White Knoll’s girls basketball team was one of the biggest surprises in Lexington County last season. 

The Timberwolves went (17-10) and made a strong push for the region championship. Fast forward to today, and the woman in charge of that run has moved on to a new program, one just a few miles down the road. 

Coretta Furguson is now at Irmo, looking to bring the same success there that she did at White Knoll. Furguson said the opportunity and administration at Irmo meshed well with her vision for a program. 

“We did a wonderful job, and the fit was no longer a fit for me at White Knoll,” she said. 

The decision to move to Irmo had nothing to do with playing in the same region as White Knoll. It was all about the chance to coach at a big program with plenty of outside support. 

“ There were a lot of jobs open that weren’t 5A, but I found one that was more suitable for my culture and my coaching style. I have so much more to give,” Furguson said. 

Irmo is a program that needs revitalization. The team finished (11-14) last season but went (2-8) for fifth in the region. 

The Yellow Jackets have not finished higher than fourth in their region since the 2020-21 season, when they finished second. That was also Irmo’s last winning season. 

To make the changes necessary to reshape the culture, Furgeson made a few additions meant to challenge the team. 

“ We have a wonderful basketball class that has been implemented now for the girls,” she said. “We’re creating a challenging schedule, just allowing them to compete, so when region time comes, it won't be so new. We'll be ready to take on the challenge.”

Irmo will need to be prepared to play in a deep region that includes Dutch Fork, Lexington, River Bluff, Chapin and of course, White Knoll. 

The first order of business when Furgeson arrived was to get the team’s numbers up. When she first took over, Irmo’s entire program consisted of seven players. Now, there are over 30.

 ”First was building the program, which we have,” Furgeson said. “You need a foundation in order to build a program and keep a program running. The next was doing the small things.”

The small things included implementing her philosophy. The Yellow Jackets will pride themselves on the defensive side of the ball as they progress on their offensive fundamentals. 

Junior Abby Livingston will be the player to watch on Irmo. She put up some insane stat lines last year, including a triple-double with steals against Newberry. 

Eight-grader Lailah Singletary is also a key piece and will be an instant contributor in her first season of varsity basketball. 

“They’re very diversified,” Furgeson said. “Quality shooting, they know when to shoot. They have a high IQ for the game. They’re very team-oriented.”

Rounding out the supporting cast will be players like La’Nee McCutchen, Janiyah Stokes and Kennedy Hampton. 

“They’re strong leaders and role-players within our program,” Furgeson said. “I’m feeling really good about them.”