Southeast Georgia February 2018 Edition

Teams Claim Wrestling Titles Mr. Clutch on the Court

A Head for the Hoop

Marcus Scott V Brunswick

Wrestling With Class and Character Brandon Foster Ware County

Destiny Craig

GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

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IN THE

February 2018

Liberty County

In The Game | 1

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In

e u s s I s i h tT Also

12

All the Way Back

22

Building for the Future

28

SEGA Teams Claim Wrestling Titles

Shan Garner, Pierce County Demetrius McBride, Arthur Williams Middle School

Richmond Hill, Camden County

A Head for the Hoop

Destiny Craig, Liberty County

8

16

Gators Still On Mark

19

Pierce County Baseball Wins Multiple Awards For Successful 2017 Season

Ware County

Pierce County

20

Experience on the Pitch Bacon County

Wrestling With Class and Character Brandon Foster, Ware County

32

Mr. Clutch on the Court

Marcus Scott V, Brunswick High School

34

In The Game | 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

36`

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

Well another season of winter sports is in the books as basketball and wrestling give way to the largest slate of sports of the year. Before we get into spring, I’d like to congratulate the Southeast Georgia programs who made the state playoffs in basketball. We had several girls and boys programs from around SEGA make the state playoffs. I’d be remiss if I didn’t congratulate both 6A and 7A wrestling state champs Richmond Hill and Camden County, respectively, as they won state titles in the duals format of team wrestling.

Now that spring has sprung, we’ll be moving back outdoors to the baseball diamonds, tracks, tennis courts, soccer pitches, and golf courses all over SEGA. Good luck to all our SEGA teams as they set out to make 2018 a memorable one for their respective teams.

Keep up with all the action right here in the pages of In The Game.

Fort Valley State University seems a world away from where it all started for Destiny Craig. Craig, a senior at Liberty County, has had a long and winding road to get her opportunity to play college basketball. She started playing organized sports thousands of miles away in Korea as a third-grader and quickly fell in love with basketball, the only sport she plays in high school. She credited her older brother with helping her de-

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velop into the player she is today by watching him first hand as he played college basketball.

If your coach’s nickname for you is “Iceman,” you know he has faith in you. Coach Chris Turner has so much faith in this player he clearly wants the ball in his hands when the game is on the line. Who is it you ask? Marcus Scott V. The Brunswick High senior point guard is a well traveled ball player who played at two middle schools and won a state championship with Jenkins before arriving at Brunswick. Just as impressive as his oncourt skills is his dedication in the class room. Marcus holds an impressive 3.7 GPA and is a member of the Georgia’s Superintendent Board Advisory Council.

Pierce County’s second year boys basketball coach Joseph “Shan” Garner may be one of the most successful sports figures to come out of Echols County. When you look back at his coaching accomplishments with Lowdnes County alone, he would be in the running. Life is a funny thing, and Shan can attest to that: One day you’re a highly successful basketball coach, and the next day you’re not. Knowing what you love to do and being good at it has ways of opening doors that you might have thought were closed, and I for one am glad to see him back court-side coaching.

If you look up class and character in the dictionary, I’m pretty sure you’ll find a picture of Ware County Gator senior Brandon Foster. We featured him as a Rising Star as an eighth-grader at Ware Middle, and I felt then he was a special young man; I was correct.

The 113-pound competitor wrestled his way for an opportunity at the state title the last two seasons.

He may not have won the title,

but, trust me, he’s a champion in the eyes of everyone who knows him, which is a more impressive title any day.

Any kid whose favorite football team is the Minnesota Vikings is alright by me. Arthur Williams multisport star Demetrius McBride is a competitor. I’m not sure how he fits it all in, but by last accounts he played football, basketball, and baseball and ran track, which is impressive for an eighth-grader.

Wayne County head coach Ken Cribb must be excited to know a kid of Demetrius’ talent is heading his way with that Jacket high-powered offense.

We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. We are always open to suggestions as well as story ideas or ways you think we can improve our magazine. Please visit our website at www.itgnext.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/itgnext.

Follow us on Twitter @SEGAInTheGame and on Instagram at inthegamesega. Keep a look out for some exciting news coming soon on new online programing via our online radio station. While you’re online, don’t forget to nominate a deserving student-athlete or coach for one of our feature articles. You’ll be glad you did.

Email us at info@itgnext.com to let us know what you thought of the January edition of ITG!

