Spartanburg Day Girl’s Basketball Focused On Making The Play-offs This Season

Billy Baker • January 10, 2025

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Spartanburg Day Girls Varsity Basketball Team

By Billy G. Baker

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Spartanburg — The Spartanburg Day varsity girls’ basketball team, head coached by Brian Wood, are hoping to improve on their 1-4 record they had at the holiday break once the season resumes in January.

“We have played a very tough early season schedule against teams like Landrum, Northside Christian, and Carolina Day, NC,” said Coach Wood. “I honestly think we can compete for a region title starting in January when region play begins. For anyone to think that this team can not compete for a region title, that would be a mistake.”

The Spartanburg Day girls began the season with an impressive 62-18 win over Palmetto Christian.

Senior point guard Kaytlin McJimpsey is described by the coach as “the quarterback of the team.” She was named all-region as a junior. She is currently averaging 7.4 points and 2.2 rebounds a game along with three assists and 2.5 steals also.

“As she goes, we go,” said Coach Wood. “Kaytlin is our best player and as we improve and get her more help, we will win some more games for sure.”

Layla Lemmonds is the team’s top rebounder and she is averaging 3.5 points and 6.5 rebounds a game.

Sarah Johnson and Hannah Vincent play significant minutes in the post, combining to account for right at six rebounds a game.

Aiala Diez and Merrill Loring provide the defensive presence at the guard position, both on and off the ball. They combine for over steals a game.

The team’s leading scorer is Katelyn Bopp who is averaging 8.9 points and 1.13 three- point basket per game. Grace Becker is playing well, averaging 4.4 points and 5.5 rebounds a game.

Other hard-working members of the team include junior foreign exchange student Manoela Feuerschuette from Brazil. Sophomore back-up two guard Aroa Sala Ilribarren is an exchange student from Spain. Former player Maria Neves played only the first semester before she returned to her country.

The team will resume play on January, 9 hosting Carolina Day from Asheville, NC. They host Oakbrook Prep on the 11^th before an away game at Palmetto Christian on the 14^th. The team begins region play at First Presbyterian Academy on January, 21^st before hosting Greenwood Christian in a region contest on the 28^th.

“Last year was the first year we didn’t make the play-offs in my five seasons as the head coach,” said Coach Wood. “Making the play-offs this season is a strong goal of this team.”

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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.