Goose Creek uses stellar defense to clamp down on Conway

FLORENCE, SOUTH CAROLINA – During warmups before the 5-A Lower State championship game, Goose Creek players were shooting contested jumpers.

It was a preview of what was to come.

The Gators played baseline-to-baseline defense with intensity that never let up and got 18 points from star guard Elijah Dates in a 43-23 rout of Conway on Monday at the Florence Center.

Goose Creek coach Blake Hall shouted out calls and encouragement continuously as the Gators claimed their berth in the state championship game.

“Our practices are a lot harder than the games,” Dates said. “He prepares us well. We just have to go out and do what he taught us.”

It was emotional win for Hall, whose team is now 25-4.

“We’ve had seven of these nine seniors since the sixth grade,” Hall said. “I'm so proud of that. In a day and age when kids move around when they're not happy and face adversity, these kids stayed the course and they earned the right.”

Goose Creek will play top-ranked Dorman for the state championship on Saturday at 7 p.m. at USC-Aiken.

It was a tough loss for second-ranked Conway (27-2), which was playing in its second Lower State final in the last four years.

“These kids have been a good part of history,” said Conway coach Michael Hopkins. “That can't be erased. When you’re giving me everything you’ve got, that’s all I can ask of you.”

Conway has hung its hat on defense all year to great success and the Tigers did a good job with that again on Monday.

But the Gators took defense to another level. They trapped the length of the court and their man-to-man defense seldom allowed any open looks. The Gators constantly talked to each other and made hand signals.

“We brought a lot of energy in and off the bench,” said freshman guard Ja’Quell Brown. “Rotations were very good.”

Conway played with its usual patience and points were scarce in the first half. Dates made a pair of 3-pointers and Goose Creek led 6-2 after one quarter.

It was a 9-6 game with 3:24 left in the first half when the Tigers’ Jamarious Woodbury hit a floater in the lane.

But the Gators started finding some offense in the closing moments of the half. Dates drove the middle for a layup. After a Conway turnover, Lavareuis Major hit a backdoor layup off a rare transition opportunity. Goose Creek took a 17-8 lead into halftime.

It was enough of a lead given the scarcity of points altogether and that meant Conway was going to have to attack the basket with more frequency.

“When you're not making shots, you have to play extra tight on defense,” Hopkins said. “We’ve been able to do that all year.”

It just didn't happen for the Tigers against Goose Creek.

Brown set the tone for the second half when he came up with a steal and drove the length of the court for a layup. After the Tigers’ Cam Alston hit a pair of free throws, Brown got out in transition again. This time he stopped in the lane and popped in an eight-foot jumper. It was the start of an 8-0 run that effectively put away the game.

Justin Britt, who missed the first 19 games of the season due to injury, had eight points for the Gators. Shane Potts had 7 points and Brown added 6.

Aiden Brantley and Alston each scored six points to lead Conway.

With less than a minute to go, Hall called a timeout to clear his bench and smiles abounded.

“I’m tickled for them,” Hall said.