Few purchases give you a sense of pride and accomplishment like buying a new home. From white picket fences and lush green grass to cookouts with neighbors and holidays with the family, owning a home is magical. Like most great things, though, enduring the home-buying process takes a lot of work. There are many steps to take and difficult decisions to make along the way. One of the most crucial decisions is what type of home loan and mortgage broker to choose. Whether it's your first time buying a home or you're a seasoned owner with multiple properties, you will need a trusted mortgage broker in Cane Bay, SC, with your best interests at heart.
If you're like most people, you need a mortgage professional whose top priority is their customers - an expert who can provide accurate advice and guidance so you can make educated decisions. That's where Mija Mortgage comes into the picture.
Whether you want the best interest rates or don't know where to start in the home-buying process, Mija Mortgage can set you up in the right direction. From getting you pre-qualified to buy a home to securing a veteran's loan, Mija Mortgage is the trusted solution you need. As Cane Bay natives, we're proud to serve the Lowcountry and all of South Carolina with trusted mortgage brokerage services.
Unlike some mortgage companies in Cane Bay, SC, we bring years of high-level experience and insight to the table. Having worked with hundreds of clients during our time in business, we know you're probably going through a range of emotions right now. Buying a new home can be a scary process, especially for first-time buyers. That's why we make every effort to make ourselves accessible and available for clients. Our primary goal is to help you make the right mortgage for your family and your budget.
We know that many home loan officers have horrible reputations. Some brokers only see their clients as transactions, and a means to make quick money. They come off as impatient and pushy, failing to understand that this is a very big decision for you. At Mija Mortgage, we take the opposite approach. We encourage our clients to take as much time as needed to ask us questions and review mortgage documents. We could say that our mission is to exceed your expectations, but we'd rather just show you. From assistance finding FHA, VA, or other loans to refinancing your current mortgage, Mija is the team you can trust.
Here are just a few reasons why home buyers choose Mija Mortgage:
Most people simply don't have access to the hundreds of thousands of dollars needed to purchase a home with cash. Instead, they take out a mortgage loan to buy a home. Unfortunately, many homebuyers are anxious to get the ball rolling and, due to their excitement, fail to shop around for the best mortgage rates. To some degree, avoiding this step makes sense, as it requires a lot of legwork and research to get the job done. For those not wanting to spend hours researching a reasonable mortgage, there's an alternative to consider - working with a mortgage broker.
To understand the benefits of working with a mortgage broker, you must first understand their role in the home-buying process.
Your mortgage broker is a third party that works to connect you with mortgage lenders. Essentially, a mortgage broker works as an intermediary between a person who wants to buy a home and the entities offering loans to buy a home. The mortgage broker works with both the borrower and lender to get the borrower approved. They also verify and collect paperwork from the borrower that the lender needs to finish a home purchase. Typically, mortgage brokers have relationships with several home loan lenders. Mija Mortgage, for example, has access to 50 different lenders, which gives us a wide range of home loans in Cane Bay, SC, from which to choose.
In addition to finding a home loan lender, your mortgage broker will help you settle on the best loan options and interest rates for your budget. Ideally, your mortgage broker will take a great deal of stress and legwork off your plate while also potentially saving you money.
If you're ready to buy a home, getting pre-qualified is a great choice that will streamline the entire process. Your mortgage broker makes getting pre-approved easy by obtaining all the documents needed to get you pre-qualified. In taking a look at your application, they will determine if you're ready for the pre-approval process. If your application needs additional items, the mortgage company will help point you in the right direction to ensure your application is as strong as it can be. Your mortgage broker will also walk you through the different types of loans, from Conventional and FHA to VA and USDA.
In order to be pre-approved for a home in South Carolina, you must have the following:
Most people choose to use a mortgage broker because they have access to different lenders and interest rates. But a great mortgage broker brings more to the table than a choice of lenders.
Save You from Unneeded Stress:One of the biggest advantages of hiring a mortgage broker is that they can find and vet loans while managing the mortgage process on your behalf. The best mortgage companies, like Mija Mortgage, hire brokers who are experts at keeping underwriting on track, coordinating with relevant parties, and handling all paperwork involved. At the end of the day, mortgage brokers save you stress and time and often expedite the closing process.
