Buzzer-beating 3-pointers, driving layups between defenders and big blocked shots: The inaugural Berkeley County basketball jamboree at Goose Creek High School Saturday had them all.
All seven county schools unveiled their boys and girls basketball teams in a game-like atmosphere and attendance was good for the first-year event, which began at 4 p.m. and lasted close to 9.
In between was some exciting basketball. Each team played two quarters, one quarter each against different opponents, and their coaches used all sorts of rotations and went deep into their benches.
Timberland’s boys defeated Cane Bay 17-7 and Stratford 17-10 in their time under the lights. The Wolves, like Goose Creek and Berkeley, were without their some players because of football.
“We wanted to keep working on the things we need to work on,” Wolves coach Jerome Stewart said. “If you’re like us, Berkeley or Goose Creek, you’ve still got some guys playing football. It gave some JV guys or some sophomores on the varsity level a little game experience in a game-type situation with people in the seats.”
Timberland opens the season Dec. 1 at home against Lake Marion.
Timberland’s girls, ranked sixth in Class AA to open the season, also coasted in their two quarters, beating Cane Bay 22-6 and Stratford 18-5.
Berkeley’s girls were 2-0, beating Cross 20-2 and Hanahan 8-6. The Cross girls also lost their other matchup, falling 8-0 to Stratford.
The Berkeley boys, playing without a group of football players that included dazzling senior point guard Bruce Ellington, lost both their games, to Cross 9-5 and Hanahan 23-12.
The Cross boys tied Stratford 10-10 in their other matchup.
Berkeley opens the season Dec. 7 in Moncks Corner against Summerville. Cross hosts Woodland Dec. 1 to begin the season.