One year after competing for all the marbles in Class 5A, the Stratford High School girl’s basketball team finds itself in a different conversation as the home stretch for the 2023-24 season arrives.
The Knights were hit hard by graduation following this past year’s special run to the state runner-up spot, and new coach Marshall Cabbagestalk goes into battle with a much younger squad. Stratford won 25 games in its final season under Kelly McNeil.
“We’re trying to head in the right direction,” Cabbagestalk said. “We’re just trying to finish. The biggest thing is learning to win with these girls. A lot of them are newcomers to the varsity level. It seems like we have enough at the beginning of games, but at the end is where we fall apart.”
Stratford dropped to 3-14 overall and 0-2 in Region 6-5A with a hard-fought 55-46 loss Tuesday, Jan. 16, to visiting Berkeley. Cabbagestalk’s bunch is heading into region matchups at home against Cane Bay (Jan. 17) and (Jan. 19) at Goose Creek (after press time) before starting the second rotation through region play Friday, Jan. 26, at Cane Bay. The Knights host Wando Tuesday, Jan. 30, before finalizing the regular season slate with matchups at Berkeley Friday, Feb. 2, and Tuesday, Feb. 6, at home against Goose Creek.
“The goal is to get into the playoffs,” Cabbagestalk said. “We’re trying to sneak out some wins in the region so we can make a playoff appearance. We want to keep games close and make it a fight in the fourth quarter.”
The Knights did that in the loss to Berkeley. Stratford trailed by five at halftime and hung around against the Stags (13-4, 2-1 region).
While the defeats have piled up this winter, the team’s attitude and drive to improve have been consistent.
“The attitude has been great as far as learning new concepts, coming to practice and wanting to learn how to win,” Cabbagestalk said. “Everybody has taken on new roles because a lot of minutes left off that team that went to the state championship game. A lot of these girls are learning on the fly and earning minutes they didn’t have before.”
Junior guard Ciera Mustapher is the lone key player returning from the 2022-23 squad and leads the team in scoring this winter at around 17 points per game. She scratched for 19 points against Berkeley. Junior Adrianna Brown added eight points, junior Sydnie Stepney added seven and senior Serenity Pearson added five.
On the season, Stepney is the second leading scorer and one of the top rebounders, along with senior forward DaNya Crawford.
Gators, Warriors split in hoops
Goose Creek and Wando split a pair of tight Region 6-5A matchups Tuesday, Jan. 16, at GCHS.
The Lady Gators pulled out a 46-43 victory, while the Goose Creek boys fell 56-52. Goose Creek’s girls improved to 13-6 overall and 2-0 in the league. The Gators’ boys dropped to 9-9 overall and 0-2 in the region.
Cobras swept in non-conference matchups
Cane Bay’s basketball teams dropped a pair Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Ashley Ridge. The Cane Bay girls lost 60-30, while the Cobras’ boys were defeated 60-49. Cane Bay girls fell to 5-14 and the Cobras’ boys to 12-7.
Hawks swept by Philip Simmons
Hanahan’s basketball teams dropped both Region 8-3A games Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Philip Simmons.
The Hawks boys fell 57-25, while the girl’s team lost 49-35.
Camdyn Lawson led Hanahan’s girls with 17 points. They dropped to 9-10 overall and 1-1 in the region.
Justin Maduro and Landon Hargrove tallied six points each to lead Hanahan’s boys, who fell to 6-12 overall and 0-2 in the region.
Gators, Knights win on mat
The wrestling teams from Goose Creek and Stratford earned Region 6-5A victories Tuesday, Jan. 16, on the mat.
The Gators knocked off Cane Bay 45-24, while the Knights handled Wando 49-21.
Goose Creek and Stratford meet Tuesday, Jan. 23, at GCHS.
