The Gazette
Moments later the Gators received state championship medals around their necks in bringing the school its first basketball championship.
Now comes the apparent pressure to successfully defend, something not easy to do with a bull’s eye on the back. Only six teams since 1970 have been able to go back-to-back.
“The other teams view us differently so we have to understand that we will have to play to our best each night,” Goose Creek coach Brad Dobbels said.
Citadel bound point guard DeVontae Wright and forward Louis Williams are the only two regular starters returning but the Gators did get three sizable transfers that should help ease those losses.
The big loss was all-state guard Philip Jenkins, who averaged over 22 points a night and poured in 33 points to lead the way in the 63-58 win over Gaffney last March.
“Philip did whatever it took for us to seal the deal,” Dobbels said. “He did that throughout the season. He put us on his shoulders and carried us at times when we needed it.”
Wright isn’t being asked to score as many points as Jenkins did but it’s his team to run. Dobbels expects him to be up to the challenge. Wright averaged 8.9 points, 4.1 assists and 2.2 steals per game last season.
“I think DeVontae will do a great job at getting people in the right spot,” Dobbels said. “Beyond that, at all of the other positions we need people to step up and increase their roles.”
Seven other Gators were on the roster a year ago but basically all of those were just role players. Senior guard Cameron Davis was the only one of the group to play substantial minutes in games. Sophomore guard Raemond Robinson gave an occasional spark off the bench from behind the arc, hitting 14 of 29 3-pointers. He had five in the playoff opener against West Florence.
The team’s other guards are junior Jovon Davis, senior Geno White and senior Daniel Loney.
The Gators were slim on returning post players but three fell from out of the sky and now they look as strong as any squad in the Lower State around the basket.
Juniors Brandon Shell (6-7), Jacob Carson (6-9) and junior James Robinson (6-5) moved in from other schools.
Returners Troy Tucker (6-2), Phillip Ham (6-2) and Jaquan Marsh (6-2) are wing players.
“With the post players we have, hopefully we will be able to play inside out which should help our perimeter game,” Dobbels said.
The Gators open the season Wednesday night at home against Timberland before traveling to play North Charleston Friday.
“We have some high expectations,” Dobbels said. “Any time you do as well as we did last year, people kind of expect you to do it again.”
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I agree with you. I think both teams will have a great chance to go to the state game this year.
Posted by: Gator Fan
There isnt a doubt in my mind that our boys team wont ake us to state again this year, only this team our girls will go too!!!! We got some of the best players around!!!!
Posted by: Amber
What about the other returning players like senior Phillip Ham (6'3"). He can play any position and did great last year until his nose was broken in practice. Then he wasn't allowed to play towards the end of the season. If the coach would give him a chance since he's been playing with the Gators since the 8th grade, he can put up some major points and get rebounds. But no, they gotta let the "big guys" that transferred in play. Ham has averaged between 12 and 18 points a game in every other league he has played.
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