77 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com it is a sin to give up a basket. “This is a rebuilding year in the sense that we lost a lot,” Campbell said. “But we are confident that it will be a really successful season.” OCEANSIDE LANDSHARKS There is an old saying that close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades and, if you’re old enough to remember them, drive-in movies. For the Oceanside Collegiate Academy boys’ basketball team, they are now so close to winning a state title that from the coaches to the youngest player right down to even the most casual fan, everyone at Oceanside is anticipating that the 2024-25 season could at last be their year. “We’ve made the state playoffs every year since my arrival here in 2018,” said head coach Quinton Hollis, whose team was moved up to Class 3A. They also made it to the state championship the past two seasons – losing both times to Gray Collegiate – by 10 points in 2023, and by four in 2024. But not good enough for a team that Hollis said is now “hungrier than ever.” “We’ve spent a lot of time together bonding off the court and becoming a family,” he said. “We are looking to return to the state championship game and end the season as the No.1 team in 3A.” Integral to that goal will be the play of four key seniors: • Point guard Gabe Riesgo • Guard Tyrek Dawson • Guard Carson Jones • Forward Drew Swyt Hollis added that along with their team leadership and experience, Oceanside will return 10 veterans, plus two juniors and the addition of one freshman. Hollis said he’ll need them all to stay healthy to battle the likes of Hanahan, North Charleston, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and as yet unnamed opponents in the MLK Bash Jan. 20 at Eau Claire High School. And that doesn’t count Lucy Beckham, James Island, Pinewood and Lucy Beckham again to open the season. “These first four games are vital to our season and early success,” Hollis said. “These teams play hard and are well coached.” But Hollis would rather be facing a tough schedule than having to start over with another school. In May of this year, Oceanside very nearly came to an end when its sponsoring district, the Charter Institute at Erskine College, revoked the school’s charter – barely eight years after launching. In June, the Institute reversed its decision and in July, the school’s charter was transferred to the Limestone Charter Association, allowing Hollis and other coaches to prepare for the upcoming season. Hollis is focused on how fortunate Oceanside is to have tough opponents. “In our brief history, to me it seems that Lucy Beckham and North Charleston have become our rivals,” he said. “Those games are always packed and physical. And although we own the overall record on each team, it’s always a dogfight.” When asked to name his best season and toughest annual opponent, he said, “Every season is the best season – every year’s team is different, and I accept the challenge. To me every team is the strongest competition. We don’t take any of them for granted.” our sports Landsharks at Team Camp KICKBOARD SCOOTERS TOY EXPERT PICKS AIR TOOBZ POP STAR KARAOKE Complimentary GIFT WRAPPING MT. PLEASANT WEST ASHLEY DOWNTOWN Visit Us WONDERWORKSTOYS.COM
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1