Gators, Patriots on collision course in Roundball?

Early-season state supremacy could be determined when the 17th annual Piggly Roundball Classic tips off Dec. 28 at West Ashley High School. Defending Class AAAA state champion Goose Creek could face Fort Dorchester in the championship game of the Communities in Service bracket.

The Gators, who went 27-2 and defeated Gaffney, 63-58, in last winter's title game, were selected No. 1 in the state coaches association's preseason poll. Fort Dorchester is fifth in the poll. Host West Ashley, which is in the Rotary bracket, is the other local Class AAAA school ranked. The Wildcats began the season at No. 10.

Coach Brad Dobbels, who spoke Monday at the Roundball press conference, knows a lot of things have to go right for the All-Lowcountry championship game. After all, no local team has won the Roundball Classic since 1996. The Gators and Pinewood Prep reached the championship games of their respective brackets last year, but lost. Our Lady of Good Counsel, located in Olney, Md., stunned Pinewood Prep, 67-65 in overtime, while Louisville Ballard topped Goose Creek.

"It would be a fun matchup if we could get there," said Goose Creek coach Brad Dobbels, whose squad picked up its 16th straight win with a season-opening conquest of

North Charleston. "But we both have a lot of business to take care of if that were to happen. If both of us get there, it would be the only time we meet (this season). It would be exciting for the Lowcountry and this tournament and may have a bearing in the state."

Philip Jenkins, who scored 33 points in the state championship game, graduated, but the Gators still have talent, including junior Brandon Shell, a mammoth inside player who is 6-8 and weighs 320 pounds. Devontae Wright, who signed to play for The Citadel, was recognized as one of the top five seniors in the state by the coaches association.

"Devontae is really solid and Brandon could be a really good player if he gets into basketball shape and works hard every play," Dobbels said.

Fort Dorchester features 6-7 senior R.J. Slawson, who has signed to play for South Carolina. He's arguably the top wing man in the state and was an All-Lowcountry selection last year.

There is an international team participating in this year's tournament, Sturt Sabres Varsity from Adelaide, South Australia. The field includes two teams from Georgia -- Centennial High School from Roswell and East Hall High School from Gainesville.

Our Savior New American of Centereach, N.Y., and two teams from the Baltimore/Washington area round out the out-of-state field: The John Carroll School from Bel Air, Md. and St John's High School from Washington.

The remaining 10 teams are from South Carolina: Goose Creek, Fort Dorchester, Wando, West Ashley, Ridge View, Pinewood Prep, Bishop England, Manning, North Charleston and James Island.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or 937-5592.