More Access: We touched on this earlier, but it bears repeating: A mortgage broker provides access to a range of loans, rates, and lenders. In fact, many mortgage brokers can get rates lower than what the average person could get from a lender.
Save You Money: There's a chance that your mortgage broker can get your mortgage fees reduced or waived by the lender, which could save you a good deal of money.
Help with Unfavorable Financial Situations: Expert mortgage brokers can often assist in challenging financial situations, like when a buyer has inconsistent income or less-than-perfect credit. Experienced brokers, like those at Mija Mortgage, are often aware of lenders willing to will work with nontraditional borrowers.
Provide Key Insights: Mortgage brokers share important insights, such as your chances for a home loan approval and exactly how much house you can afford. They can also save you from making costly mistakes based on their years of expertise in the mortgage industry.
While settling on the best type of home loan isn't as exciting as searching for the home of your dreams, it's equally important. Yes, your Mija Mortgage loan officer in Cane Bay, SC, will be happy to help explain the differences between home loans. But understanding the basics ahead of time will save you stress and time in the long run.
Conventional loans can be used to purchase a new home or refinance your current one. Conventional loans include fixed-rate mortgages and adjustable-rate mortgages. Generally, borrowers must put down a 3% down payment for owner-occupants, 10% for a vacation property, and 20% for an investment home. If you are able to pay 20% of the total cost of the home, you can avoid private mortgage insurance, which is otherwise required. Conventional mortgages are often preferred by buyers with good credit or people needing a non-owner-occupied mortgage.
FHA mortgages are issued by the U.S. government and backed by the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). This loan is often preferred by first-time homebuyers because it only requires a 3.5% down payment and offers more flexibility with credit requirements and underwriting standards. FHA loans have several requirements you must meet to qualify. Contact Mija Mortgage today to learn more about FHA loans and whether or not they're best for your financial situation.
Also backed by the government, these loans are insured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and don't require money down. These loans have lower insurance requirements when compared to FHA loans, offer 100% financing if you qualify, and allow for closing costs to be covered by the seller. In order to qualify for a USDA loan, you must live in a rural area, and your household income must meet certain standards. These loans are often preferred by low-income citizens who live in rural parts of South Carolina.
Also known as VA or Veteran's Affairs loans, these mortgages are reserved for the brave men and women who served in the military. VA loans help provide our military members, veterans, and their families with favorable loan terms and an easy home ownership experience. Often, those who qualify are not required to make a down payment on their home. Additionally, these loans often include less expensive closing costs.
If you are a veteran or the family member of a veteran, contact Mija Mortgage today to speak with our Vetted VA Professional, Debbie Haberny. Debbie helps our military members, veterans, and their family members obtain home loans utilizing veteran benefits and would be happy to help as you search for a home.
Do you have questions about the complexities of mortgages and home loans? As your advocate, Mija Mortgage is here to answer any questions you have about mortgages and the home-buying process. We encourage you to call our office to speak directly with one of our mortgage experts or continue reading below for answers to some frequently asked questions.
Q. I was talking to my spouse about mortgage brokers, and they mentioned the phrase home loan originator. What's the difference between a broker and a loan originator?
A. The mortgage industry is full of confusing jobs and titles, making it easy to confuse roles and responsibilities. Such is the case with mortgage brokers and home loan originators. Though their roles share similarities, a home loan originator in Cane Bay, SC, works for a bank or credit union, while a mortgage broker works for a brokerage company. Home loan originators and mortgage brokers are both licensed by the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).
Q. I've heard from everyone that you must have mortgage insurance to buy a home. What is mortgage insurance?
A. Essentially, mortgage insurance helps protect lenders if a borrower forecloses on the home they bought. One advantage of mortgage insurance is that when borrowers pay it, lenders can often grant loans to buyers when they might not have otherwise. Though not always required to buy a home, mortgage insurance is often needed for down payments of less than 20%.
Q. I have just been pre-approved to buy a beautiful home in South Carolina. Is there anything I shouldn't do now that I'm pre-qualified?
