70 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com school basketball coach. But you might never know it to see Runey preparing as usual for what will be his 43rd season coaching the Lady Bishops. “We lost three starters but return two outstanding players in Hadley Irvine and Olivia Allen, both who will have to step up and lead,” said Runey, as if he were simply trying to build a first championship team. “It’s important for others to step up, and we need to stay healthy in this competitive Region 6 AAAA.” Of course, other teams in the region might say the same thing about Bishop England. For example, entering last season, the Lady Bishops, which are technically a 2A school in terms of size, were expected to get crushed more than a few times after being realigned into a new region to play against schools twice their size – some of which are 50-100 miles away. Instead, it was Bishop England that did most of the crushing, unexpectedly rising to the occasion to post a 23-4 overall mark, going 10-0 in region play and once again advancing to the Elite 8 of the state playoffs. The showing not only put Runey 31 wins shy of the state record, but coming into this season, has the entire school anticipating another state title – to go along with the other six he won from 2012-19. “Six other returning varsity players who will be called upon heavily to contribute are Anna Kate Christy, Ella Runkle, Liza Artigues, Giana Napolitano, Kinsley Watson and Hayden Seay,” Runey said. “Region competition will be strong with Beaufort, May River and Hilton Head. Outside the region, games with Wando, Lucy Beckham and out-of-state teams in the Carolina Invitational will help us gauge where we stand.” PHILIP SIMMONS LADY IRON HORSES For second-year girls basketball head coach Allen Gethers, the new season for his Philip Simmons Lady Iron Horses has the feel of good news, bad news. The bad news is that the team will have only two returning seniors coming off last year’s 10-15 mark and first-round playoff loss to Hampton County, in which the Lady Iron Horses scored only 28 points. The good news is that Gethers will return every player, now battle tested with a full season of experience together and a team attitude of something to prove. “We have all returning starters back,” said Gethers, whose team will be competing in Region 6 AA. “And I’m looking for them to be big in leadership this year.” Despite the team’s overall losing record last season, that leadership showed signs of promise as the Lady Iron Horses posted a 6-4 mark in region play. A key concern, however, is lack of offense. The 202425 team was pounded 67-19 by Goose Creek, and twice more in double digits by Wando, two of Philip Simmons’ chief non-region opponents. A further 57-17 pasting by Berkeley, and two near shutouts – 45-12 against Myrtle Beach and 47-9 by Carolina Day – made it seem as if an invisible lid was on the team’s basket. And region play was often tougher, as they lost twice against first-place finisher Burke and twice more to second-place Timberland. It was the team’s first losing season since 2017-18 – the school’s inaugural year of existence. But despite these outcomes, Gethers and his players got a little stronger as the season progressed and could have just as easily finished with a winning mark, as four of their mid-tolate-season losses were by three points or less. So now that a wrenching first season is behind them, Gethers is ready to see what his new veteran team is made of since “they know what to expect coming into this year.” Philip Simmons Coach Allen Gethers our sports BE Coach Paul Runey is closing in on the state’s all-time wins record.
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