HONEST, AGGRESSIVE & CLIENT-FOCUSED ADVOCATES
South Carolina is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. Like many popular cities, however, our state has a major personal injury problem. Did you know that, in South Carolina, the rate of personal injury cases is 30.21 per 100,000 residents, which is 217% higher than the national average of 9.53?
In fact, personal injury cases account for 36% of the state's entire civil caseload, which is 210% more than the national average proportion. That's the third-highest proportion of personal injury cases in the country, with the average being 11.65% in the United States.
If you've suffered an injury due to someone else's fault, it's safe to say that you're not alone. Like others in your situation, you may be enduring a long, painful recovery process. Unfortunately, recovery is just one of the many concerns you've got to worry about. While you're healing, you're probably also thinking about questions like:
At Bostic Law Group, P.A., we understand the stress and frustration you may be experiencing. Our personal injury attorneys have been helping clients since 2000 by utilizing their extensive experience and knowledge of state and federal personal injury laws to provide much-needed guidance when you need it most. During this difficult time, however, it's critical that you contact a personal injury lawyer in James Island as soon as possible to start the process of pursuing compensation.
If you've been involved in an accident that left you injured or incapacitated, dealing with legal matters and lawyers is the last thing you want to do. However, having a personal injury lawyer to handle the legal process while you recover can alleviate some of the stress in your life. The legal system in South Carolina can be complicated - especially when it comes to personal injury cases. Fortunately, hiring a personal injury attorney from Bostic Law can relieve the burden of managing your own case. Perhaps more importantly, working with a seasoned personal injury firm can help you get the compensation you need to survive and provide.
As your James Island accident attorney, our firm will guide you through your rights, the compensation you may be entitled to, and how to pursue it through a customized legal strategy. As the process progresses, our team will keep in touch with you to answer your queries, provide helpful advice when you have concerns, or simply be a friendly professional when you need to talk about your case.
Our attorneys specialize in a wide range of personal injury accidents and cases, including the following:
We provide aggressive legal representation to help you win the compensation you deserve while also offering compassion as you deal with your injuries and other legal matters. Throughout the process, we will act as your advocates and remain committed to providing you with honest and responsive service. And that, in a nutshell, is the Bostic Law difference.
Personal injury cases in South Carolina can happen from a number of different accidents, from car wrecks and wrongful death situations to nursing home negligence and workers' compensation issues. The sheer number of different personal injury cases makes understanding this niche of law particularly exhaustive - especially in The Palmetto State. But that doesn't change the fact that you should be educated on the topic if you have been injured due to no fault of your own.
To help you establish a solid foundation of knowledge on the subject, keep reading this article, which covers some of the laws governing personal injury cases in South Carolina and the steps you can take to protect your rights.
While some cases may share similarities, any personal injury attorney in James Island, SC, who says your case is exactly the same as someone else's isn't being truthful. There are several factors that come into play when determining the value of a case. These can include medical expenses, lost wages, permanent injury, the need for future medical care, where the incident occurred, and witness statements.
However, two particular factors have the most significant impact on the case's value: the defendant's behavior and the character of our client. Liability drives damages, while credibility is an essential asset for any client. No matter how skilled their attorney may be, a client's credibility and likability can greatly affect the outcome of the case. It's crucial to be open and honest with your attorney from the beginning so that they can help you overcome any obstacles that may arise during the case.
Did you know that insurance companies in the United States have spent millions of dollars stereotyping personal injury victims and the attorneys who represent them? Moreover, some people fake injuries, which can prejudice jurors against those who have actually been harmed. Despite those unfortunate facts, one truth remains: Horrible accidents occur every day, tragedies affect every community in our state, and families are left to deal with nothing but questions in the aftermath.
When tragedy strikes, it doesn't discriminate based on race, ethnicity, location, or profession. As such, South Carolina personal injury laws treat everyone equally. If you've been hurt because of someone else's carelessness, you have the right to hold them accountable both legally and financially, regardless of your background.
As they say, "It's not what you know; it's what you can prove." That saying is especially true in today's day and age. In order to receive full compensation for accident claims in South Carolina, it's not enough to just have physical harm, medical bills, and ongoing pain. As your personal injury lawyers, we must establish additional elements of the case and provide proof to answer a number of questions before an insurance carrier or jury will make you whole.
