Published: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 / Updated: Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008 12:57 AM

Four Herald-area squads ranked in state's basketball top 10 polls

The big wheel has been spun, and although it didn't stop on bankrupt, it came close.

Despite years of success by Herald-area basketball teams, only four were ranked by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association at its preseason meeting in Columbia on Wednesday.

Northwestern girls are ranked sixth in the Class AAAA girls poll. South Pointe's boys are ninth.

In the Class A polls, the Great Falls boys are third and Indian Land's girls are No. 10.

"We are in some pretty good company,'' Northwestern coach John Bramlett said. "Last year, I didn't think we deserved to be ranked and didn't pick us to be first in the region. We were a program in the making and didn't need that bull's-eye.

"We deserve it this year. Last year, I didn't think we're ready for it. Last year, we were a team in transition with its third coach in as many years. This year, we are ready for it.''

Northwestern has made a big turnaround the last two seasons. The Trojans made the playoffs for the first time in six years in 2006. Last year, the first for Bramlett, the Lady Trojans were 11-12 and third in Region 3-AAAA.

Back is junior guard Kelia Shelton, who averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assistants last season. Forward Bailey Shugart and center Tierra Lewis are also back.

Looking back to the recent past, Rock Hill's boys won the Class AAAA state championship in 2005. Fort Mill won it in 2006. Indian Land's girls finished second in the state in 2006.

Last year, South Pointe's girls and Chester's boys were Upper State runners-up.

From that list, only Indian Land's girls are ranked.

South Pointe's boys made a strong run last season, losing to Wren in the third round of the Class AAAA Upper State playoffs. The Stallions will be without their top player, senior Stephon Gilmore. He's leaving after the first semester to enroll at South Carolina, where he'll play football next year.

But the cupboard is far from empty. Hot-shooting junior guard Trey Erby is back after averaging 15.4 points and 6.5 rebounds last season. Guard Corey Kessler and center Charles Holmes also return.

Great Falls' boys are always ranked near the top. If they don't get to the state, it's a good bet the Red Devils will have a long playoff run.

The SCBCA made a change this year. Instead of picking the top five overall senior boys and girls players, the coaches picked the top five in all four classifications. Again, this area was shut out.

But that doesn't mean there were no names familiar to local fans.

Myrtle Beach's boys are No. 1 in Class AAA and are coached by former Chester coach DeAndre Scott.

Former Chester coach Zeke Washington, who led the Lady Cyclones to a state title in 2004, left to be the boys coach at Lower Richland, and his team is No. 6 in Class AAA.

According to the polls, the top boys' team in Region 3-AAAA is Gaffney at No. 6. Northwestern's girls are the highest-ranked team from the region that includes Clover, Fort Mill, Nation Ford and York.

In Region 4-AAAA, which includes Ridge View, Blythewood, Lancaster, Rock Hill, South Pointe and Spring Valley, Ridge View is the highest-ranked boys team at No. 2. On the girls' side, Spring Valley is No. 3.

The regular season opens on Dec. 1. Several local teams will play in preseason tournaments later this month.