THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bishop England High School Athletics

For all that Bishop England has accomplished during its recent title reign, it’s what the Bishops haven’t achieved that intrigues this year’s team the most. Bishop England advanced to it sixth consecutive state title game with a 60-45 win over Ridgeland-Hardeeville Saturday at the Florence Civic Center. The Lady Bishops will face Newberry in the AAA championship game this Saturday at the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia with an opporunity to become just the sixth team in state history to pull off the state championship four-peat. “We’ve had some special teams and players in the past but none of them have ever won four in a row,” Bishop England coach Paul Runey said. “Those are the teams that got us to this point. And now I think our girls are realizing ‘Hey, we have a chance to be that team.’” Bishops senior Rhetta Moore could become the only player in school history to win four state titles in a row. The all-state guard scored a game-high 25 points with seven rebounds and four steals Saturday to lead the Bishops past Ridgeland-Hardeeville. The Jaguars opened the game with a quick four-point spurt that Bishop England countered with a 20-4 run to close the first quarter. Moore scored 12 of the 20, shooting 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. Ridgeland-Hardeeville fell victim to slow starts several times in the past month but survived with rallies sparked by aggressive full-court pressure. Bishop England surgically dissected the Jags’ man-to-man press, beating it over the top with passes and down the middle with screens. By halftime, the Bishops' lead had stretched to 38-14. Bishop England’s different zone defenses limited Ridgeland-Hardeeville to 28 percent shooting. The Bishops rebounded the missed shots from all angles. Katie Cullum grabbed eight boards, Moore and Josie Dennis both pulled down seven, and Kelly Drummond and Katie Brooks logged six each. The Jaguars’ pressure eventually led them into foul trouble. Bishop England took advantage, sinking 22 of 29 attempts from the free-throw line, nine of 10 in the fourth quarter. “We wanted to get all we could early because we expected it to be a dog fight down the line,” Runey said. “I thought we did an OK job of handling their defense. It seemed like their game plan was to beat us with speed. They’re athletic but I think people miscalculate our quickness.” Only three teams in 97 years of S.C. high school girls basketball have made six consecutive state title game appearances. Of the five teams that have won four state titles in a row, none of them have jumped classifications while doing so. Bishop England, the three-time defending AA champion, would be the first. A win Saturday would also secure the Bishops’ fifth state title in the past six years, a feat only two teams have ever accomplished. “People have asked me to compare this team to the ones we’ve had in the past. Think about the players like Katelyn Grisillo, (Michele) Boykin, Mary Harriet (Moore), JoJo (Tompkins),” Runey said. “This team works just as hard. And I have some girls who could really be a heck of player. They’re becoming more confident every game. Win one more game and you’re right there with all of them. You can think about it all you want but now you actually have the chance to go out and do it. That’s pretty special.”

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bishop England High School Athletics

BISHOP ENGLAND HEADED TO SIXTH STRAIGHT TITLE

FRANKIE MANSFIELD

Moultrie News | 2/26/2017

PHOTO CREDIT: Moultrie News