Some of the questions we must provide answers to include:
Dealing with insurance companies can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to personal injury cases. Though the questions listed above may seem simple and their answers straightforward, insurance companies will dispute the value of your case for any reason they can find. But don't be discouraged. At Bostic Law, our personal injury lawyers have spent entire careers helping people overcome the challenges you're facing, and they're readily available to help you, too.
It's important to have insurance, especially if you get injured. With health insurance, you can receive medical treatment that you may not otherwise be able to afford. If you've been in an accident, we'll work to make sure the insurance company of the person at fault pays for your medical expenses. Medical expenses are defined by the true cost of the treatment you receive, not just what you pay out of pocket.
For instance, if your co-pays are $400 but your medical care costs $11,500, our state's personal injury laws guarantee that you'll get the full $11,500, not just your out-of-pocket expenses.
If the other party in your case cannot be proven to have been negligent, careless, reckless, or willful in some way, South Carolina law does not allow you to receive compensation. Negligence can be easily demonstrated at times, such as when a doctor forgets to remove a surgical tool from your body or when a texting driver hits someone from behind.
Liability can be disputed in other cases, such as when the other driver claims that the person swerved into their lane during a crash, or when a product manufacturer argues that an injury occurred due to improper use. In such cases, a personal injury lawyer can assist in identifying independent witnesses and experts who can establish that someone else is responsible for your injuries
Once an attorney in your case shows that the other party is liable for your injuries, they must then prove that their negligence is behind those injuries. As an example, suppose you have a previous history of back pain, and a short time later, you get in a rear-end collision. In such a situation, an insurance company may contend that your preexisting condition - and not the collision - is the reason behind your current back pain.
To counter their argument, we may require your doctor's testimony to verify that the accident aggravated your back pain, leading to medical attention. Additionally, we may ask your friends and family to describe any changes in your physical activity after the crash to further establish the difference in your condition and prove that it was caused by the accident.
If you have been unable to work for a period of time due to an accident, or if your injuries will affect your future earning potential, you are entitled to compensation for lost income. This includes both the wages you have already lost and the amount you will lose over your lifetime as a result of someone else's negligence. It is important that insurance companies do not underestimate or ignore these damages when negotiating a settlement.
It's critically important that you understand every aspect of your personal injury case before you settle or accept an insurance company's offer. Once you sign on the dotted line and approve a release, you won't qualify for further payments, even if you need more medical attention. That's why it's so important to work with a personal injury law firm like Bostic Law.
We'll evaluate your case for free to help you better understand the challenges ahead. When the insurance companies try to squirm out of covering your injuries, we'll fight to protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
Now that you have the information above to help fortify your foundation of knowledge, let's take a look at some of our personal injury specialties at Bostic Law Group, P.A.
According to state records, out of the 3.9 million licensed motorists in South Carolina, close to 219 thousand were involved in auto accidents in 2019. If you were to account for those not licensed in the state, you would find that 1 in 20 drivers got in an auto wreck - about 5.6% of all motorists. Those statistics are staggering, and they seem to be getting worse.
Fortunately, in South Carolina, the law says that personal injury victims are entitled to compensation that covers the full extent of their injuries. Why? Because the purpose of auto injury compensation is to help the victim return to the life they had before their accident. Of course, in reality, that's easier said than done. Truly recovering from an auto accident - both physically and mentally - is quite rare.
The unfortunate truth is that it's not possible for personal injury laws in South Carolina to reverse or even account for the trials and tribulations you face due to auto accident injuries. But there's light at the end of the tunnel.
By hiring a personal injury lawyer in James Island, SC, you can receive financial compensation that equals those damages. How much money can you get? Every personal injury case is different. In general, however, personal injury victims are often compensated for needs and expenses such as:
Whether you or one of your loved ones is injured because of an auto accident, contact Bostic Law Group today to speak with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. The quicker you call, the faster we can dig into your case and begin fighting for your right to compensation.