Contributors

Publisher Shawn Smoak Editor Mark Dykes Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Charles E. Smith Feature Photography Charles E. Smith Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Debra Tanner Jeffrey Griffith Feature Writers W. John Wood Rob Asbell John DuPont Jaron Raulerson Evan Smoak Shawn Smoak Copy Editors Anna Limoges Alex Dunn Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Mandy Douthit SEGA Prep Sports P.O. Box 2960 Waycross, Ga. | 31502 Corporate Office: Dykes Media Group LLC P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, Ga. | 31603 In the Game is published monthly (excluding July).

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group, LLC 2018 makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Liberty County’s Destiny Craig always knew how long and tough the road to being an accomplished basketball player would be. She experienced it first hand by watching her brother. For Craig, the journey started years ago, thousands of miles away in Korea and will continue to Fort Valley next fall.

“In the third grade while living in Korea, I began playing organized basketball and softball,” she said.

“My favorite sport is basketball, and it is the only sport I play.”

The youngest of five kids, Destiny has two older brothers and two sisters. At a young age she saw how the game develops.

“I began to realize that basketball was more than just dribbling and scoring,” Craig said. “Winning didn’t matter as much as how my team played and worked together.”

She started understanding the importance of seeing the game from a different perspective. She started to realize, at an age younger than most, that basketball is a team sport in which everyone needs to be moving in one direction. Craig also got some important hands-on work as a gym rat who watched her brother play basketball

ad for the

hoop Written by: W. John Wood | Photography by: Charles E Smith

every summer. He eventually went on to play at the college level.

“In high school my game started developing from my older brother, who played college basketball,” Craig said. “Every summer I would spend every day in the gym with him. Watching him grow from a college basketball player to now a women’s college basketball coach has definitely made me grow and get better.”

Craig’s brother, Deion, played at East Georgia and Coker College. He currently is an assistant coach with the Charleston Southern University women’s basketball team.

While Destiny started becoming a student of the game in middle school watching college and WNBA games, the time she spent with Deion helped make her game better.

“Since I was in middle school, I loved watching the WNBA and college basketball,” she said.

“When I watched those games, I always studied the teams that were play-

“Winning didn’t matter as much as how my team played and worked together.”

— Destiny Craig

ing and picked someone on one of the teams who I admired, and I tried to understand their game personally, understanding why they made the move they did and how they treated their team. Doing that, I believe, made me the student of basketball I am today.”

Destiny had a stellar junior year, averaging 10 points a game and a solid 41 percent behind the three point arc. She battled through her senior campaign at times, but still made every second on the hardwood count.

A 5’ 10” guard, she plays strong defense and even as a guard can be a force on the boards.

“I want my legacy in high school to be that my coaches and teammates remember that I worked hard and did the best I could,” Craig said.

Liberty County Lady Panther coach Nicole Tazewell is in her second season as head coach of her high school alma matter, and while only having coached Craig for two seasons, said she has made an impression.

“Although I only coached her for two seasons, I definitely developed

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a positive professional relationship with Destiny,” Tazewell said. “She is a great person, and she loves basketball. This year she struggled at times, but there were moments where she shined.”

As she worked through the season, those shining moments prompted Tazewell to call Craig a “rock star.” Tazewell understands what it takes to play on a higher level and to get there; after a good career at Liberty, Tazewell went on to play college basketball.

“She is a joy to watch when she is focused and tuned in to the game,” Tazewell said. “I am happy that she will get the opportunity to continue her basketball career at Fort Valley State University. I wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors. I hope my coaching staff and I were able to drop a few nuggets in our two-year journey with her that will help her at the next level. I tell all of them all the time it's 89 percent mental, 10 percent physical, and 1 percent extra sauce.

We will miss her very much.”

A dual enrolled student, Craig is splitting her senior year between Liberty County High School and Savannah Technical College. Her favorite subject is math; however, as she plans on attending Fort Valley State University, where she will continue her hardwood college basketball career, she plans on studying biology.

When she does have an opportunity to be away from the basketball court, she enjoys just watching Netflix and spending time with her friends and family.

“My favorite TV show is

“... There were moments where she shined.”

— Nicole Tazewell

‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ and my favorite movie is ‘Love and Basketball.’ I am currently interested in studying biology and psychology in college,” Craig said.

Destiny is moving into her final months at Liberty County High School, but she still remains committed to the goals that made her a good basketball player.

“My goals in the future academically will be to go to college and get as many degrees as I can in biology and psychology,” she said.

“Athletically my future goal is to become the best college basketball player I can be.”