A. Mortgage companies like Mija Mortgage, make getting pre-qualified for a home easy. However, as your loan process continues, your lender is required to run a new credit report before closing on a home. For that reason, it's to avoid any activity that might affect your credit score, such as:
Q. My brother-in-law recently refinanced his home in South Carolina. What is refinancing, and should I consider refinancing my home too?
A. Refinancing your home basically means you're swapping your current mortgage for a new one, most often with a lower interest rate. If you would like to reduce the term of your loan, lower your monthly mortgage payments, or consolidate debt, refinancing may be a smart option. Many homeowners also choose to refinance if they want to switch from adjustable-rate mortgages to fixed-rate mortgages or to get cash back for home renovations. To learn whether refinancing is a viable option for your situation, contact Mija Mortgage ASAP, as loan rates change frequently.
Here at Mija Mortgage, we believe that the best communities begin with the dream of home ownership. Our mission is to make those dreams come true, with personalized service, expert guidance, and good old-fashioned hard work. As one of the most trusted mortgage companies in Cane Bay, SC, we have years of experience working with a diverse range of clients, from first-time buyers and investors to self-employed borrowers and non-native English speakers.
Though every mortgage situation is different, one thing never changes: our commitment to clients. Contact our office today to get started on an exceptional home-buying experience.
Paul Stoney and his staff have quietly built a massive state-of-the-art YMCA within the growing 4,500-acre Cane Bay housing community in Berkeley County. He calls it South Carolina’s best kept secret.“When people come here, they are amazed by what we have been able to do,” said Stoney, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Charleston and the Cane Bay Family YMCA near the development’s entrance.On a 69-acre tract of donated land, the 54,000-square-foot Cane Bay YMCA opened in May 2019 with a branch of ...
Paul Stoney and his staff have quietly built a massive state-of-the-art YMCA within the growing 4,500-acre Cane Bay housing community in Berkeley County. He calls it South Carolina’s best kept secret.
“When people come here, they are amazed by what we have been able to do,” said Stoney, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Charleston and the Cane Bay Family YMCA near the development’s entrance.
On a 69-acre tract of donated land, the 54,000-square-foot Cane Bay YMCA opened in May 2019 with a branch of the Berkeley County library system as well as a variety of indoor and outdoor fitness, sports, education programs and mental health services. An average of 3,600 people of all age groups and physical abilities enter this Y weekly, Stoney said.
The Y is a hopping place. A 25-meter swimming pool and basketball courts are used by Cane Bay High School and four nearby charter schools for a variety of sports and after-school programs. Swimming lessons are growing in popularity, especially among the physically challenged and underserved communities. Youth sports, including soccer, volleyball and basketball, serve more than 1,000 children each season. The Cane Bay Y is a regional tournament venue for a variety of youth and adult sports.
The Cane Bay Family YMCA is also near international manufacturers, such as Volvo, Boeing and Mercedes Benz. Their proximity and support gives the Y a solid membership base. Stoney stresses, however, membership is not restricted to Berkeley County residents. Charlestonians can join this Y, too.
Stoney’s Lowcountry YMCA experience began in downtown Charleston at 61 Cannon St. He gave up a high-level YMCA position in central Florida in 2006 to become the CEO and president of the YMCA of Greater Charleston, which included the Cannon Street YMCA Association. The Cannon Street Y, which is the nation’s oldest Black Y, was chartered in 1866 to teach formerly enslaved people to read and participate in physical fitness.
In addition to its longevity, the Cannon Street Y is remembered as the place that nurtured the Cannon Street All-Stars Baseball Team. It was ruled ineligible to compete in the 1955 Little League World Series because white teams refused to play with Charleston’s Black players.
Before Stoney arrived in Charleston,the Cannon Street Y merged with the predominantly white Christian Family YMCA at 21 George St. to form the YMCA of Greater Charleston.
Stoney, a native of Queens, N.Y., came to Charleston with 20 years in leadership posts at large metro YMCAs around the country. The top job at the Cannon Street Y presented him with the opportunity to open more Y facilities in the Lowcountry. Accepting the job, Stoney said, placed him for the first time in the leadership position at a historically African American YMCA “where my skills were needed [since] a number of them were closing.”