At Bostic Law, one of the most common questions we receive is what auto accident victims should do on the scene after they've been in a South Carolina car wreck. Being involved in an auto accident is harrowing and stressful, but it's crucial for you to remain as calm as possible in the immediate aftermath. Once you collect yourself, it's time to focus on a few very important steps that can affect whether or not you obtain reasonable compensation for any injuries you sustain.
If possible, have every car involved in your car accident move to a safe space away from traffic. Common options include moving to the shoulder of the highway or road or to a safe parking lot.
Once you move out of traffic, turn on your hazard lights to make your vehicle more noticeable. This helps prevent you from being hit by other cars that are passing you.
If anyone has been injured in the car wreck, make sure you call medical services. If you aren't sure if you or anyone else is hurt, it's always best to err on the side of safety and call an ambulance anyway.
Regardless of how serious your car wreck is, you should contact the police. Calling law enforcement helps ensure that a police report is written and recorded. Make sure to take this step even if you believe that the officer on the scene attributed blame to the wrong motorist.
Once you have called the cops, it's time to collect information. Try to collect the following:
Take photos of your car and any other vehicles that may have been involved in your car wreck. Try to snap photos from varying angles if it's safe to do so.
Your parents probably raised you to apologize for something that you may believe is your fault. When you're involved in a car wreck, do not ever apologize or admit that anything was your fault.
Can you smell alcohol on the breath of the person who hit you? Does it sound like they're slurring their words? Are they stumbling around? These are red flags that you should make a note of because they could help indicate whether the other driver was intoxicated when they hit you.
If you've been involved in a car accident in South Carolina and need help in seeking a fair recovery from your insurance company, The Bostic Law Group, P.A., is here for you. We specialize in personal injury and auto accident cases in South Carolina. When you hire a personal injury attorney in James Island, SC, from Bostic Law, you can rest easy knowing you're in seasoned, capable hands.
Contact our office immediately for a legal consultation if you have any questions about your case. We take pride in serving our community and want to ensure that you receive the assistance you need to obtain a full, fair recovery after your auto accident.
Getting injured on the job isn't just painful - it can be a source of stress, anxiety, and mental anguish too. Nobody wants to feel like they can't put food on the table because they can't go to work. Sadly, in South Carolina, 30,300 workplace injuries and illnesses were reported.
Employees who are injured at work are generally eligible for benefits under state and federal workers' compensation programs. South Carolina's workers' compensation program provides compensation for medical expenses related to the injury and disability benefits if necessary. Additionally, in the event that an employee is unable to return to work immediately after an accident, they can receive a portion of their regular wages as they recover.
But getting the workers' compensation you rightly deserve isn't always easy. That's why it's so important to have a personal injury lawyer by your side.
While South Carolina's workers' compensation program seems great when you're hurt at work, recovering those benefits can be difficult. That's especially true if you're trying to recover and heal from your injuries at the same time. A personal injury attorney can help accomplish that task for you, even when you're facing tough scenarios such as:
At Bostic Law Group, P.A., our workers' compensation lawyers in James Island understand the significance of workers' compensation benefits for you, your family, and your financial stability. We strive to provide you with the detailed guidance and assistance required to file a successful claim or appeal a denied one.
With more than 25 years of experience in handling worker's compensation cases, we're ready and willing to answer your questions and help you get the benefits you need.
Losing a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a human can endure. Their loss leaves what seems to be a giant hole that can never truly be filled. To make matters worse, grief is often compounded by confusion and anger when you learn that your loved one died because of an accident caused by negligence or carelessness. At Bostic Law Group, P.A., our attorneys understand the distress you feel after losing a loved one in an accident.
On both a human and professional level, we believe that you and your family shouldn't suffer alone. That's why, during this trying time, we're here to provide reliable help and healing when you need it most.
Losing a loved one can never be compensated for with money. However, it can be helpful to seek compensation through a wrongful death suit to avoid financial difficulties in the future. Pursuing compensation can enable your family to be in a better position to focus on healing emotionally.
According to laws in South Carolina and the United States, you might be eligible to pursue compensation for your family's losses. Some of the most common types of wrongful death compensation include:
By holding the negligent party accountable for their actions, you may also be able to prevent another family from enduring the same heartache yours has experienced. Whether you're the deceased's child, spouse, parent, or heir, contact our wrongful death law firm today. Together, we'll take the first steps toward a better tomorrow.