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All the Way Back Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

The past two seasons have seen an unprecedented rebound for basketball fortunes at Pierce County High School. Twelve months after the PCHS girls stormed their way to Round 2 of the state playoffs, the boys team has punctuated its own renaissance. The same can be said for boys head coach Joseph Shannon “Shan” Garner.

Heading into the 2018 region tournament, the Bears were 18-7, having been ranked as high as seventh in the state. It has been a literal 180-degree swing from last season’s 9-17 mark and the four-win mark from two years ago. It has been an equally impressive upswing for Garner, who nearly five years ago was out of basketball completely.

On the fast track to a hall-of-fame career, he stepped away from the game for a short-lived stay in the private sector. Now he’s back to the business of manufacturing winners.

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“The biggest factors in the dramatic and fast turnaround of this program would have to be trust — trust in me and in the players themselves and a wanting of respect on a very successful campus full of achievements from other sports," Garner, a 20-year veteran, said. "All that and lots of community support.”

Life on the hardwood has always made sense to Garner. Following his playing career at Echols County High School and Brewton-Parker College, he graduated from Valdosta State University. Armed with a degree in health and physical education, his first coaching gig came in Lowndes County. From 1997 to 2001 he coached middle school boys and junior varsity and served as a varsity assistant there. Garner’s

alma mater offered him his first varsity head coaching job in 2002, when he coached ECHS to an 11-15 mark.

A season later he guided the Wildcats to a 19-9 mark and the school’s first playoff berth in 20 years.

“From a very young age, I knew I was meant to be a coach,” Garner said. “I understood things on the court and saw kids with potential that I wished I could unlock, even those kids that showed no desire. I knew I could get them to buy in and play hard. I loved analyzing what the other team was doing and coming up with a plan to combat it.”

Returning to Lowndes in 2004, Garner took over as head varsity girls coach, a role that produced great success for both the program and for him personally.

Over the next nine seasons, Garner led the Vikettes to a cumulative mark of 186-67, including a run of seven straight 20-win seasons. By 2013, Garner’s teams had authored 225 career victories, six region championships, and five Sweet 16 appearances. Three times he was named Coach of the Year. Nine times he made the playoffs. Despite going 16-10, his 2012-13 Lowndes girls missed the playoffs. After more than a decade and a half, Garner discovered the need for revitalization.

“A childhood friend owned a farm and produce business in Echols County, and he had come to us four times asking us to be a produce broker for him,” said Maria, Garner’s better half of 21 years. “So, the fourth time was the right time. Shan went and sold produce for two years, but he missed coaching every single day of his life.”

“It was one of the lowest points of my life," Garner said. "I remember following high school websites just to maintain contact with basketball. I ended up volunteer coaching at Echols County with the middle school program. At the time my son, Grant, was a sixth-grader, so it allowed me to be around the game.

I attacked my job with that age group the same way I do now: We practiced hard, and we drilled the fundamentals every day. But, I knew I needed to get back into coaching at the high school level.”

Looking to remain close to his native South Georgia, Garner accepted an assistant post at Tift County High School in 2014 working with the varsity girls program. In two seasons there, the Lady Devils won an impressive 36 games. Elsewhere though, Pierce County was hanging out the help wanted sign for its boys program for the fourth time in five seasons.

The Garners readily applied for the PCHS job and came to the interview with their children: Grant, who was by then a rising freshman, and daughter Gabby, a rising junior. Garner was subsequently tapped for the job, and he and Maria joined the PCHS staff during

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post-planning of 2015-16. In addition to teaching Spanish at PCHS, Maria, known affectionately as “Mama G,” also handles most of the operational details for her husband’s team.

“Mama G is the backbone of my program,” Garner said. “She handles so many things from paperwork to coordinating meals to being a mother figure to my players. She keeps my scorebook and has a shoulder for me when things don’t go my way. My most vivid highlights revolve around the fact that my wife and kids have been in almost every picture, holding up every trophy or plaque.”

Twenty-eight of Garner’s former players have already gone on to play college hoops. One of those is Keira Peak, a standout at the University of Arkansas, who later played professionally. Maria recalled a moment at Lowndes, several years back, that underscores the relationships her family has forged with players through the years.

“From the beginning I knew — especially after having children — that I had to be all in. Otherwise, I was never going to see Shan,” she said. “So from the time the kids were old enough to sit, I either drove to the games, or we hopped on the bus. We played Redan one year when Shan had Kiera, and they (Redan) wound up being state champions. Gabby and Grant went with us, and they were at the back of the bus after the game. There was Kiera, holding both of my kids and all three of them crying because we just lost the game. It’s got to be not just a program, but a family.”

