BE girls' basketball team heading to Lower State final this weekend
The Bishop England girls’ basketball team wasn’t really challenged in the first three rounds of the Class AAA playoffs. However, that should change Saturday when the Bishops battle undefeated Dillion in the Lower State Championship, which will be contested at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Florence Civic Center.
The Bishops have defeated three playoff foes by an average margin of 65-31, including Monday night, when it was pretty much the same as the Bishops pounded Swansea 57-27. But Dillon will present a formidable challenge against the Bishops, who enter with a 26-1 record and a 15-game winning streak.
“They have a very good team,” said BE coach Paul Runey, who picked up his 700th career victory earlier this season. “They are a typical Dillon team we’ve faced in the past. They go coast to coast and they have good athletes who know the game. It will be a challenge.”
Dillon defeated May River 36-21 to advance to Saturday’s game. The Wildcats enter the game with a 20-0 record. The Wildcats have won with defense all season, outscoring foes by an average margin of 53-25.
The Bishops, who are seeking their fifth state championship in seven years, settled the issue early Monday night against Swansea. Playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd at Father Kelly Gymnasium, the Bishops took a 12-4 lead at the end of the first period and expanded the cushion to 24-10 at halftime.
“I thought we played fantastic defense,” Runey said after the Bishops held the Swansea’s dynamic duo, Danae McNeal and Lauryn Robinson, in check most of the game. McNeal, who will play for Clemson at the next level, and Robinson combined to score all 56 points in a recent win over Strom Thurmond. But the Bishops’ defense was up to the task Monday.
The Bishops held a commanding 47-19 advantage in rebounding and held the visitors to 32 percent shooting on 2-point attempts.
Katie Cullum led the Bishops in scoring with 14 points. She also tallied 11 rebounds. Katie Brooks also had a big effort with 10 points, 13 rebounds and four assists. Josie Dennis scored 11 points and led the Bishops with five assists.
The Bishops have won 195 of their last 215 games and own 33 playoff victories in their last 35 games.
The Bishops were one of four Daniel Island area teams to qualify for the basketball playoffs. The others were the Bishop England boys, Hanahan boys and the Philip Simmons girls.
The Bishop England boys lost to Edisto 56-50 in the first round of the playoffs to finish with a 14-12 record.
The Hanahan boys also lost in the first round of the postseason, dropping a 55-44 decision to Strom Thurmond to finish with a 6-19 record.
The Philip Simmons girls, in their first year as a varsity team, picked up their first ever playoff victory with a 68-40 win over Calhoun County. But the season ended at Woodland in the second round as the Wolverines topped the Iron Horses 51-33. The Iron Horses finished with a 16-9 record.