Getting injured in an accident caused by someone else's negligence can be a scary and painful experience. Dealing with legal matters during recovery can be overwhelming, but a great personal injury lawyer in James Island, SC, can help alleviate your worries and allow you to focus on healing. Our James Island lawyers are dedicated to helping injured individuals recover quickly by providing excellent legal representation and attentive client services as you seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
If you're looking for a law firm you can trust, contact our office today for a legal consultation.
If you've made your way through the essential brunch restaurants in Charleston and still yearn for another mimosa in a different setting, we present this list of the new spots servicing the early crowds. To be on the Brunch Heatmap, these establishments must be less than a year old (with some consideration for those barely over the mark or changes in the kitchen). ...
If you've made your way through the essential brunch restaurants in Charleston and still yearn for another mimosa in a different setting, we present this list of the new spots servicing the early crowds. To be on the Brunch Heatmap, these establishments must be less than a year old (with some consideration for those barely over the mark or changes in the kitchen).
Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process. If you buy something or book a reservation from an Eater link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics policy.
For those in search of a killer bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich in Mount Pleasant, make your way to the new location of Bodega. This is the second outpost of the downtown Bodega, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches, brunch cocktails, and New York-inspired lunch items, like a chopped cheese on a kaiser roll.
New Mount Pleasant addition Spread Bagelry offers wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, which are thinner than the New York style and with a larger hole. There’s plenty of choices of bagels and spreads, but the stacked sandwiches are the way to go for a really filling meal — the melted pimento cheese with bacon and tomato is a standout star.
Filipino restaurant Kultura now has permanent residence in the former Baguette Magic space on Spring Street. This has given chef Nikko Cagalanan a chance to experiment with brunch on Sundays. The menu includes ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo, and pancit with local lump crab. There’s also karaoke for a bit more fun.
Upper King hangout Prohibition has a new brunch menu full of small plates meant for sharing. Chef Greg Garrison has introduced flavors from all around the globe with items like Turkish eggs, a street corn tostada, a chopped cheese sandwich, and Charleston fried rice.
Charming French restaurant La Bonne Franquette offers the classics like salmon Benedict, croque monsieur, quiches, and plenty of bubbles for brunch. Sit on the sunny patio if its not too hot outside.
Have brunch on the rooftop terrace at the Habit. Take in views of the harbor with a mimosa and a breakfast sandwich, shakshuka, or hash browns and caviar.
European cafe Azur serves hearty brunch items like the Azur burger (beef burgundy, tomato, and Emmental cheese on a croissant bun) and lighter plates, like the shrimp salad on avocado toast. There’s plenty of quiches, frittatas, and mimosas to go around too.
Broad Street restaurant Brasserie La Banque now serves a brunch full of French classics. Look for croque madame, French toast with fresh berries, an expertly prepared omelet, and steak frites in a stunning setting. It feels like a sophisticated way to start the day.
Beach oasis Sullivan’s Fish Camp now offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit the stylish spot for chef Nick Wilber’s takes on the classics. On the sweet side, there’s lemon ricotta pancakes with peach chutney, and on the savory side, there’s avocado toast or a smoked salmon platter. The restaurant is also leaning into fun drinks like the Island Buzz with espresso rum.
Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen has reopened on James Island and offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Visit for Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, chicken and biscuits, and more.
The Harlow brings its oysters and burgers to brunch, plus crab omelets, breakfast burritos, and shrimp and grits. The kid-friendly spot has a children’s menu of favorites, like chicken fingers or French toast.
For those in search of a killer bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich in Mount Pleasant, make your way to the new location of Bodega. This is the second outpost of the downtown Bodega, which specializes in breakfast sandwiches, brunch cocktails, and New York-inspired lunch items, like a chopped cheese on a kaiser roll.
New Mount Pleasant addition Spread Bagelry offers wood-fired Montreal-style bagels, which are thinner than the New York style and with a larger hole. There’s plenty of choices of bagels and spreads, but the stacked sandwiches are the way to go for a really filling meal — the melted pimento cheese with bacon and tomato is a standout star.