Authoring a true basketball culture in Bearville, the Garners have witnessed the most wins in a season (18) for the boys team since 2002. That year PCHS won 16 regular season games en route to a Final Four berth.

Highlights in 2018 included a regular season sweep over perennial region rival Brantley County, which PCHS had not beaten in several seasons.

“To see their smiles after a win, especially against teams that have owned them for so long, are among the biggest rewards I could ever ask for,” Garner said.

“These young men have put in the hours working on skill development and social and academic development. Their attitudes have improved, most of their classroom behaviors have improved, and they have started carrying themselves with a sense of pride. Once you get a group of kids hungry and believing, the rest kind of works itself out.”

Assisted by John Phillips and Shannon Batten, Garner employs a strategy predicated on defense and rebounding. This year’s team, he said, has worked a lot off the dribble due to their ball-handling abilities. Consequently, the Bears have utilized more screens, back cuts, and what Garner calls “station-to-station” basketball than in the past. Now Garner has eyes on a bright future for PCHS hoops.

“We have seven major contributors coming back with an outstanding core of young players moving up,” he said. “We have spent many weeks ranked in the Top 10 this season, and that is a testament to work. My vision for the program is to become a perennial region and state playoff contender.

If these guys will continue to work in the offseason like they have the past two years, we’ll be fun to watch.”

In The Game | 15

WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GATORS STILL ON MARK Written by: Shawn Smoak | Photography courtesy of Ware County High School

The Ware County Rifle team is off and running to defend their 2017 state title. Coach Maurice England has the gators firing on all cylinders as they continue to dominate the competition in 2018.

The Gator squad had to replace senior Kimberly Nettles from last season as she’s gone on to shoot collegiately for the University of North Georgia, but the young Gators have stepped up and kept right on winning. Ben Smith Jr., Laci Jewell, Tyler Hanson, and Bryce Young lead the way this season. This group of three sophomores and one freshman, Jewell, have led the Gators in almost every match.

The win streak for the regular season at last count was 76 matches in a row. This season has brought new records to the team as well. In the opening match of the season against Bradwell Institute, the Gators shot a team record best score of 1,177. Oh, by the way, that just happened to be the best score by any team in the state of Georgia. Shooting their personal bests that day were Smith (297), Jewell (296), and Hanson (295) with Young posting a (289) for the record-breaking score.

The top three have qualified individually for the state championship. This should be an exciting finish to 2018 to see if the young guns can hoist another state title cup.

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Catch all the action of Ware County Gator Baseball with legendary Gator Coach James Conoloy and In the Game SEGA Publisher Shawn Smoak as they bring you all the action “LIVE”on inthegameradio.com.

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PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

PIERCE COUNTY BASEBALL WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS FOR SUCCESSFUL 2017 SEASON

P

Written by: Jaron Raulerson | Photo courtesy of Chandler Watson

Andrew Evans, current head coach of the Pierce County boys baseball team, was recently named Class 3A GHSA Coach of the Year by the Georgia Dugout Club for the 2016-17 season after a successful season leading Pierce County all the way to the state Class 3A state championship game. The Bears had a final record of 28-10 in an outstanding season under Evans. Pierce County earned numerous awards for their success and hard work throughout the season, including Coach of the Year (Evans), Player of the Year (Stetson Bennett), and Nicest Field of the Year. Evans, a well-respected coach in the community, didn’t have many words to say for the awards he received other than to give credit to everyone around him.

“It feels good for all the work to pay off, but the boys and assistant coaches (Jacob Evors and Tyler Rogers) did it; they make it easier for me to do my job,” he said.

Evans came to the Bears in the transition year from 2A to 3A GHSA Baseball. Since joining the team in 2013 as an assistant coach, the team has won three region championships, made two appearances in the Elite 8, and finished in the Top 10 state rankings in three out of his first four years with the team, while also appearing in the state playoffs every year.

Before Evans became the head coach of the Pierce County boys baseball team, he was a smart, talented young man from Milledgeville, Georgia, where he graduated from Baldwin County High School. He earned AllState honors his senior season while hitting .524 for the Braves. After high school, Evans continued his studies and baseball career at Georgia College and State University. Before graduating from GCSU, Evans received his Master of Arts in Teaching in kinesiology as well as

a Bachelor of Science in exercise science. Evans spent a great deal of his baseball career as a designated hitter, which allowed him to learn and understand baseball from the hitter's side of the game. As a senior in college, Evans helped lead the Bobcats to a Southeast Regional Title in 2010, and his team made an appearance in the Division II College World Series, where the team finished third in the NCAA Division II and broke multiple NCAA offensive records to cap off his collegiate career.

