Hardwood Report (Feb. 13, 2016)

Ready or not, the chaos that is the S.C. high school basketball playoffs is here.

More than 200 teams statewide began practicing this past fall with a similar vision – to be the last team standing in their respective classification when all is said and done.

With regular-season games having been played and the dust cleared, a total of 16 area basketball teams are playoff bound. Of those that qualified, six earned the right to open postseason play on their home floor – Carvers Bay, Conway and Myrtle Beach on the girls’ side; along with the Carolina Forest, Carvers Bay and North Myrtle Beach boys.

“It’s what you work all region long for,” said Conway girls basketball coach Shamae Hemingway. “But when the playoffs begin, none of that really matters. You have to go out there and finish.”

Obviously, everyone’s goal is to make it to the top. But for a select few teams, merely making it there is an expectation, with excellence required for every game they step upon the hardwood.

Such is life for the Myrtle Beach girls basketball team, which entered Region VI-AAA play the top-ranked team in the state. That perception somewhat changed in a blink, however, with the Seahawks losing to Wilson in a matchup of two of Class AAA’s top squads.

Sometimes, getting a tiny dose of reality can have a positive impact.

Since their loss to the rival Tigers in early January, the Myrtle Beach girls have not suffered the sour taste of defeat. In fact, aside from a 40-32 victory over St. James, none of the games during the Seahawks’ nine-game win streak was close.

All of this starts at the core, with senior point guard Keocia Walker and a pair of versatile forwards in Kiana Adderton and Nia Sumpter – both of whom have scored more than 1,000 points in their prep basketball careers ‑ down on the blocks. Most of all, however, is despite their obvious star power, the trio’s lack of selfishness helps make them a better team.

“We see it every day in practice, everyone is trying to get better,” Adderton said. “There is nothing I can do or accomplish without my teammates, and we are one in our goal of winning a state championship.”

There still remain five steps to a state title for the Myrtle Beach girls basketball team, though one cannot argue it is on a small list of teams that most believe could hoist the trophy at Columbia’s Colonial Life Arena in early March. All of those expectations and predictions are good for debates and conversations, but coach Jennifer Dennison knows once the ball is tipped off Monday evening, none of that will matter.

“Now, it’s about working and executing,” Dennison said. “We have a lot of teams who we need (to be prepared for) in our half-court game.”

Making history, again

Most of the local participants in the upcoming basketball playoffs already know their first-round opponents.

The same cannot be said for Christian Academy of Myrtle Beach, whose path to a potential state crown will be announced by Wednesday morning. Coach Darren Gore is not fretting over this notion though, his Saints squad in what he considers prime position to make a deep run in the SCISA Class AA playoffs.

While not necessarily playing its best against Florence Christian in its SCISA Region III-AA tournament championship game, Christian Academy proved it was up to the task in a 67-56 victory.

In addition to a second consecutive region title, it assured the Saints of finishing the league slate without a loss. Since joining SCISA Region III-AA last year, the squad has gone an impressive 20-0.

“To go into (SCISA) Region III-AA, win the tournament and go undefeated, that is quite the accomplishment,” Gore said. “Playing quality teams with great players and good coaches, I’m excited for our players and fans. More importantly, it puts us in good position for a top seed in the playoffs.”

As has been a common theme all season, Christian Academy proved it can win in a variety of ways with a different person leading the charge.

On Friday night, it was Jalen Matthews’ turn. The freshman wingman had a double-double, scoring 22 points and hauling in 12 rebounds en route to being named tournament MVP.

He was not alone though, as SCISA Region III-AA Player of the Year Michael Green finished the game with 17 points and five rebounds, while Bernard Jones scored 15 points and had five rebounds along with four assists.

The Saints certainly needed their stellar effort, getting quite the game from host Florence Christian.

“It was their place, their crowd and a great environment,” Gore said. “We were actually down in the third, and the place was going crazy in their favor. But our guys responded well, and I couldn’t be more proud of that.”

Christian Academy is in the running for one of SCISA Class AA’s top four seeds when the playoffs begin Saturday. Also likely to be considered is Spartanburg Day, Trinity-Byrnes, Bethesda Day and Oakbrook Prep.

“There are at least four to five teams that I believe have a great chance at making it all the way,” Gore said. “And I think we are one of them. We’re four games from our goal. As I told my players, they are guaranteed at least one game … how many more after that is up to them.”

Fab Five Performances of the Week

Tamara Jackson (Green Sea Floyds): The Trojans’ top scorer proved up to the task Thursday night, scoring 34 points in her team’s 58-35 win over Creek Bridge.

Aquera Johnson (North Myrtle Beach): The Chiefs’ floor leader scored 29 points and hauled in 14 rebounds in a 47-32 victory on Tuesday night.

Justin Busby (Waccamaw): Though in a losing effort, Busby’s 25 points were a team-high in the Warriors’ loss Tuesday night to Dillon.

Jalen Matthews (Christian Academy): The freshman wingman’s 22 points led the Saints to a SCISA Region III-AA tournament title Friday night over Florence Chrisitian.

Kimmie Hotzelt (St. James): The upperclassman saved one of her best games for senior night, scoring 22 points to lead the Sharks to a 57-20 win over Lake City.

Ian Guerin contributed to this report.

This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Hardwood Report (Feb. 13, 2016)."