Marlboro County boys basketball team off to fast start

Dennis Brunson hssr.com Associate Editor • January 10, 2025

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Bulldogs were off to 8-3 start despite having to replace nine seniors

Bennettsville – Marlboro County High School boys basketball head coach Demetrius Knox thought the 2024-25 edition of the Bulldogs would be a good one. However, he also knew there could be some growing pains.

Through 11 games though, Knox has nothing but praise for his team. MCHS was off to an 8-3 start waiting for play in Region 5-AAA to begin on January 9 at home against Aynor.

“This team has been playing great and played above everybody’s expectations,” said Knox, who is in his third season as Marlboro County head coach. “I know what we had coming up and coming back to this team, but nobody expected us to be this good after losing some key pieces and losing nine seniors.”

The Bulldogs return just two starters from last year’s 13-10 team in seniors Justin Purvis and Ralphier Monroe. Purvis is averaging 9.8 points per game to go along with 2.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals. Monroe id leading the team in both scoring and rebounding at 11.0 and 5.0, respectively. He’s also averaging 2.0 assists.

The rest of the starting five is made up of senior Isaiah Johnson, sophomore Isaiah Whitner and sophomore LaQuincy Leach. Johnson was averaging 7.6 points and 2.0 rebounds

Whitner was averaging 6.0 points and 2.0 rebounds while Leach was averaging 5.4 points and 4.0 rebounds.

Knox said MCHS needs to become a more fundamentally sound team.

“This team needs to improve on becoming more consistent on the defensive side of the ball and rebounding the ball at a high level,” he said.

Other members of the rotation are senior Jahdon Covington, sophomore Will Jeffcoat, freshman Tre Blakeney, sophomore Tymire German and senior Zahkari Parnell. Covington is averaging 4.0 points, Jefcoat 5.4, Blakeney 2.3, German 2.3 and Parnell 3.1

The remainder of the roster includes senior Donovan Outlaw and sophomore Camerion Smith.

MARLBORO COUNTY GIRLS START 4-8

The Marlboro County girls basketball team was taking a 4-8 record into region play. The Bulldogs lost five of their first six games before rebounding to split their next six games.

Freshman Serenity Bethea is leading the team in scoring at 12.8. Freshman Lyanna Boatwright is at 9.7 followed by sophomore Jordyn Zimmerman at 6.5, senior Teyona Johson at 5.8 and senior London Dudley at 5.0

Jenkins is the leading rebounder at 10.5 while Bethea is grabbing 8.1 boards. Boatwright has a team high 3.3 assists along with 4.2 rebounds and 4.6 steals. Bethea has a team high 4.8 steals to go with 2.3 assists.

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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.