The high school girls' basketball season is now underway, and league play has just begun. Here's a glance into the upcoming girls basketball teams for 2023-24:
GHSA CLASS 7A REGION 1
School: RICHMOND HILL HIGH SCHOOL WILDCATS
Head coach: Sarah Jones
Coach's years at school and record: Tenth season, 138-134
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Tenth season, 138-134
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 15-12/3-5
Key players returning: MaKiyah Matthews, Jada Brown, Mmekom Inyang
Key players lost: Brionna Sutton, Savannah Gravitt, Sapphira Matthews
Team's strengths/weaknesses: We have our core varsity girls returning, so being able to continue to build off of foundation should help us with our tough schedule and tough region. One of our weaknesses may be our depth this year.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: I expect us to get out and compete this year. We have a tough region so having our core varsity girls back, plus some girls that have moved up, will hopefully prepare us for the fight we will be in each night.
GHSA CLASS 6A REGION 1
School: BRADWELL INSTITUTE TIGERS
Head coach: Faye Baker
Coach's years at school and record: Twenty-ninth season
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Twenty-ninth season
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 23-5/9-1
Key players returning: Parris Parham (5’9 Jr Forward), Ja’Nya Bush (5’8 Soph Guard), Kaydence Kern (5’10 Soph Forward), Jordyn Rogers (5’7 Jr Guard)
Key players lost: Taniyah Bowman, Bailey Gilmore
Team's strengths/weaknesses: The Lady Tigers lost 4 seniors including Region 1AAAAA Player of the year, Taniyah Bowman. This is a young group with only 2 seniors on this year’s team.
School: EFFINGHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL REBELS
Head coach: Danetia Jefferson Howard
Coach's years at school and record: First season
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: First season
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 4-22/1-11
Key players returning: Rachel Reagan, Abbigail Jones, Kyjana Jordan
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “We will give our best.”
School: SOUTH EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL MUSTANGS
Head coach: Alexus Parker
Coach's years at school and record: Third season, 30-23
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 20-8/10-2
Key players returning: Elena Hairston
Key players lost: Kay'Mar Griffin, Zakerria Hall, Laney Dobbs, Shi'Asia House, Faith Norman, Miracle Simmons
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Strengths will be up-tempo, and defense/Weaknesses is size and IQ.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: With losing major pieces to our program, graduating 7 seniors, this will be a rebuild year for us. We will have our senior guard, Elena Hairston, to lead the way. We will be successful, as long as the younger kids continue to buy in and trust the process. This year will not be about wins or losses for us, but more about teaching each player the game of basketball to build their IQ and skills.
GHSA CLASS 5A REGION 1
School: HV JENKINS WARRIORS
Head coach: Brianna Brooker
Coach's years as head coach at school and record: Five, 27-58
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 4-20, 0-11 in region 1-5A
Key players returning): Kaiya Bryant (5-2, Sr., SG), A’Niyah Browner (5-2, So., PG), Taylor Young (6-1, So., C), Aliyah Frazier (5-6, Jr., SF)
Key player lost: Aaliyah Murray (5-5, PG)
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Strength: speed. Weakness: young
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “I'm extremely excited for this season because we're very young and have potential to be one of the best teams in the city. We're looking to finish in the top three in our region after finishing last, now that we've experienced one of the toughest regions in the state. Our guard play keeps us afloat with their scoring and speed, but our post defense is what makes us a top contender.”
GHSA CLASS 4A REGION 3
School: ISLANDS HIGH SCHOOL SHARKS
Head coach: Kim Bynum
Coach’s years at school and record: First year
Coach’s total years as a head coach and overall record: Well over 30 years, including eight years coaching college basketball.
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 14-14, 4-4 in region 3-4A
Key players returning: Jordyn Terrell (Sr., C), Brooklyn Howells (Sr., F)
Key players lost: Veronica Sierzant (6-3, G-F), Devin Long (5-9, G-F)
Team strengths/weaknesses: Strength: willingness to learn and work hard. Weakness: Inexperience.
2023-24 season outlook: The Sharks girls basketball team has this in common with the Islands volleyball, girls’ soccer and track and field teams: How to replace a multiple-sport star in Sierzant, now playing volleyball for Syracuse. Long was a standout three-sport athlete (softball, hoops, flag football) now playing softball for East Carolina. Bynum is the new coach but not new to coaching, as she started in 1988.
NEW HAMPSTEAD PHOENIX GIRLS
School: New Hampstead
Head coach: Trey Lanier
Coach's years at school and record: Three, 26-21
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Three, 26-21
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 11-13, 1-7 in region 3-4A
Key players returning: Akera Jackson (5-4, Sr., PG), Gianna Brown (5-11, Jr., PF)
Key players lost: Makayla Grey (5-9, F), Leila Williams (5-3, Jr., PG; tore an ACL in the summer)
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Strengths: resiliency and conditioning; weaknesses: lack of depth and inexperience
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “We are looking to make a run in the region and get back into the playoff picture. We have a small, inexperienced team. However, this team understands hard work can make up for the inexperience.”
