Chesterfield girls shake off slow start to earn playoff shot

David Shelton • February 10, 2025

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By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Chesterfield – A strength of a good coach is patience, not panic. When teams start slow, the right coach can calm the waters and keep the team focused on daily improvement.

When his 2024-25 team got off to a slow start this season, Chesterfield girls coach Nick Jolly stayed the course. The Rams went 1-7 in non-region play during the first month of the season but Jolly knew his young team needed some time to develop the right chemistry.

Things improved drastically in region 4-AA play as the Rams piled up nine league wins against three losses. Two of those losses came to defending state champion Andrew Jackson. Chesterfield split two games with Cheraw and is slated to play the Braves on Feb. 14 to settle the No. 2 position in the region standings.

“We weren’t winning games early but we were competitive,” Jolly said. “We just weren’t consistent and we weren’t closing out games. We led in most of our games. I saw potential this team and felt we would do well in our region.”

This year’s team is a mix of seniors and underclassmen with the younger players carrying a heavy load. Freshman Reagan Rivers is averaging nearly 15 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. She recently recorded a triple-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds and 10 blocked shots in the win over Cheraw.

Another freshman, Terrahjah Robinson is averaging 12.9 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. Seventh-grader Le’Asia Brown joined the team at mid-season after dominating the middle school level. Brown is averaging 7.9 rebounds per game.

Senior Temia Chapman averages 7.6 points and 3.6 rebounds and senior Trinity Turnage adds 5.1 points per game. Senior Kai Pace is a strong defender while averaging about five points and five rebounds per contest.

Remaining members of the team include senior Jalah Carter; juniors Justice Sellers, Jaylen Evans and Jordan Evans; and freshmen Aiivia Honeycutt and Taylor McCoy.

“We are excited about the playoffs,” Jolly said. “We feel we can compete with any team we might see and we are playing our best right here at the end. This team can win some playoff games.”

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By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.