Love of the game fuels the Lowcountry Fire

It's all about the money, right?

That the Charleston Lowcountry Fire competes in a semi-pro basketball league might imply that there is at least a small amount of money involved.

'Oh yeah, it's the big cash. I can't turn it down,' laughs Brittany Young, a 25-year-old from Moncks Corner who is the second-leading scorer in the Women's Blue Chip Basketball League.

There are no paychecks. This league is all about cashing in on one's passion for basketball.

By day, Young is a retail banker for Woodforest National Bank. Two or three nights a week she drives to Charleston to practice with the Lowcountry Fire. The team, unbeaten through seven games, plays on Saturdays and hopes to make it to the WBCBL national tournament.

'Every young woman you see out here is playing for the love of the game,' says Young, who averages 25.7 points per game. 'It has nothing to do with money. After I graduated (from Francis Marion) in 2008, I loved basketball so much I was just looking for a way to stay involved.'

Jontell Johnson, the team's 6-2 center from James Island who is averaging 15.2 points and 12.2 rebounds, tells pretty much the same story. The 29-year-old, who also graduated from Francis Marion, works at the Medical University of South Carolina as a mental health counselor.

'I have a special place in my heart for people with special needs,' says Johnson, who played briefly overseas before returning home.

Adrianne Smalls, a graduate of West Ashley High School and USC Upstate, teaches special education at Baptist Hill, cares for her 2-year-old son Dash and is working toward a doctorate degree in education. 'My passion is kids. I love teaching. I love coaching. Juggling going to school and raising a son, it's good exercise.'

The players range in age from 22 to 29, and most played college basketball. But there aren't many opportunities in basketball for women after college. The top level is the WNBA. A few players get a chance to play overseas. For most, semi-professional basketball is the best option available.

Every member of the Lowcountry Fire has a story to tell, says owner Terri Steed. Steed, 42, works for the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department. She played basketball at Wando High and Coastal Carolina. After college she played for the Lowcountry All-Stars, another semi-pro team that's no longer in existence.

The city of Charleston lets the team practice and play in the Arthur W. Christopher Community Center. The team nickname comes from a girls youth basketball team in Charleston called the Premier Fire. Players from the Lowcountry Fire serve as mentors for the youth squad.

Jeff Emory, a teacher and coach at Stall High School, is the coach. He makes the same money the owner and players make.

'When they told me (no pay was involved), it didn't matter. My goal was to use this as a learning tool,' says Emory, who would like to one day coach on the college level. 'It's worked out very well. I'm very pleased with what we've done in the year and a half I've been with them.'

Charleston is one of the smallest markets in the league, but they have something in common with teams in Atlanta, Boston and Miami. All are undefeated.

The Fire have two road games July 9 at the Newberry Lady Panthers and July 16 at Greensboro, N.C., against the USA Elite before returning to Charleston for the Atlantic Division Regional Tournament on July 23.

'This year has been amazing,' Young said. 'We're grateful and thankful that people like Terri, like coach Jeff, have decided to volunteer their time.

'I have to be honest. I love basketball as much today as I did when I was a 5- or 6-year-old kid starting out. I love it with all my heart.'

-BY TOMMY BRASWELL
THE POST AND COURIER