GHSA CLASS 3A REGION 3
School: A.E. BEACH HIGH SCHOOL BULLDOGS
Head coach: Olufemi Gordon
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 10-16, 6-11 in region 3-3A
Key players returning: Aziyria Phillips (5-2, Sr., SG/PG), Omarrieona Grant (5-6, Sr., F/C), Ashley Jones (Sr., SG/SF), Mariah Reid (5-7, Fr., PG/SG/SF)
Key players lost: Aaliyah Williams (PG), Kayla Bivins (Sr., G)
2023-24 season outlook: The Bulldogs program knows how to win from success sustained over many years but will try to rebound from what it hopes is an outlier last season. Beach will have to do it without Williams, the graduated point guard who averaged 12 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 4.4 steals. Senior Phillips, an all-region second-team pick last season, and freshman Reid are good choices to build around for the current squad.
School: CALVARY DAY SCHOOL CAVALIERS
Head Coach: Daniel Jackson
Coach's years at school and record: First season
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 24-7/15-1
Key players returning: Destini Gooddine (5-6, Jr., G), Bre Jones (5-5, Jr., G), Zora Geiger (5-9, Jr., G/F, Molly Smith(5-10, So., G/F), Da’Maris Shields (5-10, So., F).
Key players lost: Hannah Cail (5-7, Fr., Georgia College & State University)
2023-24 season outlook: Calvary Day School lost a key senior, now freshman, at GCSU. Hannah recently received Player of the Week and has led GCSU in scoring a few times this season. Following a Final 4 appearance, the Lady Cavs are returning four key players (Destini Gooddine, Bre Jones, Molly Smith, & Da’Maris Shields), along with Zora Geiger and Amahni Owens.
GROVES REBELS GIRLS
School: Groves
Head coach: Amber Chambers
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 0-25, 0-16 in Regin 3-3A
Key players returning: Mia Beranger (Sr., G), Zycoria Williams (So., PG), Ken’Nya Savage (Jr., C)
2023-24 season outlook: The Rebels did not win a game for the previous four seasons, according to maxpreps.com, but snapped that skid in the opener at Memorial Day, 52-32 on Nov. 17. Groves can look to Beranger, an all-region selection, for scoring, and freshman guard Tamiya Washington for an infusion of new talent as the program follows a long path to improvement.
School: SOL C. JOHNSON ATOM SMASHERS
Head coach: E’Lona Levett
Coach’s years as head coach at school: Three
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 7-19, 6-10 in region 3-3A
Key players returning: Destiny Washington (5-9, Sr., G), Amayah Hamilton (6-1, Sr., C), Bryahnna Patton (5-6, So., G), Le’ryah Bryant (5-2, Sr., G), Zacaria Grady (5-8, So., G)
2023-24 season outlook: Johnson was a junior-led squad last season, and now Washington, Hamilton and Bryant are seniors looking to build on that experience to get the program back to the winning ways to which it is accustomed. Freshman guard Malaya Wright (5-5) already is making a big impact in the early going this season.
School: SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN PREPARATORY SCHOOL RAIDERS
Head coach: Allyson Faircloth
Coach's years at school and record: First Season
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 4-21/3-14
Key players returning: Mary Brit Tallevast and Jamie Palmaccio
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Only lost one senior so we are building with pretty much the same team as last year.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “We have made changes on both the offense and defense. The girls were ready for a change, and I am excited to see them compete this season.”
School: SAVANNAH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL HORNETS
Head coach: Kenny Conroy
Coach's years at school and record: Second season, 22-6
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 22-6/14-2
Key players returning: AC Davis, Stella Oelschig, Ella Stone
Key players lost: Kat Johnson, Fiona Wilson, Julia McGoldrick
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Speed is the team’s strength and weakness is lack of depth
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: Look forward to a exciting season with great leadership and depth. Hoping the underclassman can add to the solid roster.
School: ST. VINCENT'S ACADEMY SAINTS
Head coach: Fallon Page
Coach's years at school and record: Third season, 18 - 46
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 11-13/6-10
Key players returning: Alexis Ghaleb, Maddy Kelly, Rose Williams
Team's strengths/weaknesses: They don't quit and play till the end.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “Looking forward to seeing what our Seniors bring this season.”
