Battery Creek's Ethan Cox catches the ball at Battery Creek High School on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

BOYS HOOPS ROUNDUP

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Dolphins hot heading into BC Classic

By Justin Jarrett

LowcoSports.com

There’s no place like home, and the Battery Creek boys basketball team will have a chance to build on its early-season momentum right at home in the Palace this week for the second year of the revived John Drafts BC Classic.

The Dolphins have rattled off four straight wins following a 10-point loss to Class 5A Wando to open the season, and they appear poised to contend to keep the title at home this year, though they’re likely to face a stern test from the likes of May River and Bluffton.

Battery Creek has already swept both Beaufort and Whale Branch in home-and-home matchups, and now the Dolphins get a chance to make a statement against two of the top teams from the other end of the county.

Battery Creek’s Tyrese Smith jumps to catch a pass at Battery Creek High School on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. Amber Hewitt/The Island News

They need all the tests they can get to prepare for a brutal Region 6-3A schedule that includes two matchups each with powerhouses Oceanside Collegiate, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, and North Charleston, as well as a scrappy Hanahan team, but coach C.J. Brown’s squad is looking the part early on.

Four players are averaging double-digit scoring with electric sophomore guard Michael Williams (13.8 ppg) and versatile junior big man Ethan Cox (12.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg) leading the charge. Juniors Ty’juan Simmons and Tyrese Smith can also fill it up, but the Dolphins know they need to continue to develop their depth to contend on a bigger stage.

HS BOYS BASKETBALL

Beaufort (0-5)

Last week: L 64-49 at BCHS; L 75-10 at Goose Creek; L 81-51 vs. BCHS; L 78-18 vs. Goose Creek

This week: at Ashley Ridge, 12/17; vs. Whale Branch, 12/18; vs. Swansea, 12/22; vs. Kingstree, 12/23

Battery Creek (4-1)

Last week: W 64-49 vs. Beaufort; W 81-51 at Beaufort

This week: vs. Bethesda Academy, 12/18; John Drafts BC Classic TBD, 12/19-20

Bridges Prep (1-2)

Last week: L 58-42 at May River; L 63-51 at Hardeeville

This week: No games scheduled

Whale Branch (3-4)

Last week: W 68-56 at Ridgeland; W 64-51 at Hardeeville

This week: at Beaufort, 12/18; at Ridgeland, 12/20

John Paul II (6-2)

Last week: L 61-52 vs. May River; W 103-22 vs. Thomas Heyward

This week: vs. Bluffton, 12/16; vs. Hilton Head Prep, 12/18

Beaufort Academy (1-1)

Last week: W 56-51 at Savannah Jaguars; L 79-66 vs. Coastal Homeschool

This week: No games scheduled

Holy Trinity (0-3)

Last week: L 63-23 vs. Savannah Jaguars; L 62-33 vs. Palmetto Scholars; L 63-31 at Savannah Jaguars

This week: No games scheduled

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