Region 6-AAAAA Preview: Horry Story

November – the next-to-last month of the year – takes place during the heart of the holiday season. The holiday season is the most enjoyable time of the calendar year for many a person.    They are also the most enjoyable time of the year for many basketball player as it is the period where their attention – and that of many others – turns to the upcoming season.    We at Prep Girls Hoops have went from region to region to shine a light on the teams and players that make South Carolina's high school basketball scene as competitive as it is.   With 5A being separated into two divisions, it created an opportunity for there to be two 5A champions. Blythewood and Berkeley prevailed last season.    Our region previews continue with Region 6-AAAAA – with its six teams all based in Horry County.   Carolina Forest (Division 1)   (2024-25 Record: 25-4, 10-0)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/eZy-Watermark_15-01-2025_08-39-53-0430AM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1142345" style="width:697px;height:auto" /></figure>   Prior to last season, there was a Sumter-shaped roadblock in the way of Carolina Forest claiming a region championship.    With realignment, that moved the Gamecocks to a more Midlands-based region and the Panthers to Region 6-AAAAA with its Horry County neighbors. Carolina Forest ran the table in its region en route to a region championship and a first-round bye in the 5A Division 1 tournament.    Following that victory, the Panthers defeated West Ashley in the second round but fell to Summerville with a berth in the 5A Division 1 Lower State championship up for grabs. Three seniors graduated from last year's team.   Key Players:   One more season in the Carolina Forest uniform awaits for [player_tooltip player_id='355639' first='Miracle' last='Mclean']. She is a two-sport athlete who also competes in track and field – and was recently offered in that sport by South Carolina. Mclean averaged 14.8 points, nine rebounds, 4.1 blocks and 1.9 steals per contest.   The Panthers' 2026 graduating class also includes [player_tooltip player_id='759618' first='Madisyn' last='Davis']. She was one of the leading steals-getters for last season's Panthers version, averaging 4.5 per game in addition to the 8.2 points, 5.6 assists and 5.5 rebounds she averaged.   A pair of noteworthy names for Carolina Forest are embarking on their sophomore seasons. One is [player_tooltip player_id='1125739' first='London' last='DeLong']. She averaged 8.1 points and 2.2 steals per contest last season. She runs with [program_tooltip program_id='713574' first='Confidence' last='Cougars'] during the AAU season.   The other 2028 notable for this year's Panthers is [player_tooltip player_id='1142333' first='Macy' last='Floyd'] who was another of the team's leading rebounders, averaging 5.6 boards per game. This was in addition to the six points that she averaged.   North Myrtle Beach (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 22-3, 8-2)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-41-38-3300PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123415" style="width:687px;height:auto" /></figure>   One of the many schools that was affected by reclassification, North Myrtle Beach moved up from the 4A ranks to 5A. Its time as a 4A school included a berth to the state championship game against Westside at the conclusion of the 2020-21 pandemic year.    That move paid dividends for the Chiefs as the team improved from a solid 18-8 season to an even more imposing 22-3 campaign. Only two teams gave North Myrtle Beach much trouble last season – Carolina Forest and Berkeley.    The Chiefs were one of the eight teams that earned a bye to the second round of last season's 5A Division 2 tournament but ran into defeat by the Stags following victories over Chapin and Westwood.    Key Players:   The marquee returning player for the Chiefs is [player_tooltip player_id='567022' first='Madison' last='Vereen'] who wore the North Myrtle Beach blue and gold hues in all 25 games last season Vereen averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4.8 steals last season.   North Myrtle Beach also landed a pair of key transfers. One of them was [player_tooltip player_id='567030' first='Sophia' last='Powell'], a product of SC Sixers who previously won a 4A state championship with Riverside. Powell averaged a double-double of 11.8 points and 10 rebounds plus 2.3 steals a game with the Warriors.   Another transfer is [player_tooltip player_id='668305' first='Jurnee' last='Blye'] who joins the Chiefs from 1A Carvers Bay. Blye averaged 9.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals last season, leading her Bears to a Lower State semifinal berth.   Socastee (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 15-12, 6-4)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_20-12-2024_10-07-42-5820PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1116777" style="width:661px;height:auto" /></figure>   The adage of there being nowhere to go but up certainly applied to the 2024-25 Braves.    Socastee only won five games in 2023-24 – two of those victories were against Johnsonville. The Braves' 2024-25 season saw a 10-game improvement that not only resulted in Socastee qualifying for the 5A Division 2 state tournament, but one of the eight first-round byes.    The Braves' season came to a close at the hands of Goose Creek in the first round. Socastee coach Hampton Campbell – who also coaches Braves lacrosse – only graduated one senior.    Key Players:   One of this year's seniors is [player_tooltip player_id='756310' first='Briana' last='Smith'] who played in 27 of the Braves' 29 matchups last season. Smith averaged 12.7 points and 2.6 steals per contest in 2024-25. Smith is a 5-foot-2 guard.   Speaking of Socastee's backcourt, it also includes [player_tooltip player_id='1124189' first='Rylee' last='Minehart'] who, like Smith, played in 27 games last season. Minehart is advancing into her junior season after averaging 10.6 points, 2.4 steals and 2.3 assists as a sophomore.   Braves fans are getting a glimpse of the team's immediate future whenever Trinity Sumpter is in a Socastee uniform. As an eighth-grader, Sumpter led the team in rebounding, bringing down 10.9 per game in addition to 5.9 points on average.   