Pierce County’s goals in order to make a run for the title this season will be to keep their home field advantage even stronger than last year, where they finished with a 17-1 record at home, and to also improve their record on the road, where they went a combined 7-6. Now that Evans is in his sixth season with Pierce County and second as the head coach, Evans and the boys will look to finally bring the GHSA Class 3A state championship trophy to Pierce County High School.

BACON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

EXPERIENCE ON THE PITCH Written by: Rob Asbell

The Bacon County Lady Raiders soccer program may be in just its third year of existence, but what the team has learned in those few short years might make the difference this season.

“Our strength this year will definitely be experience,” Ryan Morgan, head girls soccer coach, said. “That sounds crazy from a three-year-old program, but all of our returners saw significant playing time last year, and that will be big for us.”

After winning just one game in 2017, Bacon County is hoping to see more victories this season. Most of the ladies playing this year suffered through the 1-14-1

season last year and remember that they were close in many of those losses. Now, they are ready to take the next step.

Senior goalkeeper Taylor Tomberlin returns this season after a strong inaugural year in-goal.

“She finished Top 25 in the state out of all-classifications last year in saves,” Morgan said.

The Lady Raiders are led this year by senior captains Page Martin and Brittany Dudley.

“Page is a defender/ mid-field hybrid player, and Brittany is a forward,” Morgan said. “They both work extremely hard on and off the field.”

Bacon County also returns defender Ashlyn Martin, who

| Photography by: Debra Tanner

provides leadership on the defensive end of the pitch.

Up and coming junior Sarah Johnson, who showed her abilities last season on corner-kicks, is back in form for coach Morgan.

“One big loss we will have is Cheyenne Taylor,” he said. “She was a captain for us last year and is a tremendous athlete. She tore her ACL earlier in the year, which now makes two ACL surgeries for her. So, now she will wear an assistant coach’s hat and help out in that capacity.”

Region 2A is made up of Vidalia and Toombs County, who are always strong along with St. Vincent's of Savannah, Bryan County, Metter, Jeff Davis County, and Swainsboro.

The Lady Raiders opened in early February as they hosted Appling County’s Lady Pirates. After a trip to Mt. Vernon to face Montgomery County, the region schedule opened against annual powerhouse Toombs County. A visit from Vidalia and then a trip to Waycross to play the Lady Gators followed.

Playing in such a tough region, the Raiders scheduled difficult non-region opponents to help them prepare for Region 2A opponents. Playing larger schools with established soccer teams such as Ware County puts Bacon County's soccer team to the test and helps strengthen the Lady Raiders program.

Bacon County does not have organized recreational league soccer, so many in the Alma area have never been exposed to the game. For many of the Bacon County players, high school is their first time playing on a team.

Still, the outlook is positive in Alma this year. Experience is the key for the Bacon County Lady Raiders soccer team.

“I’m very excited about this season because of what we have coming back,” Morgan said. “We are loaded with kids who saw significant playing time last season.”

Bacon County Girl’s Soccer Schedule 2018 2/6 - Appling County 2/9 - at Montgomery County 2/13 - Toombs County* 2/20 - Vidalia* 2/23 - at Ware County 2/27 - Jeff Davis County* 3/1 - at Swainsboro* 3/3 - Claxton 3/6 - at Toombs County* 3/8 - Metter* 3/13 - at Vidalia* 3/20 - at Jeff Davis County* 3/23 - at Brantley County 3/29 - at Bryan County* 4/5 - St. Vincent’s*

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Building for the Future Written by: W. John Wood Photography by: Jeffrey Griffith

In Jesup, Arthur Wil- sports,” McBride said. “I am liams Middle School a team player, hard workeighth-grader Demetri- er, and very competitive in us McBride knew that he whatever sports I particihad a shared passion for pate in. My mother makes sports since the first time sure that we stay active in he strapped a pair of vinyl sports and academics.” flags around his 4-yearMcBride’s favorite sport old body. Not long after is football, but he has startMcBride ed to retook his ally enjoy first snap basketof orgaball ben i z e d cause of flag foothow his ball, he brother started to started learn the to under— Demetrius McBride calendar stand the ended game. in seasons rather than That deeper understandmonths. McBride added ing created a desire not basketball, baseball, and just to play the game at track to complete the year- face value, but to become round season. a student of the game.

