Winless a year ago, River Bluff girls make history with first postseason victory
Shortly after Tuesday’s 61-59 Class 5A first-round playoff win over Stall, the River Bluff girls basketball team posed for a photo in front of the team’s bench.
First-round victories aren’t usually worthy of pictures or celebration. In the Gators’ case, it was a moment to remember.
River Bluff’s victory was the first playoff win in school history. It also was the first time the girls program hosted a playoff game in the seven-year history of the school. The Gators’ only other playoff appearance came in the 2014-15 season.
The postseason trip also came a year after River Bluff went 0-21. The Gators entered this season with a 29-game losing streak.
That streak ended with a win in the season opener against Silver Bluff. The Gators have won a school-record 16 games and finished 6-2 in Region 5-5A play, with both losses to Lexington.
“For three years, we have been trying to put the building blocks in,” River Bluff coach Jewell McKinney said. “Last year was a tough year for us. A lot of these same girls were playing as sophomores and freshmen. They took their lumps. But to their credit, they battled through it, they worked hard and didn’t let them get them down. They were the ones building the blocks for, not only this year, as well as the future.
“We are probably a little better than I thought we would be, but it is a testament to my players and coaching staff.”
McKinney said a variety of factors went into the quick turnaround. He made some changes on his coaching staff and said the team responded and grew closer over the summer at camps and various team-bonding activities.
River Bluff’s signature win came when it knocked off Irmo, a team ranked No. 2 in Class 5A, 57-52, on Jan. 7.
Senior Japonica Wilson and eighth-grader Samira Khalil — both new to the team this year — were big contributors to the Gators’ success. Wilson, who played the past two seasons at White Knoll, was the Region 5-5A Player of the Year. Tuesday night was her first playoff game.
Khalil was brought up from middle school to varsity this season and is second in scoring behind Wilson. The two, along with Reagan Rozier, played a big role in Tuesday’s win over Stall.
Khalil and Wilson each had 17 points, while Rozier had 11.
“Our word is redemption,” Wilson said. “We bounced back and come into practice every day and put in the work. It all pays off.”
With the game tied at 53 late in the fourth quarter, Khalil made a 3-pointer and Wilson hit a layup to give the Gators a 58-53 lead. Rozier made it 61-56 with 11 seconds left on a rebound of a Kahlil missed free throw.
After Stall hit a 3-pointer to pull within 61-58, the Gators were called for a technical foul for having too many players on the court. The Warriors made one free throw but missed a game-winning shot attempt at the buzzer.
“That was all on me that let it happen,” McKinney said of the technical. “I guess we were just excited but we need to make sure that it doesn’t happen. But we survived it.”
Up next is a trip to the Grand Strand for the Gators, who face Carolina Forest on Friday in the second round. Win or lose against the Panthers, McKinney feels this year could be a building block for the future.
“There is so much growth that we have as a group because we are so young,” McKinney said. “There are a lot of young girls out there tonight that were a part of this first win. It is going to be great to build their confidence and understand, if we keep working, there are a lot of things that we could do.”
This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 10:23 PM.