Stoney realized, however, that the Cannon Street Y’s building, erected in 1955 on a tiny lot, could not continue to serve a changing Black community within a gentrifying Charleston. Because of these forces, he said, the Y was losing about $250,000 a year for 10 years, he said. The organization’s board of directors made the difficult decision to sell the Cannon Street building for $2 million and move to Berkeley County. “If we didn’t get off Cannon Street, we would be dead on the vine,” he added.
In 2009, Stoney took over the management of a financially struggling Berkeley County YMCA in Moncks Corner.
As a result, Ben Grambling of Grambling Brothers developers asked Stoney what he would need to build a YMCA at Cane Bay. That conversation led to Grambling donating 69 aces for the Berkeley County facility along with $100,000 annually for 10 years. Funds for the $28 million building came from a bank loan secured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rural development program. The Cane Bay Y still owes USDA $17 million over 36 years. The Y also received a $250,000 gift from McDonald’s franchise owner Carolyn Hunter-Heyward to build a swimming pool with easy access for people with disabilities.
In 2012, the Moncks Corner Y merged with the YMCA of Greater Charleston when it was on the verge of closing. It is still open, but it is again on the verge of closing.
“It has fallen in disrepair,” he said. “We have voted to sell that property.”
If the building is sold, Stoney said, the Y will continue to offer some services in the Moncks Corner area at a satellite facility.
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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A family living in one Berkeley County community said they have not been receiving their mail on a regular basis, even after contacting postal officials. That’s when they reached out to News 2’s Raymond Owens.“We moved here about a year and a half ago and over the past year or so we have had problems with sporadic mail delivery,” said Cane Bay resident Tim Jacintho. “It doesn’t show up when it’s supposed to; it now has gotten to where we’re getting ma...
BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – A family living in one Berkeley County community said they have not been receiving their mail on a regular basis, even after contacting postal officials. That’s when they reached out to News 2’s Raymond Owens.
“We moved here about a year and a half ago and over the past year or so we have had problems with sporadic mail delivery,” said Cane Bay resident Tim Jacintho. “It doesn’t show up when it’s supposed to; it now has gotten to where we’re getting mail maybe two or three days a week.”
He said a lot of people depend on the mail for prescription medications, Social Security checks, and other items. He said everyone is frustrated with the situation.
Jacintho said he and other Cane Bay residents have reached out to the Summerville Post Office with their concerns.
“She’s been telling me what’s going on- they’ve had a lot of turnover with contractors, and they’re shorthanded. She said that the growth in the Cane Bay/Nexton area, which they serve, has put too much stress on the post office. They don’t have the staff or the facility to handle it.”
He contacted Congressman Nancy Mace’s office, and his state representative and state senator. He has not heard back from them. He said Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb returned his message.
“He, like, within a few hours, and said no thanks for reporting it. He said he can’t really do anything. It’s at the federal level.
Finally, he reached out to News 2 for help.
“I reached out to you because certainly I’m frustrated with the situation here and I know that my fellow neighbors and residents are also very frustrated,” he said.
News 2’s Raymond Owens called Congresswoman Mace’s office. Their office called Jacintho back and told him they would look into the problem.
We also called the postal service – their spokeswoman said she is researching the issue to learn more and will get back to us. They later provided the following response:
“The Postal Service appreciates its customers and always strives to provide the best possible service. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced by customers living in the Cane Bay and Nexton communities. Local management is currently working with all stakeholders to ensure any delivery concerns are resolved. We can confirm the Summerville Post Office, like many businesses, is experiencing staffing challenges; however, through successful hiring efforts we have increased our workforce significantly. The Postal Service will continue flexing our available resources to match the workload, in addition to hosting more hiring events until all positions are filled. Interested applicants should log on to http://usps.com/careers frequently to check for new postings. We appreciate the patience of our customers and the efforts of employees as conditions change on a day-to-day basis. We urge any customers with concerns or questions about their mail delivery service to contact their local Post Office, so that we can look into and resolve their concerns promptly. Customers may also visit our website at www.usps.com/help.”
