Lady Bishops' soccer team begins 2019 season ranked No. 1
The Bishop England girls’ soccer team finished the 2018 season as state champions by settling the issue on the pitch of a field. The Bishops begin the 2019 season as the No. 1 team as a result of a poll by the state coaches association.
The Lady Bishops hold the top spot in Class AAA in the recently released SC Soccer Coaches Association’s annual preseason poll, while the Bishop boys check in at No. 2. Hanahan is ranked in both boys and girls. The Hawks are No. 10 in the boys’ poll and No. 9 in the girls’ poll.
The polls are reflective of where the Daniel Island teams finished the 2018 season.
The BE girls won the state title last May with a 3-0 victory over Indian Land, while the boys’ squad dropped a heart breaking 4-3 decision to Berea in the title match. The Bishops are seeking their 12th state title in the program’s history. They are No. 1, while rival Academic Magnet checks in at No. 2.
In the boys’ Class AAA poll, it’s Academic Magnet in the top spot followed by the Bishops.
The BE boys’ loss to Berea last spring marked the 25th time in history that BE reached the state championship. The Bishops have won 17 state titles overall, including three in this decade.
BASKETBALL
The Bishop England girls’ basketball team’s quest for another state championship got off to a good start as the Bishops pounded Edisto 78-20 Monday night in the first round of the Class AAA state playoffs.
The Bishops, who played in the friendly confines of Father Kelly Gymnasium, settled the issue almost from the opening tip-off. The Bishops led 34-2 after one period and 51-9 at halftime. Coach Paul Runey didn’t play his starters after the first quarter as the Bishops upped their record to 24-1.
The Bishops, who are seeking their sixth state title in eight years, host Marion in the second round on Feb. 14. Marion advanced with a 65-48 decision over Lake Marion.
Adry Simmons came off the bench to lead the Bishops with 11 points. Katie Brooks added 10 points. Fifteen of the Bishops’ 16 players entered the scoring column.
The Philip Simmons girls were scheduled to play Calhoun County at home Tuesday night in the first round of the Class AA playoffs.
The boys’ brackets were also scheduled to open play Tuesday. Bishop England traveled to Edisto in the first round of the boys’ Class AAA playoffs while Hanahan was scheduled to travel to Strom Thurmond.
The Lower State championships are set for Feb. 22-23 at the Florence Civic Center, while the state championships are set for March 1-2 at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.