Filipino restaurant Kultura now has permanent residence in the former Baguette Magic space on Spring Street. This has given chef Nikko Cagalanan a chance to experiment with brunch on Sundays. The menu includes ube lattes, guava “Pop-Tarts,” egg sandwiches with pork belly adobo, and pancit with local lump crab. There’s also karaoke for a bit more fun.
Upper King hangout Prohibition has a new brunch menu full of small plates meant for sharing. Chef Greg Garrison has introduced flavors from all around the globe with items like Turkish eggs, a street corn tostada, a chopped cheese sandwich, and Charleston fried rice.
Charming French restaurant La Bonne Franquette offers the classics like salmon Benedict, croque monsieur, quiches, and plenty of bubbles for brunch. Sit on the sunny patio if its not too hot outside.
Have brunch on the rooftop terrace at the Habit. Take in views of the harbor with a mimosa and a breakfast sandwich, shakshuka, or hash browns and caviar.
European cafe Azur serves hearty brunch items like the Azur burger (beef burgundy, tomato, and Emmental cheese on a croissant bun) and lighter plates, like the shrimp salad on avocado toast. There’s plenty of quiches, frittatas, and mimosas to go around too.
Broad Street restaurant Brasserie La Banque now serves a brunch full of French classics. Look for croque madame, French toast with fresh berries, an expertly prepared omelet, and steak frites in a stunning setting. It feels like a sophisticated way to start the day.
Beach oasis Sullivan’s Fish Camp now offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Visit the stylish spot for chef Nick Wilber’s takes on the classics. On the sweet side, there’s lemon ricotta pancakes with peach chutney, and on the savory side, there’s avocado toast or a smoked salmon platter. The restaurant is also leaning into fun drinks like the Island Buzz with espresso rum.
Florence’s Lowcountry Kitchen has reopened on James Island and offers brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Visit for Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, chicken and biscuits, and more.
The Harlow brings its oysters and burgers to brunch, plus crab omelets, breakfast burritos, and shrimp and grits. The kid-friendly spot has a children’s menu of favorites, like chicken fingers or French toast.
The first challenges to the S.C. High School League’s reclassification of its member schools began on Tuesday, as 12 schools appealed their placement in the league's realignment for the 2024-26 school years.Ten more schools will make their appeals on Wednesday.School officials made their cases to the league’s executive committee, and can take their appeals to the league’s appellate panel later this week. A total of 22 schools statewide are lodging appeals with the executive committee.Most of the appeals...
The first challenges to the S.C. High School League’s reclassification of its member schools began on Tuesday, as 12 schools appealed their placement in the league's realignment for the 2024-26 school years.
Ten more schools will make their appeals on Wednesday.
School officials made their cases to the league’s executive committee, and can take their appeals to the league’s appellate panel later this week. A total of 22 schools statewide are lodging appeals with the executive committee.
Most of the appeals center around the SCHSL's decision to use a multiplier to determine student enrollments for its purposes, with students attending a school from outside of its assigned attendance zone counting three times. The multiplier was installed in an effort to address competitive-balance issues, with private and charter schools dominating state championships in lower classifications in recent years.
Three Charleston-area schools made their appeals on Tuesday.
James Island Charter, moved to Class AAAAA in reclassification, had its request to remain in AAAA denied. Burke, moved up to Class AA, had its appeal to remain in Class A denied.
Charleston Math & Science, moved up to Class AAA from Class A, won its appeal to remain in Class A for the next two years.
Bishop England, bumped up from Class AA to AAAA, will have its appeal to move to Class AAA heard on Wednesday.
Columbia's Gray Collegiate Academy, a sports-oriented charter school and a center of much of the competitive-balance debate, was bumped up two classifications, from AA to AAAA, by the league's multiplier. The school requested to play in Class AAA, but was denied by a vote of 12-3.
James Island officials made their case to remain AAAA by saying the school was willing to remain in Region 7-AAAA, which includes Colleton County and Beaufort-area schools. The school said it was willing to accept a considerable increase in travel expenses over what it would incur in a local AAAAA region.
Members of the committee noted that James Island’s attendance numbers, which total 1,968 including the multiplier, would place the school in Class AAAAA even without the multiplier, but only because the league has increased the number of AAAAA schools to 56.
