Colleton County Boys Look to Make Noise in Region 6-4A

Worthy Evans • January 9, 2025

Mail

By WORTHY EVANS

Contributing Writer

Walterboro – This year’s Colleton County boys basketball team is young, but has a good shot at a successful season with the play of its two seniors and some juniors.

The Cougars finished 17-11 overall and 7-3 in Region 7-4A last year, but lost nine seniors from that team. Now in Region 6-4A, Colleton County is 5-6, and after weathering a tough early start in non-region play, the Cougars won three straight games going into their non-region game at Stratford Friday.

“We’re pretty much a whole new group,” Cougars head coach Dominic Kahee said. “We have four returning seniors this year, and pretty much a whole new group. They’ve struggled to find their identity early in the season, but I think they’ve caught on.”

The Cougars lost two of their first three games, but battled Stratford in a 61-58, two-overtime victory Dec. 3. After that gut check, Colleton County dropped losses to Hampton County, Ashley Ridge, Fort Dorchester and Battery Creek.

Colleton County generally plays an up-tempo game that gets its points in transition, from steals to other turnovers. When they play their game, the Cougars can turn the tables fast on an opponent, but there have been moments where they play too fast, and “We like to let our defense create our offense, but we do get a little ahead of ourselves and I have to take it down a notch, slow it down and get them back into their headspace.”

A 59-51 win over Bamberg-Ehrhardt Dec. 18 marked the team’s turnaround. Two days later the Cougars played Hampton County—which beat them 65-44 Dec. 6—and won a defensive battle 49-41.

Their most recent win came as a 45-38 victory over Ridgeland Dec. 23.

Senior guard Da’Veon Varner leads the team in scoring with 18.4 points per game. He also averages 3.7 rebound and 2.7 assists per game.

Senior forward Amauri Sanders averages 14.4 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, and senior guard Robert Parks averages 5.9 points and 2.2 boards per game.

Junior center Xavion Green is the team’s leading defender with 6.0 rebounds per game. Junior forward Jaqueas Martin averages 4.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

“Sanders and Varner are getting a lot more help from our big guys, Xavion Green and Jaqueas Martin,” Kahee said. “It’s been a gradual process, but they have stepped up a lot.”

After Friday’s game at Stratford, Colleton County opened Region 6-4A play at May River Tuesday. The Sharks were 8-2 going into their Saturday game against Benedictine and look to be one of the better teams in the region after 10-1 Bluffton, Kahee said.

“We were preseason ranked No.5 in the region, and Bluffton is the team to beat,” Kahee said. “They’ve got a pretty good core of players down there, and for right now they’re at the top of the mountain. Behind them is May River, and with the addition of Bishop England (up from 2A) and Beaufort (up from 3A), they’re going to make a little noise along with us.”

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Gators’ Hall has built consistent winner on Redbank Road

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Blake Hall has coached the Gators since the 2012-13 season and consistently produced winning teams over the years.

Hanahan volleyball program under new leadership

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Hanahan High School promotes Jamie Kock to head coach of the girls varsity volleyball. Koch, who has moved up from the junior varsity, takes over for former coach Sheena Lanham.

First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

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.