Beaufort girls have pieces for special season
By Justin Jarrett
LowcoSports.com
When they’re at full strength and stay close to home, the Beaufort High girls basketball team looks close to unbeatable. But when the Eagles have branched out beyond the Lowco, their weaknesses have been exposed.
Shoring up those shortcomings is on the top of coach Reggie Jones’ list as he looks to build Beaufort back into a contender in Region 7-4A and beyond.
This week showed that the Eagles are somewhere in the juicy center of the pecking order at the moment, blowing out the likes of Battery Creek and Whale Branch but finding themselves on the wrong end of two routs against Class 5A power Goose Creek. An earlier win over Ashley Ridge, though, showed what this Beaufort team could be capable of if everything comes together.
Adding former Bluffton star Amirah Brown to a backcourt that already included phenoms Jania Hayward and Da’Leah LaBoard and frantic defender Zaria Coaxum has made the Eagles a real matchup problem for all but the best opponents.
If all goes according to plan, the Eagles should be among the frontrunners for a region title, but early tests against Ashley Ridge and Goose Creek, plus two tough matchups in the She Got Game Classic, were designed to prepare Beaufort for something bigger come playoff time.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Eagles are just one of the area’s best or a team that can rep the Lowco deep into the postseason.
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS BASKETBALL
Beaufort (6-4)
Last week: W 68-22 at BCHS; L 73-19 at Goose Creek; W 51-15 vs. BCHS; L 78-47 vs. Goose Creek
This week: at Ashley Ridge, 12/17; vs. Whale Branch, 12/18
Battery Creek (0-8)
Last week: L 68-22 vs. Beaufort; L 57-23 at HHIHS; L 51-15 at Beaufort
This week: No games scheduled
Bridges Prep (2-2)
Last week: W 40-15 at Hardeeville
This week: at May River, 12/19
Whale Branch (5-1)
Last week: W 46-34 at Ridgeland; W 56-11 at Hardeeville
This week: at Beaufort, 12/18
John Paul II (4-1)
Last week: W 52-32 vs. May River
This week: vs. Bluffton, 12/16; vs. Hilton Head Prep, 12/18
Holy Trinity (0-1)
Last week: L 69-16 at Savannah Jaguars
This week: No games scheduled