News 2 will continue following this story and bring you updates as we learn more.
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley County Family YMCA is closing its doors after nearly 30 years.The YMCA of Greater Charleston sent a notice out to members on Jan. 30. The email cited the building as being “in need of substantial improvement.” The notice says the YMCA cannot provide that work and the efforts to operate in Berkeley County have “seriously challenged the financial capabilities” of the local YMCA.Therefore, the YMCA of Greater Charleston Board of Directors and staff management have d...
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley County Family YMCA is closing its doors after nearly 30 years.
The YMCA of Greater Charleston sent a notice out to members on Jan. 30. The email cited the building as being “in need of substantial improvement.” The notice says the YMCA cannot provide that work and the efforts to operate in Berkeley County have “seriously challenged the financial capabilities” of the local YMCA.
Therefore, the YMCA of Greater Charleston Board of Directors and staff management have decided to close and sell the 210 Rembert C. Dennis Blvd. location in Moncks Corner.
President and CEO of the Charleston area operations, Paul Stoney, signed the email notification.
Stoney says the building was costing more than $100,000 a year to keep its doors open and still needed costly repairs, like a potentially $300,000 new roof. When the building is officially sold and closed, members are invited to use the Cane Bay location, and participate in continuing leagues and services.
“Physically, that YMCA does not meet the expectations of a YMCA, it is rapidly deteriorating,” Stoney says.
Stoney says the decision was based on being a good steward of community money, and the facility didn’t make sense anymore. But he says there are future options to collaborate with the help of land donations or developer deals.
“And as it relates to developers, if they’re able to, and it makes good business sense, then we would love to maintain a new presence in that community with a new facility. So that is being taken into consideration,” Stoney said.
The notice says all current members will be grandfathered in to the YMCA facility in Cane Bay, which is about a 20-minute drive across the county. The membership will last one year from the closing date of the Moncks Corner location, which has not been announced.
Kenneth Owens, a member since 1998, says he will miss the location.
“I’m sad it’s closing down because I’ve always enjoyed the people I work out with and the people who run the facility here are very nice people. But going to Cane Bay isn’t really going to be an option for me that’s a little bit further to travel,” Owens says.
The Cane Bay facility opened in April of 2019 and boasts 54,000-square-feet of new construction and assets.
Stoney says in the email that YMCA youth sports, fitness and programming will continue at satellite locations across the county and the non-profit will make every effort for current staff members to continue with the organization.
“Our programs, just like programs that we operate downtown, although we don’t have a physical presence, that is part of our service area. And we still operate programs downtown without having a physical presence. We intend to do the same thing in the Moncks Corner Berkeley County community,” Stoney says.
Stoney says he values the Moncks Corner members and is happy to field any question going forward with the process.
“This is part of a longer vision to continue to deliver a high caliber of programs throughout Charleston and Berkeley counties. And we take that very seriously. We also have to recognize when a facility is not up to our standards, and yes, tough decisions need to be made,” Stoney says.
Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Former South Carolina football player DeVonte Holloman has been named the new head football coach at Pinewood Prep.Holloman replaces J.W. Myers, who was the head coach for three seasons. Myers will remain the school’s athletic director.Holloman spent last season as an off-the-field assistant for Shane Beamer at USC. Prior to that, Holloman was the head coach at his alma mater, South Pointe High in Rock Hill, for three seasons. He led South Pointe to the Class AAAA state title in 2021.Holloman spent four seasons at ...
Former South Carolina football player DeVonte Holloman has been named the new head football coach at Pinewood Prep.
Holloman replaces J.W. Myers, who was the head coach for three seasons. Myers will remain the school’s athletic director.
Holloman spent last season as an off-the-field assistant for Shane Beamer at USC. Prior to that, Holloman was the head coach at his alma mater, South Pointe High in Rock Hill, for three seasons. He led South Pointe to the Class AAAA state title in 2021.
Holloman spent four seasons at Beaufort High, three as defensive coordinator. He was the head coach at Beaufort for one year before moving to South Pointe. Holloman has a 35-11 record in his four seasons as a head coach.
