James Island – When asked to name one strength of her 2023-24 team, James Island girls basketball coach Emily Beyoglides-Baldwin quickly pronounced “experience.”
The coach will lean on a veteran team to shoulder the heavy workload this winter, hoping to be a serious contender in the Class AAAA state playoffs. The Trojans advanced to the third-round of the AAAA playoffs last season.
“We have seven seniors that have been in the program for four years,” the coach said. “Several of those seniors are third-year varsity players so we have girls who have played a lot for us. Experience is a plus, for sure, but we still have to go out and perform. We have to play to our strengths and play as a team.”
Leading the charge on the court this season is returning all-state and all-lowcountry guard Andrea Duncan. Now a senior, Duncan has scored more than 1,200 career points with a career-scoring average of 16.3 points per game. Duncan has opened this season on a tear, averaging 22 points and 6.5 steals per game.
“She already is having a phenomenal season,” Beyoglides-Baldwin said. “I don’t know if she just realized this was her last season or what but she is playing at another level. She’s definitely a game-changer.”
The coach knows what to expect from her star player on a consistent basis. She is hopeful that the supporting cast can raise their production as well.
Senior Alaina Graf is another returning starter and is adding nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game early on. Graf is a solid scorer from the perimeter.
Sophomore Tiana Graf is playing some point guard and dishes out nearly four assists per game. Senior Reagan Wheatley works in the post and is a third-year varsity performer. She and sophomore Madisyn Smith are scoring about four points per game.
James Island should get two key seniors back from injury in time for region play in January. In an odd twist of fate, both Nevaeh Washington and Ellie Wohlschied suffered ACL injuries in the same playoff game last February.
“They will be major additions if and when we get them back,” the coach said. “Our depth is a little low but getting them back, assuming they are 100 percent go, will strengthen our depth.
Much of James Island’s offense is generated off the defensive pressure they employ. Creating turnovers through pressure often leads the lay-ups on the other end.
“You have to play defense if you want to play,” Beyoglides-Baldwin said.
James Island will be a contender once again for the region 7-AAAA championship, along with Lucy Beckham and Bluffton.
James Island has opened the season with seven wins in their first nine games. The Trojans will play in the Carolina Invitational Tournament after Christmas.
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