After discussion, the committee voted 14-1 to deny the request to remain in AAAA.
Charleston Math & Science, which is currently in Class A, was reclassified to AAA by the league. The school, which is not competitive for state titles in most programs, hinted that a move to AAA could result in the school closing all of its athletics programs. School officials said the athletic department operates at a deficit as a Class A school.
According to the multiplier numbers, CMS would be the smallest school in AAA with 672 students, and would have almost 400 actual students fewer than two schools, Dillon and Newberry, just ahead of them in the AAA list.
The committee decided by a vote of 12-3 to allow CMS to remain in Class A for the next two years.
Burke appealed a move from Class A to AA based on a decline in competitiveness, even though its attendance numbers are solidly in Class AA even without the multiplier. Enrollment numbers, however, are in a steady decline; Burke's multiplier attendance number is 469.
The committee voted 14-1 to put Burke in Class AA. Burke could be reassigned to Class A in the next reclassification in 2026.
In other appeals on Tuesday, Abbeville High was denied (by 9-5) an appeal to be assigned to Class A. Abbeville is currently listed as the smallest AA school in the state (379 students with the multiplier), while three schools in Class A have larger attendance numbers. Abbeville will appeal the decision to the appellate panel.
Seneca High’s appeal to remain in Class AAA was denied (14-1), and the school will be assigned to AAAA.
Fox Creek won its appeal (by 11-3) to move to Class AAA. Fox Creek was originally bumped from Class AA to Class AAAA in the realignment.
Southside Christian, a private school in Simponsville, was denied (by 9-5) its appeal to move from Class AAA to AA. Southside Christian was moved from Class A to AAA in the recent reclassification with a multiplier attendance number of 676.
Brashier Middle College, a charter school in the upstate, was assigned to Class AAA, a move up from Class A. The school appealed to be classified to Class AA and the committee granted that request by a vote of 12-4.
High Point Academy, a Class A school in Spartanburg, was moved to Class AAA after use of the multiplier. The school appealed to stay in Class A, but was denied. However, the committee did vote to place the school into Class AA.
Horse Creek Academy of North Augusta, moving into the SCHSL for the first time, was classified to AAA. However, the school offers only 10 varsity sports and one junior varsity program, and does not field a football program. The committee voted to put the school in Class A.
St. Joseph’s Catholic School of Greenville, currently in Class A, was reclassified to Class AAA and requested to be placed in Class AA. The committee denied the request by 12-2.
The Ridge View boys basketball team began the season No. 1 in the rankings. Now they have a chance to finish the year in the top spot.Senior Jayden Pretty scored 31 points and the Blazers moved on to the Class 4A state championship game with a 60-38 win over James Island on Wednesday night at the Florence Center.“Enjoy it,” Ridge View coach Joshua Staley said to his team in the locker room after the game. “What you did is nothing short of amazing. But we aren’t finished yet.”Ridge View will ...
The Ridge View boys basketball team began the season No. 1 in the rankings. Now they have a chance to finish the year in the top spot.
Senior Jayden Pretty scored 31 points and the Blazers moved on to the Class 4A state championship game with a 60-38 win over James Island on Wednesday night at the Florence Center.
“Enjoy it,” Ridge View coach Joshua Staley said to his team in the locker room after the game. “What you did is nothing short of amazing. But we aren’t finished yet.”
Ridge View will play Riverside at 8 p.m. Saturday at Florence Center in the final contest of the 10-game championship weekend.
It’s the Blazers’ seventh state title game appearance and sixth since 2018. But it’s the first trip under Staley, who took over for Yerrick Stoneman and is in his second year leading the program.
Ridge View is the third different school Staley has taken to the state championship. He took the Orangeburg-Wilkinson girls team there three times and A.C. Flora boys twice, winning it all in 2016.
The Blazers took their lumps in their first year under Staley, going 15-13 and losing in the second round of the playoffs to Wilson. The Blazers beat the Tigers this year to advance to the semifinals.
“I wouldn’t say we were all the way in last year,” Pretty said. “The trust wasn’t there. We had to learn to really believe in our coach.”