“I’m excited to join the Pinewood Panthers’ family, and I look forward to continuing to build on the football program’s foundation and growth while adding championship pedigree and aspirations. We have all the tools, support and talented players. Now it’s time to put the work in,” Holloman said in a release from the school.
Former Charleston Southern head football coach Autry Denson spent less than two months as the athletic director at Northwood Academy. Denson will be leaving his post to accept a job as running backs coach with the Arizona Cardinals.
Denson spent four seasons at Charleston Southern before he was not retained after the 2022 season. He took over as athletic director at Northwood Academy in January.
“God has blessed me and my family with an unbelievable opportunity,” Denson said. “With the way this came about, it can only be God. I am so appreciative and grateful for the time I had at Northwood. They are family and this is home. We look forward to what God has in store for us.”
Denson will be attending the NFL combine this weekend and will be at work next week in Arizona.
With the departure of Denson, head football coach Armando Allen will step down and assume duties as athletic director. Replacing Allen as the football coach will be former First Baptist head coach Johnny Waters.
Waters resigned down at First Baptist after the 2022 season. While at First Baptist, Waters guided the Hurricanes to a pair of state championships in 2017 and 2018.
It was a banner weekend for area high school wrestlers as nine Charleston-area grapplers captured state individual championships at the S.C. High School League state wrestling tournament, held in Anderson on Feb. 24-25.
In addition to the nine state championships, 11 other wrestlers finished as state runner-up in their respective divisions. All total, 34 athletes finished among the top four, including 16 wrestlers in Class AAAAA.
In AAAAA, state champions included Richard Springs of Fort Dorchester (106), JJ Peace of Cane Bay (120), Ben Guilliam of Summerville (138), Keith Grace of Ashley Ridge (152), Noah Nichols of Stratford (160), Mason Ayers of Summerville (182), and Pierce Carpenter-Kydd of Wando (170).
State runner-up placements in AAAAA included Caleb Herring of Summerville (126), Christian Garland of Ashley Ridge (220) and Landon Stradcutter of Stratford (285).
Earning silver medals in the Class AAAA state tournament were Gianni Bottone of Lucy Beckham (120), Thomas Johnson of James Island (132) and Pedro Lacerda of James Island (145).
Austin Guerrero of Hanahan finished second in the Class AAA 182-pound weight class.
In the Class AA/A tournament, state champions included Alex Rush of Timberland (113), Sam Cherichello of Bishop England (132), and Amonte McCray of Cross (285).
Heicol Jiminez of Military Magnet was state runner-up at 132. Timberland’s Ethan Dawson was second in the 138-pound division, while Santory Jones of Cross was second at 170 pounds. Bishop England’s Cole Preiditsch finished second at 220.
FLORENCE — Conway boys basketball’s calling card has been its defense all season, but unfortunately for the Tigers, Goose Creek’s was better.
Conway fell to Goose Creek, 43-23, in the AAAAA Boys Basketball Lower State Championship at the Florence Center on Feb. 27.
“It really hurts because we had the city behind us,” Conway senior guard/forward Cameron Alston said. “… We can’t point fingers at ourselves. Goose Creek played a good game. We didn’t come out prepared. We could’ve played way better, so it was just one of those days.”
Conway’s 23 points was by far the fewest it scored all season, with its previous low coming against Carolina Forest on Jan. 27.
The combination of the Gators’ smothering defense and the Tigers’ poor shooting night was lethal.
“On a night when you’re not making one, your defense has got to be extra, extra tight, and that’s something we’ve been able to do all year (before tonight),” Conway head coach Michael Hopkins said. “Going into this game … I thought we were similar trying to create some stuff with the defense. They made it tough for us to score. We had the easy ones (and) we didn’t make them, and then free throws, we hurt ourselves at the line. So when you’re doing that, you’re not helping yourself.”
Alston and senior forward Aiden Brantley led the way for the Tigers with six points apiece, while Elijah Dates was the high man for the Gators with 18 points.
The only scoring in the first quarter consisted of a layup from Brantley and two 3-pointers from Dates, giving Goose Creek a 6-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.