Another noteworthy sophomore is Kinley Graves. She plays a variety of sports – including volleyball and soccer alongside what she gets done on the basketball court. Graves was another of the team's leading rebounders, averaging 6.3 per game.   St. James (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 13-14, 3-7)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-42-40-1320PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123450" style="width:650px;height:auto" /></figure>   The 2024-25 season began auspiciously for the Sharks by virtue of victories over SCISA 4A Ben Lippen, 2A Manning and 3A Georgetown.    In fact, St. James had a record of 10-6 before the Sharks took to the court for its first region game against Myrtle Beach. Two wins over the Seahawks and one win on the road at Conway accounted for St. James' region success last season. In fact, the Sharks finished the season with a six-game losing streak – including a first-round playoff exit by way of Chapin.    A total of three seniors graduated from last year's St. James team.    Key Players:   This season will be the junior campaign for [player_tooltip player_id='1123451' first='Callie' last='Centracchio']. She played in 26 of the 27 games for St. James last season as a sophomore. Centracchio posted averages of 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and two steals.   One of the state's marquee freshmen is [player_tooltip player_id='1047746' first='Leila' last='Yandle'] who had one of the signature eighth-grade seasons of 2024-25. Yandle played in 26 games last season averaging 6.2 points and one steal per contest.   St. James' rebounding efforts were keyed by Raegan Tibbits. She played in 27 games last season for the Sharks. Tibbits averaged 6.7 rebounds and two steals per game. Tibbits is a two-sport athlete who also plays softball.   The Sharks' 2026 graduating class will include Samantha Allen. She too saw playing time in 27 games in 2024-25 for St. James. Allen is another two-sport athlete who also plays softball. Allen averaged four rebounds per matchup.   Lillian Winesett is another of the two-sport athletes on the roster for the Sharks. Her second sport of choice is soccer where she thrives as a goalie. Winesett averaged 4.3 rebounds per game and is part of the team's 2026 class.   Beginning her sophomore season with the Sharks is [player_tooltip player_id='987452' first='Angelina' last='Collins']. She primarily plays as a small forward. As a freshman, Collins saw playing time in 21 of St. James' games. Collins has played at the varsity level since she was an eighth grader.   Conway (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 2-19, 2-8)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/12/eZy-Watermark_30-12-2024_07-37-56-5610PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1123424" style="width:692px;height:auto" /></figure>   The last time the Tigers had a double-digit winning season occurred in 2017-18 when Conway went 14-10 and 7-4 in its region.    Last season continued what has been a timeframe of hard luck for the Tigers. Conway was only victorious in two contests last season. Thankfully, for the Tigers, those two victories occurred against region foes in St. James and Myrtle Beach.    Conway then dropped three consecutive matchups following that victory over the Sharks into a 5A Division 2 first-round tournament contest with Westwood. The Redhawks dispatched the Tigers with the final score being 51-14. Coach Zack Jenerette's team graduated a pair of seniors from last year.    Key Players:   One more season awaits for [player_tooltip player_id='451807' first='Rebecca' last='Hemingway'] with the Tigers. She played in all 21 games last season for Conway. She averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game. Her AAU career included a stint with [program_tooltip program_id='713574' first='Confidence' last='Cougars'].   Saryah Locklear impressed in her eighth-grade season at Conway. Locklear played in 21 games in 2024-25 with the Tigers. She primarily operates in the backcourt as a guard. Locklear was third on the team in points, steals and assists.   [player_tooltip player_id='1121781' first='Surhei' last='Brown'] represents the immediate future for the Conway program. Brown also played in 21 games last season for the Tigers. She was one of the team's leading rebounders, averaging 6.8 per contest.   Myrtle Beach (Division 2)   (2024-25 Record: 3-15, 1-9)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/04/eZy-Watermark_05-04-2025_08-37-48-9070PM.jpeg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1230081" style="width:652px;height:auto" /></figure>   Out of the six teams in Region 6-AAAAA, two of them moved up from 4A to 5A. North Myrtle Beach was one and Myrtle Beach was the other.    Myrtle Beach has won six state championships throughout its history, with the most recent state triumph occurring at the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. The Seahawks last had a double-digit winning season in 2019-20 when Myrtle Beach was in the win column on 16 occasions.    The lone region victory for the Seahawks last season occurred on Jan. 10 against Conway. Myrtle Beach also scored victories over two 3A teams in Aynor and Georgetown. Its season came to an end in the first round of the 5A Division 2 state tournament by way of Goose Creek.    Key Players:   Myrtle Beach's 2026 graduating class includes [player_tooltip player_id='520656' first='Kamoree' last='Vaught']. She is listed at 5-foot-7 and primarily plays as a power forward in the Seahawks' frontcourt. Vaught fuses together talent with a veteran presence.   One name to keep an eye out for from the freshman ranks is [player_tooltip player_id='1357642' first='Mychala' last='Hopkins']. She previously attended Myrtle Beach MS and is poised to thrive at the high school level. Hopkins runs with [program_tooltip program_id='883205' first='South' last='Carolina Future'] on the grassroots circuit.

November – the next-to-last month of the year – takes place during the heart of the holiday season. The holiday season is the most enjoyable time of the calendar year for many a person.