Myrtle Beach girls basketball team starts No. 1 in poll

A Myrtle Beach girls basketball team that has been building toward this season for some time has grabbed the attention of the state’s coaches.

The Seahawks were No. 1 in Class AAA in the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association first regular-season poll, released Tuesday. The only other local team appearing in the rankings was the Conway boys, who were No. 6 in Class AAAA.

As far as Myrtle Beach, coach Jennifer Dennison’s team is 11-3 overall, with those losses coming against stiff competition.

“We’ve had some tough opponents in the [CresCom] Bank [Holiday Invitational] and last Saturday against Goose Creek,” Dennison said before elaborating on her team’s long-term chances this year in the region and playoffs. “Wilson is just as good as we are. She didn’t have any seniors last year. They don’t have any seniors this year. Hopefully we can keep the girls focused.”

Dennison didn’t mention Wilson by accident. The Tigers are No. 5 in the polls, and those two teams will meet on Saturday in Florence to open the Region VII-AAA schedule.

Before that contest, Myrtle Beach will play Goose Creek on Friday at home in a rematch of Saturday’s Goose Creek victory. The Gators are No. 4 in Class AAAA.

Much like the Seahawks, the Conway boys will also have another top-level team within their region. Fellow Region VI-AAAA squad West Florence is No. 2 in the division. The Tigers are also wrapping up non-region play this week before facing Socastee at home next Tuesday.

SCBCA STATE BASKETBALL RANKINGS (JAN. 5)

CLASS AAAA

1. Byrnes

2. West Florence

3. Ridge View

4. Blythewood

5. Irmo

6. Conway

7. South Aiken

8. Spring Valley

9. Westside

10. Goose Creek

CLASS AAA

1. Flora

2. Darlington

3. Berea

4. Seneca

5. Lakewood

6. Daniel

7. Marlboro County

8. Eastside

9. Southside

10. Berkeley

CLASS AA

1. Timberland

2. Ridgeland-Hardeeville

3. Silver Bluff

4. Keenan

5. Dillon

6. Barnwell

7. Edisto

8. Landrum

9. Andrew Jackson

10. Battery Creek

CLASS A

1. Timmonsville

2. Denmark-Olar

3. Hemingway

4. Lewisville

5. Southside Christian

6. Christ Church

7. Burke

8. Calhoun County

9. CA Johnson

10. Hannah-Pamplico

GIRLS

CLASS AAAA

1. Greenville

2. Spring Valley

3. Westwood

4. Goose Creek

5. Gaffney

6. North Augusta

7. Rock Hill

8. Spartanburg

9. Dorman

10. Sumter

CLASS AAA

1. Myrtle Beach

2. Dreher

3. Lancaster

4. Crestwood

5. Wilson

6. Orangeburg-Wilkinson

7. Wren

8. Belton Honea Path

9. Stall

10. Eastside

CLASS AA

1. Bishop England

2. Dillon

3. Newberry

4. Pendleton

5. Andrew Jackson

6. Mullins

7. Keenan

8. Ridgeland-Hardeville

9. Powdersville

10. Indian Land

CLASS A

1. Timmonsville

2. Christ Church

3.Southside

4. Latta

5. Cross

6. Ridge Spring Monetta

7. CA Johnson

8. North

9. Burke

10. Hemingway

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 3:42 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach girls basketball team starts No. 1 in poll."