Before the high school basketball playoffs begin tonight, I thought I'd take a stab at predicting how far our area teams will go:
BOYS
The area's most consistent boys team - over the past two months at least - is undoubtedly Carolina Forest, which struggled early but played well down the stretch en route to the region championship. However, the Panthers also have the toughest road since they play in Class AAAA.
The Panthers face a tough first-round test in James Island, which is talented and played in a difficult league. I think Carolina Forest finds a way to win the first game at home, but they'll lose to Fort Dorchester on the road in the second round.
Myrtle Beach has been wildly inconsistent and finished second in Region VII-AAA, but the Seahawks have the most potential of the boys teams to make a postseason run. That's because they've started to play well at the right time; know how to win games in the postseason and are on the ideal side of the Lower State bracket opposite of Camden. I think they'll beat Marlboro County and Dreher, setting up a meeting with Wilson in the Lower State semis. I think Wilson, playing at home and playing well, knocks the Seahawks out of the postseason.
The area's other two Class AAA boys teams, Georgetown and Socastee, will be eliminated in the first round.
I also think the area's two Class A boys teams, Carvers Bay and Green Sea Floyds, will see their seasons end in the first round. Carvers Bay is playing at home, but may be without center Carlton Geathers and hasn't played its best ball of late. Green Sea Floyds drew a tough team in C.E. Murray, which could win the Lower State title.
GIRLS
Carolina Forest's girls have home-court advantage throughout the postseason. They played really well down the stretch and I think that will translate into the playoffs. I see the Panthers winning two games, setting up a matchup with Goose Creek in the Lower State semis. However, I see Goose Creek knocking the Panthers out of the postseason.
Myrtle Beach's girls are young but talented. I think they'll last longer than any other area team. The Seahawks haven't lost since December, which is good for them but also dangerous. I think the Seahawks will cruise past their first two games and will then beat Darlington on the road to get to the Lower State final. I think the Seahawks will meet Dreher in the state semis and lose, though they could easily win and advance to the state championship, where they would be soundly beaten by Lower Richland.
I think all of the other area girls teams, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Loris and Carvers Bay, will lose in the first round.