“I’m 13, and I love “I developed the love sports with a passion," Mc- for basketball in the fifth Bride said. "I have been grade when my brother playing since the age of 4 and his friend taught me when I started playing or- how to be a team player by ganized sports.” passing the ball and playEarly passion helped ing defense,” McBride said. fuel part of McBride’s love “I became a student of the for sports, but he also had game my sixth-grade year. visible role models in his I was the only sixth-grader two older brothers, Ant- to make the team, and I won and Jakhoi, along with got playing time. I learned their mother, Pamela Full- that school ball was differmore. McBride’s mother ent from recreation ball.” not only wanted her boys McBride’s determinato achieve on the field, but tion and hard work on and also off of it. off the court have not gone “Antwon and Jakhoi unnoticed by his teamalso have a passion for mates and his coaches.

“I’m 13, and I love sports with a PASSION."

22 | itgnext.com

coached. I am looking forward to “Demetrius is a hard worker coaching him next year for freshwith loads of character,” Jamie man football as long as they do Knight, basketball coach, said. not pull him to play varsity, which “He brings more passion to the is a high possigame than most even at a eighth-graders “He brings more bility, 5A school syshis age. I have tem.” had the privipassion to the McBride lege to see him game than most recalls making grow and devel8th graders his the team as a op over the past sixth-grader three years into age. I have had and winning a a triple threat the privilege to championship. athlete that can compete see him grow and But this past season, the with the best of develop over the AWMS football the best at any team finished sport.” past three years ndefeated.

The work into a triple threat uMcBride’s asMcBride has cent into high put in is not just athlete that can next seasport specific, compete with the school son is coming at which has made best of the best at the perfect time. him an overall Wayne County better athlete any sport.” has turned into and will be one — Jamie Knight. an offensive of the things power with firstthat will guide year head coach Ken Cribb’s him to stronger success at the spread offense. On both sides of next level. the ball, the Yellow Jackets have “His enthusiastic attitude and created a fast pace of play that work ethic rub off on his teamtakes advantage of the athletimates and push them to be cism of players like McBride. To better,” Knight said. “He is the maximize the potential of Cribb’s most versatile player I have ever

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system, being a multi-sport athlete is a great asset.

“Besides playing football, I also participate in FBU, Football University,” he said. “I get great coaching, and I also have a chance see how my skills measure up against some of the best players around in my age group and older.”

Purple may not be McBride’s favorite color, but it is definitely the color of his favorite teams, the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings and the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

McBride’s goal in high school is to continue to put Jesup on the map, hopefully play in college, and make it to the NFL. His favorite subject is math, and he is

studying just as hard to be an engineer some day. Away from the field he likes to read and hang out with his friends.

“My goals for the future are making it to be state champion and get a full scholarship for college by buckling down with my studies and improving my grades — making it to the NFL and getting a degree in engineering and making my family proud," he said. "I would also like to thank Coach Knight for being an awesome coach and for helping me improve on and off the court.”

3 WAYS TO STAY HYDRATED

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1. 2. 3.

KEEP A WATER BOTTLE WITH YOU

EAT WATER-RICH FOODS

CHECK THE COLOR

An easy way to stay hydrated is to always keep a water bottle with you. This is a neat way to trick your mind into drinking more water throughout the day.

It also helps keep your skin clear.

Vegetables, fruits, and yogurts are rich in water, which helps keep you hydrated. You will notice that you are going to the bathroom more frequently, flushing out all of the toxins that are inside of you.

Check the color of your urine to test your hydration levels. You typically want the color to fall between a clear or light yellow color. If your urine tends to be a darker color, that is a clear sign that you are dehydrated and that it is time to start sipping on some water.

In The Game | 25

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Step Into the Written by: Rob Asbell

The Strike Zone, Glynn County’s only family fun center, has taken the next step in entertainment with the VR Zone, the Golden Isles' premier virtual reality arcade. It’s the newest experience in fun, an entire area dedicated to virtual reality games that put you in new worlds and situations.

“You put on the goggles, and you are part of the game,” said Michael Brinson, general manager of The Strike Zone in Brunswick.

Become virtually unstoppable on your next family night out. In the VR Zone, you can play solo or as a group in games that range from defending your home against zombies to games that test your thinking and motor skills.

“You see the world you are in," Brinson said. "If you are in the dessert, you see the dessert. If you are in the forest, you see the forest."

