• Kenzie Ryan, Soph., G, HHIHS: Ryan averaged 5.3 points as a freshman, but she showed glimpses of her potential, including a triple-double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 12 steals) in a win over Whale Branch.
• Kynew Barnwell, Soph., G, WB: Another sensational sophomore, Barnwell averaged 12.2 points in 18 games after getting called up to the varsity team last season, topping 20 points five times, including a 30-point performance against Hilton Head High.
• Jordan Bigham, Jr., F, MRHS: The Sharks don’t put up big offensive numbers, but they are stingy on defense, and Bigham’s work in the paint is a big reason why. She’s a powerful force inside, and if her offensive game starts to match her defense, look out.
TEAM CAPSULES
BEAUFORT HIGH EAGLES
Coach: Reggie Jones
Record at school: 64-78 (7th season)
2018-19 record: 15-9 (reached Class 4A first round)
Returning starters: 1
Top returners: PG Layla Warren (Jr.); SG Sequoia Smalls (Sr.); F Nyja Deville (Sr.)
Key losses: Darien Watkins, Essence Champion
Key newcomers: PG Quinn Wilson (Fr.); F Caroline Louw (Jr.)
Coach’s outlook: “We have a very young team but will be very scrappy. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us being so young”
BLUFFTON BOBCATS
Coach: Lonnie Roberts
Record at school: 150-185 (16th season)
2018-19 record: 8-11
Returning starters: 4
Top returners: G Tatyana Aiken (Sr.); F Jalynn Ferguson (Jr.); G Samari Mitchell (Jr.); G Cassandra Gray (Jr.); G Brionna Anderson (Sr.); G Amber Massimo (Sr.); F Kayleigh Washington (Jr.); F A’Quira Williams (Sr.); F Aniya Lee (Sr.)
Key losses: F Allayah Bryan
Key newcomers: G Chapelyn Terodemous (So.); G Tacoya Heyward (8th); G Tamara Frazier (Jr.); F Breah Gaskin (Jr.)
Coach’s outlook: “No one player will carry this team offensively. We have a little experience and want to play a little up-tempo. We will rely on defense, quickness and hustle to win more games.”
HILTON HEAD HIGH SEAHAWKS
Coach: Sean Rochester
Record at school: 32-65 (5th season)
2018-19 record: 13-16, reached Class 4A 2nd round
Returning starters: 2
Top returners: G Miley Ray (Sr.), Kenzie Ryan (Soph.), Chyna Fields (Soph.), Morgan Wright (Sr.), Janiya Ferebee (Fr.), Anna Genova (Soph.)
Key losses: Trinity Feltner, Caroline Brammer, Kristen Fielding, Julia Willey
Key newcomers: Kenzie Eikenberry (7th), Hope Dobbelaere (Soph.), Alex Fisher (Soph.), Olivia Eikenberry (Soph.), Emma Moore (Soph.), Caroline O’Brien (Fr.)
Coach’s outlook: “After winning our second region championship in the past three years, we’ve graduated two all-region seniors with nine varsity letters between them. Filling their leadership and experience won’t be easy, but we return six players with varsity letters including Miley Ray, who has been all-region three times and part of two region championship teams. Our team has the potential to compete for a region championship if we continue to improve throughout our non-region schedule, which includes the Seahawk Holiday Classic and the Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational.”
MAY RIVER SHARKS
Coach: Jermaine Bigham
Record at school: 36-36 (4th season)
2018-19 record: 19-6, reached Class 3A 3rd round
Returning starters: 5
Top returners: G Emma Peluso (Sr.); G Olivia Peluso (Sr.); G Gracyn Drury (Sr.); F Chynna Sneed (Sr.); F Jordan Bigham (Jr.)
Key losses: None
Coach’s outlook: “It would be great to win the region championship again, but we play in a very tough region where anyone could win on a given night. We must improve and have luck go our way if we hope to repeat as region champions.”
BATTERY CREEK DOLPHINS
Coach: Anntionette Elam
Record at school: 1st season as head coach
2018-19 record: 7-15 overall, 1-7 region
Returning starters: 4
Top returners: F Starr Reed (Sr.); G Coresha Rutledge (Sr.); G Emonee Johnson (Jr.); G Kenaisha Heyward (Jr.); G Myra Smith (Jr.); G Nani Singleton (Jr.); C Jayla Morton (Sr.)
Key losses: G Daje Bartley, G Dasani Dilbert
Key newcomers: G Kiara Williams (Fr.); C/F Tanaya Betts (Fr.); F Jayla Byson (Jr.); C Jalesiah Burnett (Jr.)
Outlook: “The girls are going to have a wonderful season. We are going to be quick, structured, focused and dominant. Our motto this year is ‘by all means necessary.’ I am looking forward to us coming out on top in our region and going all the way to state and possibly bringing home the title state champions!”
WHALE BRANCH WARRIORS
Coach: LaToya Mack
Record at school: 7-14 (2nd season)
2018-19 record: 7-14 overall, 4-4 region
Returning starters: 3
Top returners: G Kynew Barnwell (Soph.); G Jazmin Diaz (Jr.)
Key losses: G Sidney Fulton
Outlook: The Warriors made a big step last season in Mack’s first year at the helm and have a good nucleus back this season led by Barnwell, who averaged double-digit points as a freshman.