Goose Creek boys 12-2 as 2025 dawns

By Rob Gantt

Special to the HSSR

GOOSE CREEK – Goose Creek High School’s boys basketball team takes a 12-2 record into the new year after going 2-1 in Greenville High School’s Poinsettia Classic Dec. 27-29.

The Blake Hall-coached Gators defeated Boiling Springs, 57-51, and Greenville, 54-45, in their first two games before falling to Gray Collegiate in the championship.

Junior guard Ja’Quell Brown poured in 49 points in the three games for the Gators, while senior guard Shane Potts added 43 points. Both players have been cornerstones for multiple seasons and earned all-region honors in 2023-24.

Also for the Gators, senior guard Brayden Langworthy tallied nine points against Gray. Senior guard Jermaire Williams scored 10 points against Greenville. Junior forward Taveion Scott was the third-leading scorer versus Boiling Springs.

The Gators entered the 2024-25 season ranked No. 1 in Class 5A Div. II and have proven to be tough on the hardwood as expected. Hall’s club brings back 10 lettermen.

 “We’ve got enough talent to be very good,” Hall said. “The difference between this time last year and this year is they believe they can be good. It starts with the belief you can be good. Then you want to do things you’re supposed to do to be the team you think you can be. It’s really maturation. This team is more mature.”

Potts and Brown averaged 16.6 and 13 points per game in 2023-24. Brown also led in steals, while Potts finished second in rebounds and steals.

The Gators cap the non-region slate at home Jan. 7 against Woodland.

They crank up the Region 7-5A slate at home Jan. 10 versus Cane Bay and travel to Berkeley Jan. 14. Goose Creek then hosts Lucy Beckham Jan. 17 and Wando Jan. 21 before closing out the first rotation through league play at rival Stratford Jan. 24.

Earlier this season, the Gators also won a tournament at North Charleston and had an eight-game win streak.

Wrestling

On Tuesday, Dec. 17, GCHS wrestling coach Willie Nearhood added another line to his resume when the Gators rolled over to Philip Simmons High School and picked up Nearhood’s 500th career duals victory, 66-6. Nearhood became just the 10th coach in state history to reach the milestone, according to records kept on scmat.com.