And of course, there is also what The Strike Zone is famous for: the best bowling experience around. From beginners to league regulars, they can accommodate any type of bowler. The Strike Zone offers fun for people of all ages, from grade schoolers to grandparents, and weather is never a factor in the environmentally controlled play areas. An amazing bowling experience awaits with state-of-the-art equipment and features like the Quibica-AMF BES X system with upgraded graphics and scoring systems.

"It's linkable to Facebook," Brinson said. "It will show videos of you and the people on your lane. It's a lot of fun."

The system also has several different games for bowlers to play.

Each of the 28 bowling lanes has its own seating area where you can relax or just sit back and enjoy the action. It’s clean, family-friendly, and non-smoking. The Strike Zone is a great place to have fun with family and friends at prices that won’t break your budget.

"We are trying to drive families back to doing things together," Brinson said.

The Strike Zone is also home to "Rock-n-Bowl" on Friday and Saturday nights, featuring black lights and music videos. Sold in three-hour blocks from 6 p.m. until 1 a.m., Rock-n-Bowl is still kid friendly until10 p.m.

The cost is just $5 per game or $14 for unlimited bowling, including shoe rental.

The Strike Zone is open Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.,

"We are trying to drive families back to doing things together."

— Michael Brinson Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 a.m., and Sundays from noon to 10 p.m. Mondays are all you can bowl for $10 per person from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., shoes included.

The Strike Zone is the place to play and create the perfect party for any occasion.

The can also accommodate business meetings. Whether it’s kid-friendly or office-approved, every visit is a special occasion. There is league bowling including youth leagues on Saturday mornings and the new VR Zone with its virtual reality games.

If you are a student or staff at any of the local colleges, bring in your ID and get two free games Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all day Sunday.

The Strike Zone has something for everyone — from amateur to pros, kids to grown ups — and is located at 380 Millennium Boulevard in Brunswick off of Exit 38 at I-95. Call 912-265-6600 or reserve your lane online at www.tgistrikezone. com. You can also like them on Facebook.

In The Game | 27

SEGA Teams Claim Wrestling Titles Written by: Rob Asbell | Photos provided by Camden HS and Richmond Hill HS

The epicenter of Georgia high school wrestling has relocated to Southeast Georgia as the duals championships for the state’s two highest classifications — 7A and 6A — have been claimed by area teams.

While Camden County’s fourth straight championship came as no surprise, Richmond Hill’s 6A title was unexpected after last year.

“Our third-place finish last year was the motivation for preparation this season,” Robert Parker, Richmond Hill head wrestling coach, said.

“We wanted to be sure we didn't come up two points short. I am truly glad that Richmond Hill

28 | itgnext.com

allowed me to be a part of this team and this championship.”

The Wildcats of Richmond Hill captured their title at the Macon Metroplex in January, defeating defending champion Alexander High School in a close match 37-26.

“It was a great moment for our team and our school,” Parker said. “It was a tribute to my assistants and my kids. My assistant, Bill Evans, has really been preparing our team for this for a year.

Our kids went into the tournament on a mission.”

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Coincidentally, it was Alexander who beat the Wildcats by two points last year.

This year, the first three rounds saw Richmond Hill win big over Chattahoochee 67-9. Then, the Wildcats defeated Lee County 66-6 and Creekview 40-12 before winning the final dual against Alexander by just 11 points.

It was Richmond Hill’s second appearance in the state duals tournament, their initial appearance coming last year.

Winners included Kaleb Anderson at 106 pounds, Michael Allen at 113, Bailey Anderson at 120, Jakeem Littles at 152, Kevin Murray at 182, Taylor Wilson at 195, William Renshaw at 220, and Skyler Aguilar at 285.

“Jakeem Littles, our 152,

started things off for us with a big win,” Parker said. “Our 182, Kevin Murry, started a string of eight straight wins that locked it up.”

Wilson, Renshaw, Aguilar, Kaleb Anderson, Allen, and Bailey Anderson all won back to back.

“Bailey Anderson's win was very costly,” Parker said.

“We found out (three days later) he had torn his ACL during the match."

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den has won the past four duals championships and the last three state traditionals going into this year’s tournament.

In the 2018 duals, the Wildcats went into the 16-team tournament and downed West Forsyth 6312, Hillgrove 63-7, and Collins Hill 56-12 in the preliminaries as the No. 1 seed. In the finals, Camden had to face Archer

High School and got a dominating 47-13 win for the state 7A title.

“It was the first time competing in the state championship match for nine of the 14 starters, so it was very challenging and exciting to have it work out for them,” Jess Wilder, Camden wrestling coach, said. “It's not very often where you feel like everyone in the lineup

maximized their potential, and that's pretty much what happened.”

