76 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Eykyn is looking to change that – from the opening tip of the 2024-25 season until the team can at last hang another long-awaited banner. “And this past season, we lost eight talented seniors,” Eykyn said. “So our biggest initial challenge will be acclimating guys to the varsity level.” Other components will include lots of patience, effort and home support – the latter of which the team already has. “BE home games have been known for student and alumni support for decades,” Eykyn said. “I can remember people being turned away during the height of the BE and Porter-Gaud rivalry when I was playing. In recent years, BE has so many new and old rivals as well as schools in close proximity – the atmosphere is always great.” Senior guards Lang Tarrant and Caleb Watson, senior forward and guard Andrew Putignano and junior forward and center Drew Gallagher are expected to lead the way, especially during the tough games – and right now, Eykyn sees all opposition as tough. “We start the season in the Riptide Classic tournament, so opponents are to-be-decided,” Eykyn said. “Obviously, any team would like to set the tone early. So we look forward to building as the season progresses and being at our strongest during region play.” That play is going to be in a whole new region, as the Battling Bishops have been moved up to Region 6 4A – a stronghold for the likes of Goose Creek, Bluffton, Hilton Head, Beaufort and May River in Beaufort County. This means that the BE teams, traditionally at the 2A level, will not only be competing against much larger schools and having to travel considerably farther distances for away games, but winning against theses new opponents will be a challenge for “the entire athletic program as a whole,” Eykyn said. Which also means that getting back to a state title game for boys’ basketball could take even more time and patience. In its 110-year history, BEHS has accumulated more than 150 state titles across 22 sports – with at least one sport running the table every year since the 1996-97 school year. But boys’ basketball has the lone, and largely forgotten, banner from 1963 – which ironically was the school’s first athletics title. Six previous teams, including the 2020 and 2021 squads, came within one game of the state final. But with region realignment, it’s almost like going back to square one. “And with losing so many seniors from last year, we won’t have a final roster until tryouts in November,” Eykyn said. “But as a program, we look to continue to build on a rich BE basketball tradition in the Lowcountry. The ultimate goal is another state title.” PHILIP SIMMONS IRON HORSES Closer seems to be the status and direction of the Philip Simmons boys’ basketball team. If recent years offer any indication of their future, the Iron Horses could soon have a state final in their sights. “We haven’t been to a state final yet, but that’s our next goal,” said eight-year head coach Tommy Campbell. The Iron Horses finished 15-11 last season, losing in the second round of the playoffs. They have made the playoffs five out of the last seven seasons. But there has always been a missing ingredient – nothing Campbell can yet put his finger on, but which he is always seeking to add. For example, his best team so far was 2021-22 when the Iron Horses posted a mark of 25-4 and were ranked as high as No. 3 in Class 2A. “But we lost in the third round on the road,” Campbell said. In 2022-23, despite holding Dreher High to only 34 points in a first-round playoff game, the Iron Horses still lost by five with their worst offensive showing of the season. And last February, after beating Georgetown by a whopping 31 points in the first round, they lost by 11 in the second round to Lower Richland. “So our outlook for 2024-25 is to maintain our standard of winning and being an elite team in the Lowcountry,” Campbell said. Doing so means getting past December. The Iron Horses will be tested early and often, opening with rival Hanahan; perennial powerhouse First Baptist; a rejuvenated Wando; and a big and physical Goose Creek. And, whether good or bad, Philip Simmons will be missing one opponent on its schedule that fans have come to look forward to. “Our main rival is Bishop England, but due to extenuating circumstances (region realignment), we are not playing them this year,” Campbell said. “We tend to have a good season when we beat them; unfortunately, we won’t get that chance this year.” They will be seeing plenty of Hanahan, Wando, Berkeley and Woodland – who Campbell views as their toughest opponents in a tough region. “And we lost eight seniors last year,” he said, “but are really excited about our returning group paired with a few new players.” Key contributors will include: • Senior guard Corbin Driggers – the team’s main ball handler who can also score in multiple ways. • Senior guard Gannon Barton – a drive-and-dish or shoot player who can keep defenses guessing. • Kolten Kellermann – a two-sport athlete who often scores around the rim and plays defense as if our sports Coach Campbell gives instruction during a timeout.
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