Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach’s bouts with public schools paying off

When it comes to winning state championships, coach Darren Gore and the Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach Saints know how to do it.

The Saints are the two-time defending SCISA state champions. Having conquered the private school sector, the Saints have ventured into an increasing amount of games against public schools in recent years to test their mettle.

They picked up their first victory over a public school last season when they beat Carvers Bay and this year knocked off Green Sea Floyds twice.

“We were very fortunate to beat Green Sea Floyds this year,” Gore said following his team’s 74-28 rout of SCISA rival Lowcountry Prep on Saturday. “We don’t make a big deal about public schools. [But] it is something special to beat a school that is bigger than you are.”

Even though Christian Academy mostly plays private schools, Gore doesn’t prepare his team any differently for the games against public opponents.

“We always try to prepare for those games and we don’t take them lightly just like we don’t take anyone in our region lightly,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun for the kids to play boys they are used to playing pick-up with or in some other leagues.”

Gore points out that the Saints play in one of the strongest private regions. Christian Academy plays in Region IV, which has produced four of the past five state champions in Class A.

“There are some very fine schools in SCISA,” Gore said. “We are very fortunate because we play in the very best region of SCISA, so it is some good competition. Anytime we can go play a Socastee, an Aynor, a Green Sea Floyds, a Waccamaw or any of those type schools that have a larger pool of athletes to pick from, it is always going to help you as a school to play them.

“It helps out our athletes because that is the best competition they will see all year and then they come to our region [and] it’s not a shock to see a good team.”

Junior standout Kendall Henry, for one, relishes the challenge.

“From what I’ve seen, it’s usually more of a physical game and it’s a lot more intense,” said Henry, who had 19 points, six rebounds, six assists and six steals Saturday.

Gore said he also likes that his team gets a different schematic look when playing public schools.

“We like to play a lot of man defense,” Gore said. “We like to run against man defense. In SCISA, you see a lot of zone. I like playing some of the public schools because they will play a lot of man. They make us work and make us perfect what we do. So, when we play man-to-man on our level we are at the greatest level.”

Added Henry: “When we see the man defense I feel like it gives each guy on our team more of a challenge on offense that they can work on their game. Against the SCISA schools, we have the zone defense, which we have more space, therefore allowing us to attack easier.”

The Saints’ Alex Morris had nine points Saturday and was honored as the team’s lone senior.

•  LOWCOUNTRY PREP (28) – Unique Gardner 5, Thomas Deschamps 7, Tristan Teems 6, Jessie Marshall 6, Hampton Teace 4.

•  CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (74) – Austin Guyton 8, Max Smith 6, Alex Morris 9, Tyler Bass 6, Cody Williams 6, Cole Gore 6, Matt Doria 8, Garrett Richards 6, Kendall Henry 19.

• 3-point goals: LP 0; CAMB 6 (Morris 3, Doria 1, Henry 2). Team fouls: LP 17, CAMB 13. Fouled out: Teems. Technical fouls: None.

• Records: Lowcountry (4-11, 2-6 SCISA IV-A), CAMB (13-8, 5-2 SCISA IV-A)

Lowcountry girls prevail

In what was a close contest throughout the first quarter, Lowcountry Prep’s defense kicked in and was able to take control in the Fighting Marlins’ 50-31 win over Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach at Myrtle Beach Intermediate Saturday.

“We knew we were going to be a little sluggish today,” Lowcountry Prep coach Danny Bell said, noting that his team didn’t get home from its Friday night game until late before having another game Saturday. “They (Christian Academy) were rested coming into their homecoming. We just knew if we grounded it out defensively that everything else would take care of itself.”

The Fighting Marlins held the Saints to seven points in the first quarter. Juniors Rachael Exum and Leldon McClary played key roles in scoring off the turnovers that Lowcountry Prep forced. Exum had 14 points, while McClary added 12.

The Fighting Marlins put together numerous runs by forcing several turnovers and went on a late 9-0 run to build 14-7 first-quarter advantage.

Then, to close out the half, the Fighting Marlins put together a 6-0 run to double their lead to 14. McClary opened the second half with four straight points in a 6-0 run as the Fighting Marlins led by 21 at the end of the third quarter and didn’t let up.

“We went into a 2-3 half-court trap, which we rarely do,” Bell said. “I just knew they were so tired, I had to try and rest them a little bit. It made a difference on their point guard Mary Chandler Butler. She is a great player and that was the only way to stop her. So, I think it was the right decision.”

Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach was led by Rebekah Bowers, who scored a game-high 16 points and had 10 rebounds. Butler, who nailed a buzzer-beating 3 at the end of the first quarter, added 11 points and 11 rebounds and Simi Oduwole grabbed 20 rebounds for the Saints.

•  LOWCOUNTRY PREP (50) – Jessica Kavanagh 3, Rachael Exum 14, Leldon McClary 12, Elizabeth Zieser 5, Marguerite McClary 6, Sydney Derrick 8, Winifer Mercado 2

•  CHRISTIAN ACADEMY OF MYRTLE BEACH (31) – Caroline Gore 2, Rebekah Bowers 16, Mary Chandler Butler 11, Haleigh Gallimore 2

• 3-point goals: Lowcountry Prep 1 (Kavanagh), Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 1 (Butler). Team fouls: Lowcountry Prep 6, Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach 12. Fouled out: None. Technical fouls: None.