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jjarrett@islandpacket.com
jjarrett@beaufortgazette.com
The high school girls basketball scene in the Lowcountry has been nothing over the past few years if not predictable.
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For once, though, the landscape is marked by change.
Longtime Beaufort High coach Mona Lise Dickson is gone, as are a group of Hilton Head Preparatory School players who graduated with a handful of state championship rings (almost literally -- the Dolphins have won four consecutive SCISAA Class 3-A titles).
Yet the more things change, the more they stay the same. The Eagles and the Dolphins are thinking about region titles and more.
Change is also on the menu at Hilton Head Christian Academy, where coaching legend Jerry Faulkner has come out of semi-retirement to lead an Eagles squad that is aching to challenge its rival, and at Beaufort Academy, where Maria Ernestine takes over a program on the rise.
What else can you expect this season? Well, I'm glad you asked.
Most likely to succeed
It's hard to go against Beaufort High or Hilton Head Prep, which have been the area's most successful teams in recent years, but the safer bet at this point in the season is Hilton Head Island High School. Coach Dave Greenberg has had the Seahawks on the cusp of contention the past few years -- they knocked off top-seeded Chapin in the last season's playoffs before bowing out in the second round -- and with a stable of solid guards back, this could be the year they take the next step.
Don't sleep on ...
Beaufort High: The Eagles have all the talent to contend for a Region 8-AAAA title and make a deep run in the playoffs. The only question is how well -- and how quickly -- they'll adapt to new coach Jerry Hickey's system, but an experienced squad that includes four returning starters should be able to hit the hardwood running.
Hilton Head Prep: I know it's crazy to think anyone could sleep on the four-time defending state champs, and if everything comes together, the Dolphins easily could win their fifth consecutive state title ... but that proposition involves some rather large "ifs." Prep returns only one starter, and the Dolphins' depth has been depleted by injuries. Kate Brunori is out until at least January while recovering from her second torn anterior cruciate ligament in less than a year, and younger sister Jill Brunori, who averaged more than 20 points per game in preseason scrimmages, is out indefinitely with a pulled muscle in her back. Coach Bob Sulek undoubtedly will have the Dolphins playing better ball in February than in December, but it might be another year before Prep rekindles its dynasty.
Names you should know
Samantha Aiken, Hilton Head High: Aiken has the ability to take over a game, which she has displayed regularly against rival Bluffton High School. She's quick off the dribble and knows how to finish, and the Seahawks have enough other threats to keep opposing teams from paying too much attention to her.
Kathleen Blum, Hilton Head Prep: After spending the past couple of years as understudy to star point guard Alexandra Fuller, Blum is ready to take the reins of Prep's dynasty. Although she probably won't be the prolific scorer Fuller was, she's a tenacious defender and displays great leadership potential, qualities she comes by honestly -- she's the niece of hockey legend Mark Messier.
Emily Bowen, Hilton Head Christian: Some sports reporters (wink, wink) have given the 6-foot senior the nickname "El," as in "El Bowen," for her aggressive play in the paint, which often led to foul trouble early in her high school career. But Bowen has corralled that energy and developed into a powerful post presence. With post partner Claudiane Boulay gone to graduation, the Eagles will need Bowen to pick up the slack.
Kentura Carpenter, Beaufort High: The heart and soul of the Eagles' talented crew, Carpenter can do it all. She takes good care of the ball and does a nice job of getting her teammates involved, but she can also create scoring opportunities for herself and score from anywhere on the floor.
Caitlyn Cooler, Beaufort Academy: It's amazing how much of a difference one player can make in high school girls basketball, and when that one player is a guard who can take care of the ball, score and distribute, the results can be dramatic. Cooler proved that last year, helping turn around the Eagles as an eighth-grader. She has picked up where she left off, averaging a double-double in Beaufort Academy's first four games this season.
April Myers, BC: The 6-foot center averaged nine points and nine rebounds as a junior, and she'll be expected to do even more with post partner Jemetria Fletcher gone. The Dolphins like to get out and run, but if Myers can dominate in the paint, they can add an effective half-court set to their arsenal.
Jomanda Smalls, Hardeeville: The junior forward is strong and athletic, and coach Greg Cox thinks she could develop into a dominant post presence. She can play forward or center, which frees up the Hurricanes to experiment with some different combinations and gives Cox a little more flexibility in how he uses his thin bench.
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