Graduation Losses, Injuries, A Challenge To Lake View Repeating As Class A State Champions

Billy Baker • January 9, 2025

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By Billy G. Baker

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Lake View—The Lake View girls’ basketball team, the defending Class A state champions in South Carolina who finished with a 26-4 record, competed well in the month of December, despite key graduation losses, finishing 4-1 and the Wild Gators are focused on another deep play-off run.

How do you replace the graduated point guard Jaleya Ford who scored 1,707 points in her career at Lake View, along with 661 rebounds and 121 assists? Small forward Gwendasia Page had 1,093 career points and 1,045 rebounds in her storied career at Lake View, along with 276 assists, so she will be hard to replace also.

These two con-census Class A all-state players will be missed as Lake View, as the team works hard to defend the title they won in a highly competitive game a year ago against Denmark-Olar when Lake View rallied for a 49-46 win. Both teams entered the fourth period last year tied at 35 each.

The player stepping up to fill those shoes is sophomore shooting guard Zy’Kiara Waters who was averaging around 20 points a game before she tweaked her knee in a win over Johnsonville game recently. “She is getting an MRI ,and we will know exactly how bad the knee issue is by January, 8,” said veteran head coach James McMillian who has won 167 games at Lake View. “She is walking around okay and we need her talent and leadership back on the floor so we are hoping for the best when the MRI is done.”

Waters had 18 points in the opening season win over Carolina Academy (36-35), 16 points against West Columbus, NC (50-37), and 24 points in a win over Hannah-Pamplico (54-33). Waters had scored 17 points in the 36-35 win over Johnsonville when she hurt her knee in the 4^th period.

Waters did not play against Pee Dee Academy and the Eagles dominated that game (47-10) giving Lake View their lone loss thus far in the season.

“Our first goal is to get healthy and build towards a good run in the play-offs in the play-offs,” said Coach McMillian. “We graduated three starters off our championship team last year so we know we have some work to do.

“While we are developing experience at the guard position this year, we feel like we have a lot of experience at the forward position,” said Coach McMillian. “I am stressing to my players that we will play this season one game at the time with the goal of being 1-0 each and every game we play. If we can be 1-0 after every game we play, then competing for a region title and having a deep play-off run will take care of itself.”

The next player on the roster with the most experience is senior PF Ta’kiyah Waters who is averaging around six points and six rebounds a game. “She is our top rebounder and shot blocker,” said Coach McMillian. “She controls things in the paint for us.”

Lake View is starting a 7^th grader (PG Callie Smith) for only the second time in Coach McMillian’s tenure at Lake View. “Olivia McDaniel started as a 7^th grader and Callie Smith is our 7^th grade starting point guard this season,” said Coach McMillian. Smith is averaging five points and three assists a game. Smith had her best game with 14 points against West Columbus, NC.

Senior Da’Myra Page is starting as a senior SF after not playing her junior season. She had been a player on the team her freshman and sophomore years . Page is averaging around seven points after five games of the season.

Senior PF Alexis Blackmon rounds out the starting five for Lake View and she is averaging around four points and four rebounds a game.

The first two players off the bench include 8^th grade shooting guard Sophia Rogers who will start while Waters is out, along with PF Shayla Johnson who is averaging four points a game. Johnson is also a good ball handler. Freshman combo-guard Aura Green is also a first sub off the bench and she is getting better with every game according to Coach McMillian.

Rounding out the team are 9^th grade forward Ny’Kya Jones, 8^th forward Aaliah Harley, 8^th grade combo guard Delilah Jones, 7^th grade forward Sarah Bethea, and 7^th grade guard Kloye Davis along with 9^th grade forward LaShanna Jordon.

The team will play Carvers Bay and Latta in early January games hoping to get Waters off the injured list.

Coach McMillian is assisted by volunteer coach Raymond Foxworth.

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