Gators finish state runners-up on hardwood

Rob Gantt • March 21, 2025

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Goose Creek's junior all-state guard Ja’Quell Brown.

By Rob Gantt

Special to The HSSR

GOOSE CREEK – Goose Creek High School’s boys basketball team captured the Region 7-5A championship this winter and advanced to the Class 5A Div. II state championship game.

The championship game was the last one for five Goose Creek seniors: Shane Potts, Carmelo Adeniyi, Brayden Langworthy, Caleb Langworthy and Jermaire Williams. Potts, an all-state selection, capped his career with 29 points on 11-of-16 shooting in the finale against Upper State champion Greenville.

“They’re all great young men,” Gators coach Blake Hall said. “You don’t win at a high level without character people. They’re the epitome. I truly believe if you don’t have good people, you’re not going to win at a high level. They will be missed, but the relationship goes on. I look forward to watching them get out into the real world and do great things.”

The Lower State champion Gators finished up 25-4 after falling to Greenville in double overtime inside the Florence Center March 8. The region title was Goose Creek’s second in the last three years and the Gators. The state appearance was their fourth since 2006.

The Gators have some talented players coming back, including junior all-state guard Ja’Quell Brown. Brown scored 27 points and forced the first overtime with an off-balance 3-pointer from the wing at the horn to tie it 58-58.

Junior guard Terrell Johnson trailed Potts and Brown for the Gators in the championship game, finishing with seven points. Brayden Langworthy chipped in six points.

On the season, Brown and Potts led the Gators on the scoreboard, averaging 16.6 points and 15.8 points, respectively. Sophomore Reggie Dozier chipped in 6.5 points per game, followed by junior forward Tavieon Scott, Williams, Johnson and Adeniyi. That group added right around five points per game.

Scott led around the glass with 5.5 rebounds per game. Brown led in assists and Potts was out front in steals.

The Goose Creek girls basketball team finished 14-11 overall and 6-4 in the league to place third.

Eighth-grader Madeline Dates paced the Lady Gators in scoring at 15 ppg, while freshman Celeste Griffin added 8.5 ppg. Sophomore Jaliaya Jacobs and eighth-grader Aubrey Downey chipped in over six points per game.

The seniors were Gabby Curtis and Grace Sullivan.

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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.