By Chris Sokoloski

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com

Lowcountry Prep School junior Rachael Exum got a surprise in the first quarter of Friday night's home game against Coastal Christian: She scored the 1,000 point of her career.

Fighting Marlins coach Danny Bell didn't tell Exum how close she was to the milestone because he knew she'd be nervous.

He was right.

"I would have played awful if I knew," Exum said. "I was surprised. I had not idea what was going on."

Exum has been on the Fighting Marlins squad since she was in eighth grade. That season she scored 12 points in a playoff game. It was her "coming out" party, Bell said.

As a sophomore last year, she and Jenny Derrick led Lowcountry Prep to its first state SCISA title. Exum scored 99 points in four playoffs game.

Derrick, who graduated in 2011, also topped the 1,000-point mark for the Fighting Marlins.

Exum's goal this year is simple: "I want to win another state championship."

"Rachael's best quality is her unselfishness," Bell said. "That's also our team's best trait. We don't have star. Everyone knows their role."

Lowcountry Prep's 67-35 win over Coastal Christian on Friday night improved its record to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the region.

"I'm happy with where we're at right now," Bell said. We're at full strength. Our bench is getting stronger and it's showing up in practice and games."

The Fighting Marlins held the Cougars in single digits in scoring in the first, second and fourth quarters.

"We put in motion what we practiced," Bell said. "We stressed man-to-man, boxing out and running the break."

Leldon McClary led Lowcountry Prep with 15 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals.

"That was the best game I've seen her play," Bell said.

Exum added 25 points and Sydney Derrick and Jessica Mangialardo each had six points.