The Gators began to pull away a little bit in the second quarter, outscoring the Tigers 11-6 with four different Goose Creek players scoring to give the Gators a 17-8 lead going into halftime. Alston scored four of Conway’s six points in the quarter.
The Gators then outscored the Tigers, 14-6, in the third quarter with Jaquell Brown leading the way with five points in the period to take a 31-14 lead into the fourth quarter. Brantley lead the Tigers in scoring in the quarter with two free throws and a layup.
The Gators closed out the game in the fourth quarter by hitting 12 free throws to come away with a 43-23 victory and move on to play Dorman in the SCHSL AAAAA title game on March 4 in Aiken.
Conway finished the season with a 27-2 record, one of the best it has ever had.
“I told them they’re part of history. That can’t be erased,” Hopkins said. “But everybody wants to win their last game, and that didn’t happen for us and I hate it for them. But it’s the nature of it. If you give it all you had, that’s all I can ask of them.”
If the Tigers want to accomplish what they did this season next year, they’ll have to do so without six of its seniors from the 2022-23 team – Brantley, Alston, guard/forward Jamarious Woodbury, forward/center Khalil Campbell, guard Amarian Charles and guard Joshua Vaught.
“All the seniors have been together since fifth grade, so they’re really my day one (guys),” Alston said. “… Best friends for life.”
SUMMERVILLE — The streaks are still alive.Winning for the eighth straight time in the series, Cane Bay fought back from an eight-point deficit in the second half to clip rival Stratford, 22-17, Oct. 7 on the Cobras’ homecoming. The win was also the fourth straight this season for the Cobras (5-1, 2-0 Region 6-AAAAA).“It’s usually a fight to the end and that’s what this was,” Cane Bay coach Russell Zehr said. “They have a heck of a ball club. They did some things we weren’t ready f...
SUMMERVILLE — The streaks are still alive.
Winning for the eighth straight time in the series, Cane Bay fought back from an eight-point deficit in the second half to clip rival Stratford, 22-17, Oct. 7 on the Cobras’ homecoming. The win was also the fourth straight this season for the Cobras (5-1, 2-0 Region 6-AAAAA).
“It’s usually a fight to the end and that’s what this was,” Cane Bay coach Russell Zehr said. “They have a heck of a ball club. They did some things we weren’t ready for, but hats off to our kids and coaches for the adjustments. We got lucky and made a few plays at the end to win.”
One of the wrinkles Cane Bay had to deal with was Stratford’s regular quarterback, Jalen Barry, moving out to wide receiver. Jachin Davis, a young kid with a strong arm, saw all but one possession at quarterback for the Knights.
Davis’s second touchdown pass of the game, a 33-yarder to Barry, gave Stratford 17-9 lead with 7:54 remaining in the third quarter.
Cane Bay responded with a 70-yard scoring drive in just over four minutes. Cobras running back TJ Wright exploded through the right side on a 13-yard touchdown burst.
Stratford stuffed the 2-point conversion, though, and the Cobras had more work to do to keep their winning streaks intact.
Stratford moved inside Cane Bay’s 35 on its ensuing drive and quick-kicked on fourth and long to the Cane Bay 5 with under 11 minutes left in the game.
On third down, Cane Bay running back Bryson Johnson ripped through a hole up the middle and raced home for 89 yards and the go-ahead score. Lawson Thorn’s extra point made it 22-17 with 9:29 remaining.
Cane Bay’s defense picked off two passes on the way in, including the clincher on a fourth-and-short at Stratford’s 31 by Keaton Cooley to seal it. Defensive back Miles Singleton picked off the first one at midfield with under seven minutes left.
Stratford dropped to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the region.
Each team made field goals on their first possessions, with Stratford’s Matt Haas making a 42-yard goal and Thorn answering on the other end with a 30-yarder in the first quarter.
Cane Bay defensive back Jordan Horlback snagged an interception and returned it 10 yards to make it 9-3 with 3:30 before halftime.
Davis responded by finding tight end Brett Marrs behind the defense along the sideline for an 80-yard touchdown just over a minute later. Haas’s extra point sent Stratford into the locker room with a 10-9 lead.
The Cobras travel to Goose Creek Oct. 14 while the Knights host Wando.