GHSA CLASS AA REGION 3
School: WINDSOR FOREST HIGH SCHOOL KNIGHTS
Head coach: Cam Turner
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 7-17, 0-11 in region 3-2A
Key players returning: Rakiyah Bush (5-1, So., SG), Trinity Myers (5-5, Sr., PG/SG), Grace Ellington (5-5, So., SG/PG), Katelyn Cabellero (5-6, So., SG/PG)
Key player lost: Teliyah Jackson (5-9, C/F)
2023-24 season outlook: Only two seniors are listed on this season’s roster, after the graduated Jackson was the only senior in the last campaign. The Knights will look to senior Myers, an all-region pick last season (10.3 points per game), as the youth movement could again face growing pains before the hoped-for dividends come in the future.
GHSA CLASS A DI Region 3
School: SAVANNAH HIGH BLUE JACKETS GIRLS
Head coach: George Johnson
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 12-15, 2-8 in region 3-A D1
Key players returning: Ernajah Mallard (5-4, Sr.), Tania Bryant (5-5, Sr.), Kennedy Williams (5-10, So.), Christiana Roberts (5-8, Jr.)
Key player lost: Paris Washington
2023-24 season outlook: The graduated Washington (12.3 ppg) will be missed, but the Blue Jackets have seniors Mallard and Bryant back to make bigger contributions after each averaged just over nine points per game last season. Coach Johnson has seen these multiple-sport standouts deliver for the SHS volleyball team as well as on the basketball court.
School: WOODVILLE-TOMPKINS HIGH SCHOOL WOLVERINES
Head Coach: Jeffery Roberson
Coach's years at school and record: Tenth season, 166-82
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Tenth season, 166-82
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 24-6/10-0
Key players returning: Brianna Pelote and Rian Bailey
Key Players lost: Janiyah Heyward, Sanai Chisholm, Dyquria Taylor, Drakiyyah Lewis and Jayla Coleman
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Strengths- We have a 6'2 forward that can crash the boards, block shots and shoot the three / Weakness: we are very young. I have 6 sophomores and 9 freshman, two juniors and two seniors who are starters. This includes my J.V. team.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: We are off to a slow start but hope to finish strong and have an opportunity to play for another region championship. It is within reach.
GHSA CLASS A DII Region 3
School: BRYAN COUNTY LADY REDSKINS
Head coach: Mario Mincey
Coach's years at school and record:
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Seventh season, (276-144)
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 21-6/7-3
Key players returning: Jasmine Mikell (5-3, Soph.,PG), Ashanti Brown (5-8, Jr., SF), Kayley Wedlow (5-5, Sr., PG)
Key players lost: Kenzie Stucker
Team's strengths/weaknesses:
Strengths: We return a good nucleus of kids that work hard and understand our tradition.
Weakness: Will be our size and depth at the low post position.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “We are hoping to play for another region title and another run in the state playoffs!”
GIAA AAAA/AAA DISTRICT 2
School: ST. ANDREW’ S SCHOOL LIONS
Head coach: Jimmy Stettler
Coach's years at school and record: Third Season, 8-38
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 5-21/0-8
Key players returning: Claire Fleming, Grey Holmes, Addi Yates, Coco Carnahan, Maren Wrieden
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Returning 3 of 5 starters from last season. The Lions must fill the void left by four outstanding seniors.
2023-24 season outlook: Stettler believes that this year's Lions girls basketball team is the most talented yet since he has been at St. Andrew's. The team has a combination of returning players and young, talented players.
GIAA A REGION 6
School: MEMORIAL DAY SCHOOL MATADORS
Head coach: Emon Grayson
Coach's years at school and record: Third season
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record: Third season, 5-34
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 2-17/0-4
Key players returning: McKenzie King
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Positive attitude towards the game. Our weakness of the ability to score the basket.
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “With my current talent I am looking forward to secure more wins.”
GAPPS 1A Region 4
School: THE HABERSHAM SCHOOL PATRIOTS
Head coach: Glenn Burnsed
Coach's years at school and record: Third Season,
Coach's total years as a head coach and overall record:
Record in 2022-23 (overall/region): 8-10/4-3
Key players returning: Seniors Anna Cadle, Anna Livingood, Camryn Hampton and Mary Smith
Team's strengths/weaknesses: Strong senior leadership is a tremendous strength and our weaknesses are turnovers and rebounding
Coach's comments on the 2023-24 season outlook: “We fully expect to make a run at the GAPPS State Championship as we continue to eliminate turnovers and as we continue to develop a higher basketball IQ.”
PHOTO CREDIT: Calvary Day School Instagram social media page
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Optim Orthopedics supports Prep Sports and the following schools: Benedictine Military School, Bradwell Institute, Calvary Day School, Liberty County High School, Richmond Hill High School, Savannah Country Day, South Effingham High School, and St. Vincent's athletics. Benedictine Military School, Bradwell Institue, and Liberty County's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Dr. David Palmer is the team doctor for Calvary Day School, South Effingham, and Richmond Hill. Savannah Country Day and St. Vincent's team doctor is Dr. Thomas Alexander. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game.