Ridge View returned most of its roster, including Pretty, and was ranked No. 1 in the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association’s Class 4A preseason poll. The Blazers started the year 16-0 and won the prestigious Chick-fil-A Classic tournament with wins over nationally ranked John Marshall (Va.) and Grayson (Ga.).
Ridge View moved into the national rankings for a few weeks before losing to rival Westwood and then to A.C. Flora in the regular season finale to finish second in Region 5-4A.
The loss to the Falcons was a wakeup call for the Blazers and for Pretty, who Staley called out for his effort and lack of leadership as one of the team’s seniors.
“When A.C. Flora beat us, he changed his mindset,” Staley said of Pretty. “He knew one of the reasons we took those two losses was because of his mindset. He changed his mindset, has been very mature in practice, and it has been good for the team.”
Pretty said the loss to A.C. Flora reminded him of the playoff loss to Wilson last season. It sparked an energy inside of him to want to go harder, he said.
“We haven’t had a leader this year, so I feel like I needed to step up and help my team,” Pretty said.
Pretty had 14 in the semifinal win over Wilson last week and turned in arguably his best performance of the season against James Island, which rallied to beat Westwood to advance to the semifinals.
Pretty had 15 of his points in the first half for the Blazers, who led 16-5 after the first quarter. James Island cut the deficit to 24-18 before Malachi Cooper’s basket right before halftime.
Ridge View ended any type of James Island comeback attempt with a strong third quarter and led 47-29.
RV: Jayden Pretty 31, Corbett 6, Davis 8, Mack 2, Cooper 5, J. Smith 1, Staley 4, T. Smith 2, Vankallen 1 JI: Jenkins 6, RJ Simmons 12, Linhart 6, Ward 8, Scott 4, Renault 2
This story was originally published February 28, 2024, 10:14 PM.
Lou Bezjak is the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The (Columbia) State and (Hilton Head) Island Packet. He previously worked at the Florence Morning News and had covered high school sports in South Carolina since 2002. Lou is a two-time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The site of a proposed preschool on James Island is causing some neighbors to worry about what their yards will look like during a storm or what the traffic will look like during rush hour.The city of Charleston’s Design Review Board approved the basics, like what kind of building materials and plants the developer wants to use, for example, at the proposed Goddard Preschool located at 1137 Folly Rd., ...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The site of a proposed preschool on James Island is causing some neighbors to worry about what their yards will look like during a storm or what the traffic will look like during rush hour.
The city of Charleston’s Design Review Board approved the basics, like what kind of building materials and plants the developer wants to use, for example, at the proposed Goddard Preschool located at 1137 Folly Rd., at Tuesday night’s meeting.
However, neighbor Matthew Pertuset says he’s more worried about what the city will review later on.
“How is that going to affect the, not just the people that back up, but the entire neighborhood?” Pertuset said.
The proposed preschool sits directly behind Pertuset’s home in the Queenborough neighborhood. He says he’s worried about the design of this building’s drainage because of how it already acts during storms.
“We’re already holding water,” Pertuset said. “So, for that to come up even more, I’m not sure. So, it’s a huge concern.”
But Robert Summerfield, the director of planning, preservation and sustainability for the city of Charleston, said because they have some of the most comprehensive stormwater regulations in the region, no project could make the problem worse but could only improve it.
“They’re working very hard to make sure that they are utilizing the existing wetlands on site and enhancing that as a stormwater catchment area,” Summerfield said.
But that’s not the only concern.
“If it is going to be a pickup, you know, we’re right here on Folly Road, how does that look during rush hour traffic in the mornings and the afternoons?” Pertuset said. “Is it going to get pushed into our neighborhood for us to deal with or is it just going to come to a stop on Folly Road?”
Summerfield said the city has already thought about it.
“We have created a drop-off low space so that cars, as they come in and drop their children off or pick them up, will actually flow through the site so that there’s a queueing situation that will occur so that people aren’t ideally not queueing out on Folly,” Summerfield said.
Neither the Goddard School nor the applicant, AAG Architects for Vista 26, LLC, have responded to requests for comment.
However, Pertuset said no matter what comes on this property, he just wants the city to be thorough with their plans.
