Goose Creek High School’s girls basketball season marches on to the second week of the Class 5A state tournament for the first time since winning it all four years ago.
Sophomore all-state guard Aiyanna Moses scored 14 points and seventh-grader Madeline Dates added 9 points, including four free throws in the final two minutes, as the Gators held on to get past visiting Carolina Forest, 49-40, Friday, Feb. 16, in the second round.
The two playoff victories this week are the first since 2019-20 for the Gators. On Tuesday, Feb. 13, Goose Creek edge visiting White Knoll, 39-33, in its postseason opener.
When the regular season began, second-year Gators coach Jabari Deas believed his squad would have an opportunity to get back into the conversation on a state level despite not having any seniors and relying heavily on younger players. The Gators grabbed the Region 6-5A title to set up themselves for multiple home playoff games.
“We thought we were young and inexperienced, but definitely talented,” Deas said. “That’s the one thing we knew we were, was talented. How quickly we can get everybody to understand and embrace their role, be a star in that role, would determine how good we are. We scheduled tough to get us ready for situations like this.”
The Gators (19-8) host Summerville Monday, Feb. 19 in the third round. The Green Wave (21-7) won at Dutch Fork, 45-42, Friday night. The two squads didn’t encounter each other this winter but Deas knows the Green Wave is a quality bunch.
“This is the third round,” Deas said. “There are only great teams left. It’s the final four in the Lower State. Coach (Calvin) Davis is a very good coach. I’ve gotten to know him well. We didn’t play each other this season, but we’re going to play now.”
The Green Wave has won three in a row in the series since ending an eight-game win streak by the Gators from 2015-19. Summerville outscored Dutch Fork, 13-4, over the final six minutes to win on the road in the second round.
Monday's winner advances to the Lower State championship to tangle with either Ashley Ridge or Sumter.
Goose Creek led Carolina Forest 19-14 at halftime and gained separation by outscoring the Panthers 13-3 in the third quarter. The Gators eventually possessed a comfortable, 34-17 lead in the fourth quarter before Carolina Forest stormed back to make it close.
The Panthers used pressure in the backcourt to cut their deficit to four on two occasions in the final two minutes, 42-38 and 44-40, the latter coming with 1:08 left.
But the Gators scored on a couple breakaway layups and a free throw to hold off the visitors.
“We knew they would make a run at us,” Deas said. “That’s a phenomenal team. They had some good pieces. We knew it would be a fight in here.”
Carolina Forest finished 17-8.
Sophomore Miracle McLean led the Panthers with 10 points and sophomore Emerie Davis chipped in 9 points.
