Myrtle Beach providing girls hoops send-off for state title game
The Myrtle Beach girls basketball team will mix practice with pomp in advance of this week’s Class AAA basketball finals.
The Seahawks, who advanced to Saturday’s championship game against Dreher by winning the Lower State title over the weekend, will take part in a send-off parade at the school on Friday before departing for Columbia. The team will spend the night there that evening, and while practice on at the Colonial Life Arena floor isn’t allowed, Myrtle Beach will watch the Class AAAA games on Friday to get acclimated to the environment.
“I think the girls are preparing very well for it,” Myrtle Beach Athletics Director John Cahill said. “It’s obviously a really exciting time for Coach [Jennifer] Dennison and our kids. They’re handling it very well. … Hopefully they can get up there and get the jitters out.”
Dennison was joined by players Keocia Walker and Nia Sumpter at Monday’s South Carolina High School League basketball championship news conferences at the league offices. By 4:15 p.m., the team was practicing back at the high school.
The pace of the week won’t slow much, between three more practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then Friday morning’s send-off. That will begin at 9:45 a.m., leading a parade route through the block of Myrtle Beach schools at approximately 10:30 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
The team’s stay in Columbia on Friday night will be financed by the Myrtle Beach Booster Club.
Although tickets will be available at the Colonial Life Arena on Saturday – and the venue isn’t expected to sell out – pre-sale tickets will be available to Myrtle Beach fans at the school’s athletics offices from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Whether purchased at the school or at the Arena, they are $10, although the school receives $2 from each advanced ticket sale.
Ian Guerin: ian@ianguerin.com, @iguerin
IF YOU GO
What: Class AAA girls basketball championship
When: 5:30 p.m., Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena, University of South Carolina, Columbia
Who: Myrtle Beach (25-5) vs. Dreher (26-1)
Tickets: $10, available at the arena (age 5 and under admitted free) or in advance that Myrtle Beach athletics office; $5 for parking. The ticket and parking prices are good for all day, giving fans access to all six championship games taking place Saturday.
About: Each of these teams have a rich history of postseason success, as Myrtle Beach has won six state championships while Dreher owns five. Myrtle Beach (2010, 2011) and Dreher (2012, 2014) are also responsible for four of the last six titles. The two teams have met three times in recent playoffs, with Dreher winning in the second round in 2005 and 2012 and in the third round in 2003.
This story was originally published February 29, 2016 at 5:49 PM with the headline "Myrtle Beach providing girls hoops send-off for state title game."