“It is something that the community needs,” Pertuset said. “I think James Island could afford to have another preschool.”
Summerfield said the city will discuss more drainage specifics once the developer submits the next step to the Technical Review Committee. They will have to pass all initial designs before that is done and there’s currently no timeline of when that might take place.
Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.
Senior guard RJ Simmons has played only two seasons at James Island Charter School, transferring over after winning a SCISA state championship during his sophomore year at Cathedral Academy.His performance in Thursday night’s third-round game of the Class AAAA Lower State playoffs will be talked about with the greatest showings in school history.Simmons helped the Trojans complete an amazing second-half comeback with a game-tying layup as time expired in regulation, then drained a crucial 3-pointer and two free throws in ...
Senior guard RJ Simmons has played only two seasons at James Island Charter School, transferring over after winning a SCISA state championship during his sophomore year at Cathedral Academy.
His performance in Thursday night’s third-round game of the Class AAAA Lower State playoffs will be talked about with the greatest showings in school history.
Simmons helped the Trojans complete an amazing second-half comeback with a game-tying layup as time expired in regulation, then drained a crucial 3-pointer and two free throws in the extra session to lift James Island to a 75-72 upset of second-ranked Westwood, sending the Trojans to the Lower State championship game on Feb. 28 against perennial power Ridge View.
It will be James Island’s first fourth-round appearance since the 2014-15 season.
“It feels great that we stuck together and never stopped playing,” said Simmons, who finished the game with 17 points. “I felt all along that if we stayed together we could come back. Just had to stay together.”
In Class A boys, Cross advanced to Lower State with a 63-60 win over Carvers Bay, but visiting Bethune-Bowman knocked off Burke by 50-43.
James Island senior guard Braxton Scott, known more for his exploits as a quarterback in football, led the Trojans with 18 points. Gavin Ward added 15 points for the winners.
“We work hard and compete every day in practice so we never feel that we’re out of any game,” Scott said. “This team fights together. We know that our defense is how we win. We kept them from scoring in the second half. It’s our mindset.”
James Island trailed for most of the game, falling behind 30-11 with five minutes left in the second quarter. Early in the third period, Westwood opened a 40-22 lead but the Trojans slowly began to come back, using their defense to create easy scoring opportunities.
James Island trailed, 50-42, heading into the fourth quarter but Scott’s steal and layup tied the game at 53 with 4:30 remaining in the game.
Westwood took a 63-61 lead with seven seconds left, leaving the Trojans with one last possession. After a timeout, Simmons took an inbounds pass, dribbled around the paint and hit an uncontested layup at the horn.
“I was surprised I was sort of wide open to the basket,” he said. “It’s a drive I work on all the time and it just opened up for me.”
Simmons’ 3-pointer in overtime came with the Trojans trailing, 70-68, with 36 seconds left. He calmly sank the free throw for a 72-70 lead. Simmons later added a free throw and Ward drained a pair for the final margin.
“I think the difference was the defense,” James Island’s first-year head coach Travis Smith said. “We started getting stops and that allowed us to find our rhythm offensively. For us, it starts with defense. Honestly, I wish I could take credit for this but this is all the kids. We have kids that play hard and play with a chip on their shoulder. They went out and won this game.”
Smith is a former all-state guard at Porter-Gaud in his first season as a prep head coach. His mentor, Porter-Gaud coach John Pearson, was in attendance to witness the comeback
The Cross High boys basketball team defeated Carver’s Bay, 63-60, to advance to the Class A Lower State finals on Feb. 26 at the Florence Civic Center.
Cross (23-5) will take on Bethune-Bowman in the Lower State championship game. Bethune-Bowman eliminated Burke from the playoffs on Thursday night.
Cathedral Academy’s boys and girls teams will play for the SCISA Class A state title on Saturday at the Sumter Civic Center.
The Northwood Academy girls team will play Heathwood Hall in the SCISA Class AAAA finals on Friday night.
Friday, Feb. 23, Sumter Civic Center
4 p.m.: Class 1A Girls, Curtis Baptist vs. Cross Schools
6 p.m.: Class 4A Girls, Northwood Academy vs. Heathwood Hall
© 2023 All Rights Reserved.
(843) 571-2525