By Rob Gantt
Special to The HSSR
GOOSE CREEK - Goose Creek High School’s girls basketball program seems to be back among the state’s best in Class AAAAA.
The Lady Gators won almost 20 games for second-year coach Jabari Deas and finished the season in the third round of the Class AAAAA playoffs, their best campaign on the hardwood in four years. They captured the Region 6-AAAAA crown along the way, accomplishing one of their big team goals.
“Yes, the future is bright,” Deas said. “It’s a good thing to build upon, be excited about that with the group. I think we have some promising things ahead of us.”
Deas’ bunch finished 19-9 after a 13-point loss to Summerville in the third round. He admitted the playoff defeat stung at the moment. Still, the roster makeup and potential on paper should soften the blow as time passes. Everybody on the roster can return next winter, and most will be back for multiple seasons.
“Our defense is our calling card,” Deas said. “If we get out there and play good defense, we can make our offense a little easier. That’s what we do well that gives us a chance.”
In the playoffs, the Lady Gators knocked off White Knoll and Carolina Forest before encountering the Green Wave.
Both leading scorers are sophomores, all-state selection Aiyanna Moses (10.8 ppg) and Demi Gray (8.1 ppg), as is leading rebounder Natalia Madison. Madison and junior Gabby Curtis are all-region selections with Moses. Junior Saniya Sanders (7.4 ppg) was the third leading scorer. Freshman Jalaiya Jacobs was a consistent contributor on the scoreboard and finished second on the team in steals behind Moses.
Six more lettermen can come back, too.
Goose Creek played for six state titles, winning four, and captured 14 region championships under Deas’ predecessor, Tim Baldwin. Baldwin’s tenure included a string of 17 consecutive 20-win seasons. The Gators won their more recent state title four years ago, though. Baldwin’s final two teams missed the postseason, and Deas’ first team dropped its playoff opener in 2022-23, finishing 10-15.
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