70 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com team that made it to the lower state title game. We should be deep and talented. And everyone seems to want to beat us.” That includes nearby Bishop England, Lucy Beckham, Goose Creek and Philip Simmons. “We’ve had very close games with all of them in the past, and the kids all seem to know each other well from those schools,” Emory said. “They are the ones the public and media tend to hype the most.” The Lady Warriors begin the season Nov. 22-23 in the Charleston Charter Preseason Tournament, of which they are the defending champions. They open regular season play Dec. 3 at home against Bishop England, which Emory considers “a great early test from a premier Lowcountry program.” “I look forward to the challenge these teams will most definitely provide,” Emory said. “Our goal was to play a strong schedule. Outside of region, we focused on teams that finished in the top half of their regions last year. We also plan to attend the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach during Christmas break. This tournament will bring in teams from all over the country.” Philip Simmons and Burke follow soon thereafter, along with region play in January against Goose Creek, Stratford, Berkeley and Cane Bay. In Emory’s own words, Wando’s region will be “as tough as it can get.” “This is going to be a season full of competitive games,” stated Emory. “Berkeley and Goose Creek are always very talented, and Lucy Beckham will play everyone tough. And Stratford, who is just one year removed from a state title game run will most definitely be looking to return to the top. It is my hope that these type of games prepare us for a spot and success in the playoffs.” LUCY BECKHAM LADY BENGALS If honesty counts for anything in high school achievement, the Lucy Beckham Lady Bengals basketball team is about to get an upgrade/overhaul unlike anything they have ever experienced before. And it’s going to come at the order of new head coach Jared Curry, who’s not pulling any punches about what this team needs to succeed. “In terms of setting a tone for the season, my belief is that it is developed in practice,” Curry said. “And so far, ‘toughness’ seems to be the leading indemnity marker.” If you want more honesty, ask Curry about LBHS home games. “There isn’t one thing about a home basketball game that sets us apart from any other high school,” he said. “There isn’t one characteristic/attribute that I can confidently say ‘this is Beckham, this is who we are.’ It is the opposite of a hostile environment, and strikes fear into no one.” And if you want it spelled out clearer, consider that Curry thinks that his adoptive son Mark – the team’s inspirational ‘sixth man’ who suffers from Down syndrome – is at this point more fervent about winning than any of the players. “Mark loves being part of a winning team,” Curry said. “He also loves the crowd, yelling at refs, talking trash and his passion for sport and human connection has taught us infinite lessons. If I can get these girls to care as much as Mark, we will be fine.” Of course, there is another side to Curry’s outspokenness: despite what he thinks is a deficiency in the school’s and team’s culture, he added that it is all “100% going to change.” “These girls care about each other and want to win,” he said. “And they have been showing signs of mental toughness.” With everyone coming back from last year following a first-ever home playoff game, Curry intends to use that care to turn the Lady Bengals into one of the Lowcountry’s top girls’ basketball programs – beginning with opening tip Nov. 20 in the Battle of the Lowcountry tournament. His real work starts immediately afterward, as the Lady Bengals were recently moved up a notch to compete in a new class – 5A Region 7. This means playing teams that often must turn away two-to-three times the number of players they keep – such as Cane Bay, Wando, Ashley Ridge, Summerville and Stratford – all of which are on the schedule. But again, Curry makes no bones about the formidable climb. “Although we are in a more competitive region, there are zero excuses for us not to succeed,” he said. To this end, he sees another positive sign: the Lady Bengals finished 2-9 in 2021, 10-12 in 2022, 11-10 in 2023 and 13-10 in 2024 – constant improvement from year to year. And Curry is ready to lead them into a banner-raising era. “Playing on the level I am envisioning for this team is hard,” he said. “But it’s going to happen.” BISHOP ENGLAND LADY BISHOPS In his 42 years with the Bishop England girls’ basketball program, head coach Paul Runey has met and beaten nearly every conceivable coaching challenge: starting from scratch, creating a winning culture, feeling the pressure of winning and losing a state title, coping with personal loss while trying to keep up the spirits of the team and lasting long enough to walk a fine line between staying too long and achieving a state record for wins. our sports Coaching assistant Mark discusses a practice drill with a player.
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