The Carolina Forest High School Women’s Basketball team has had a very successful season. They ended this year going 24 – 4, earning their spot as first in our region and advancing to the second round of playoffs, losing to Summerville High School.
The team had a rough start this season when losing to one of the top teams, while also facing one of the players being suspended for three games. There were doubts about their chances of winning regions and advancing to the playoffs. They players used these thoughts as fuel to enhance their performance in the court.
Their success is a result of their hard work and commitment to training. Teamwork, discipline, and resilience has helped the players build a strong bond both on and off the court. The community has really rallied behind the team, with more people showing up to support them at games.
Senior Meaja Dozier-Edwards, inspired by her mother, started playing basketball about ten years ago, joined the team in her freshman year, mentions her belief that the motto they had for this season “Rise Above” was the reason why they reached such a high spot.
“The most memorable moment was when we played against North Myrtle Beach High School for the second time, which basically decided us winning region, because they were the second team in region,” adds Meaja.
Under the leadership of Coach Hughes, the team focused on developing not just physical skills but also mental toughness and strategic thinking. Each practice session is designed to push the players’ limits, creating an environment where they can learn from their mistakes and grow stronger together.
The support from the school’s administration, friends and families have been overwhelming, creating a sense of pride and unity. This season has been a remarkable journey of overcoming setbacks, strengthening bonds, and achieving goals, all of which have laid a strong foundation for future successes.
“I really enjoyed this season and the players on the team! I enjoyed region play the most. We were focused and ready to play nightly and made sure we accomplished our goals. We as a team had to stay as rested as possible, we had a really heavy schedule, with 26 regular season games. I think I saw a change in the team right before region play when we decided to change up our defensive scheme. The girls really shined through the new defense and it seemed to make a huge difference in defensive intensity and points allowed. This is the main reason I feel that we went 10-0 and dominated our region,” commented the team’s coach, Stacy Hughes.
Junior Miracle McLean, who started playing basketball in 6th grade, was recently nominated and won Player of the Year mentions that to have a title that not so many people have feels great. She believes that the trust and communication they had with each other as a team throughout the season was definitely a key factor to their victory.
“The most memorable moment of this season was definitely the game at St. James High School. I had a lot going on my mind, and we hadn’t made any points yet so during halftime I went to the locker room and had to kind of reset my mind, and it turned out to making us win that game,” stated Mclean
Their dedication and hard work have not only brought them success, but have also inspired younger students to get involved in sports. With their talent and the community’s support, the future looks bright for these young athletes.
Photo Credit: Addison Fegley
