PREPS NOTEBOOK: Carolina Forest girls sweeping through region

The Carolina Forest girls basketball team is again proving itself to be a consistent player on the region scene.

The Panthers, despite a 3-13 record through Jan. 7, have swept their way through the first half of region play. Stacy Hughes’ team won two more games last week — against West Florence and St. James — and have won each of the last four region contests by double digits and an average of 17 points.

It’s just more of the same for the team that has gone 30-5 against region opponents since the start of 2016-2017 season.

“I’d like to say it’s in the water,” Hughes said. “We kind of overachieved last year than what we thought. We were really pleased last year. And then we kind of got off to a slow start this year.”

That’s putting it lightly.

Carolina Forest took some lumps during the first seven weeks of the season, when it was 3-12 in non-region games. Even though eight of those losses came by eight points or fewer, they were still losses that left the coaching staff wondering if they were taking a mental toll.

You would think that means their performances in the last three weeks — and what they’ve led to — somewhat unexpected. That’s not the case; at least not to Hughes.

She pointed out how many ranked opponents her squad faced in November and December — some of which came without a full complement of players — and how that competition would probably exceed the region schedule. After all that, and with five region games remaining, Carolina Forest needs one more win to secure a playoff berth and as few as two more (given the right combination) to clinch a top-two finish in Region VI-5A.

Again, that’s sort of become the norm.

After missing the playoffs in 2016, the Panthers finished second in region play in 2017 and 2019 and won the crown in 2018.

“With our region, I think we’re kind of the face of it, the [team others] want to come after,” Hughes said. “I kind of like that, being in that position, and having the kids believing that.”

REGION GAMES TO WATCH

Wilson at North Myrtle Beach (girls), Tuesday: If the Chiefs are going to make a play for the region crown, they have no choice but to win this game.

Conway at St. James (boys), Tuesday: Nobody has pushed Mike Hopkins’ team like the Sharks have in the last three weeks. The rematch is a big one for both teams’ long-term goals.

Socastee at Carolina Forest (girls), Friday: The Braves are one ugly game against West Florence and a two-point loss to the Panthers from being in the driver's seat. 

REGION STANDINGS:

Boys

Region VI-5A

1. CON 5-0

2. WF 3-2 

2. STJ 3-2

2. CF 3-2

5. SF 1-4

6. SOC 0-5

Region VI-4A

1. MC 5-0

2. MB 3-2

2. DAR 3-2

4. NMB 2-3

5. WIL 1-4

5. HART 1-4

Region VI-3A

1. MAR 4-0

2. LC 3-1

3. CHE 2-2

3. LOR 2-2

5. DIL 1-3

6. AYN 0-4

Region VI-1A

1. GSF 0-0

1. HEM 0-0

1. LV 0-0

Region games start this week

Girls

Region VI-5A

1. CF 5-0

2. WF 4-1

3. SOC 3-2

4. SF 2-3

5. CON 1-4

6. STJ 0-5

Region VI-4A

1. WIL 5-0

2. NMB 3-2

3. MC 2-3

3. DAR 2-3

3. MB 2-3

6. HART 1-4

Region VI-3A

1. DIL 4-0

1. MAR 4-0

3. LOR 2-2

4. AYN 1-3

4. LC 1-3

6. CHE 0-4

Region VI-1A

1. GSF 0-0

1. HEM 0-0

1. LV 0-0

Region games start this week

AREA STATS LEADERS