The Lee Central Girls Defeat North 57-36 To Advance To Class A Girl’s State Basketball Finals

Billy Baker • February 28, 2025

Mail

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Florence—No doubt, when a head coach is leading the girls’ basketball program at her alma mater, where she was once the star player, she naturally hopes that her current players enjoy the same success she once did, so Lee Central’s Patrice Holmes was very proud of the Stallion’s 57-36 win over North High on Thursday at the Florence Civic Center, advancing to the Class A state finals.

Lee Central (22-4) will now engage with a talented team from Military Magnet, who advanced with a win over Denmark-Olar, at 2 p.m. on March, 6 at the Florence Civic Center.

“We missed some easy lay-ups at the start of the game but once we settled down, we played much better,” said Coach Holmes. “We last won a state title in 2007 and we won five state titles in the first seven years of Lee Central High School, (began in 2002) under my former coach Dorothy Fortune. It is great to be back in the finals after such a long time.

“This current team has been four years in the making,” said Coach Holmes. “I have four captains and they are all key players for us. Senior Kiyonna Austin (5-10) did not play last year and she is our top rebounder. Junior MyKeriyah Holmes (niece) is our forward/center and this is her first full-season of play due to injuries and she has been in the program since the 8th grade.

“Our two guard captains are senior Hannah Reames and Serenity Williams and both of them got us started early today on offense,” said Coach Holmes.

Coach Holmes said she watched Military Magnet play earlier in the day at the same arena. “I do not want to reveal my game plan but I do have some things we are going to focus on when we play them,” she said. “They have so much talent.”

The game with North High was never in doubt as the Stallions built a 15-4 first quarter advantage and held a 33-11 lead at the break.

Lee central was le din scoring by Reames with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Holmes contributed 11 points and 9 rebound along with five blocked shots. Senior forward Johnnae Alston provided 12 points and a team leading 13 rebounds while Williams had 11 points.

North High is head coached by I’Rek Hartwell. They were led in scoring by junior guard Kailen Parks with 9 points 9 points and sophomore CoCo Charley with six points, both three pointers made early in the game.

Parks came into the game averaging 23 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.45 steals and 2.8 assists a game but a strong Lee Central defense shut her down for most of the game.

Lee Central is getting balanced scoring from numerous players. Williams is averaging 11.3 points and 4.2 steals a game. Reames is at 9.1 points and 4.9 rebounds a game while senior Ke’Myra Dennis is averaging 8.6 points a game.

Junior MyKeriyah Holmes is averaging 7.2 points and 5.6 rebounds while Austin is at 6.8 points and 6.7 rebounds a game.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Gators’ Hall has built consistent winner on Redbank Road

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Blake Hall has coached the Gators since the 2012-13 season and consistently produced winning teams over the years.

Hanahan volleyball program under new leadership

By Rob Gantt • July 30, 2025

Hanahan High School promotes Jamie Kock to head coach of the girls varsity volleyball. Koch, who has moved up from the junior varsity, takes over for former coach Sheena Lanham.

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.