Wilder has built a strong wrestling program at Camden that continues to dominate in Georgia wrestling, having won five state duals titles since 2012.

This year, Hunter Malson at 170 pounds had a big come-from-behind win to slam the door

shut on Archer while the team’s three individual state champs from 2017 — Brandon Orum, Nicholas Krug, and Tyler Crew — continued to win and dominate.

The Camden Wildcats and Richmond Hill Wildcats will continue preparing for February’s state traditionals.

“We hope to win another team title, but this is more about 14 individuals trying to win an individual championship, which is very challenging,” Wilder said. “I just want the wrestlers to do their very best and have no regrets.”

Top NCAA Wrestlers

NCAA Dual Rankings

Name

Rank School W-L

Nathan Tomasello Seth Gross

Anthony Ashnault Zain Retherford Jason Nolf Isaiah Martinez Mark Hall Bo Nickal Kollin Moore Kyle Snyder

WT Class School

125 133 141 149 157 165 174 184 197 285

Ohio State South Dakota State Rutgers Penn State Penn State Illinois Penn State Penn State Ohio State Ohio State

#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10

Penn State Ohio State Michigan Oklahoma State Missouri Lehigh Arizona State North Carolina State Iowa Virginia Tech

76 - 0 75 - 1 74 - 2 72 - 4 72 - 4 70 - 6 70 - 6 69 - 7 68 - 8 66 - 10 In The Game | 31

Wrestling with Class and Character Written by: Evan Smoak Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

What does it take to wrestle? No, not the backyard rustle and tussle between friends and family. The brutal sport where you and another wrestler are placed on a mat and have to fight it out for as long as six minutes, the whole time working to find leverage and position to best your opponent. It takes a lot of willpower to wrestle, and no one shows it better than Ware County High School senior Brandon Foster.

Foster was In the Game Southeast Georgia’s rising star back in the January 2014 issue when he was an eighth-grader and had just begun his wrestling career the year before. He helped Ware Middle capture one of their many conference championships. Now as a high school senior, he boasts a 60-4 record, with 23 of these wins being pins, as he wrestles in the 113-pound weight class. He just recently won the region’s traditional championship for the 113-pound weight class and second place

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“He has been the hardest working and most dedicated athlete that I have ever coached.”

— Joe Eichfeld at the sectionals meet for 5A Section A. Foster will compete at the Macon Centreplex for the state traditional championship.

You can ask 10 people about Foster and get 10 glowing reviews, all positive. He’s the kind of kid you want to coach, the kind of kid you want your child to be around. Just ask his coach or the father of one of his teammates.

“He has been the hardest working and most dedicated athlete that I have ever coached,” Joe Eichfeld, Ware County wrestling coach, said. “His passion for the sport of wrestling is tremendous, and I will miss him greatly after this season.”

Foster's neighbor, Bruce Tison, recalled the first time he ever took Foster hunting. Foster had never shot a gun, so Tison decided to take him to the range to practice. After putting two shots back

to back in the bullseye, Tison felt he was ready for the woods. On his first trip after only hours in the stand, a deer stepped out in front of Foster, and he dropped it in its tracks. It was a proud moment for both teacher and student, but it’s unclear who had the bigger smile.

Family means a lot to Foster. When asked who inspires him, he didn't hesitate to talk about his brother, William Foster.

William still holds the 5K record for the Gator cross country team. He was a great student in the classroom and was a positive role model for Foster growing up. His mom, Shiela Foster, recalled the first time Foster told her he wanted to wrestle.

His mother knew little to nothing about the sport, but drew strength from some of her favorite scriptures that she often shared with her kids — I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me: Philippians 4:13. Her message to her children has always been, “Keep God first and remember he always has a plan for you.”

When he is not wrestling in the winter, Foster runs cross country and is a two-time state qualifier for the Gators. In the spring he takes his talents to the pitch, playing defense for the varsity soccer team. Foster is not only an all-star in the sports arena; he’s an honor student who’s a member of the DECA club and the Beta club at Ware County High School.

To further showcase the type of character and talent Foster possess, Eichfeld opened the door for a future job.

“I only hope that if he wishes to coach in his future that he would consider coming back to Ware County, as there will always be a place for him here,” Eichfeld said.

“He is a true leader and an excellent role model.”

In The Game | 33

Mr. Clutch on the Court Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson

It takes hard work and talent to excel as both a student and an athlete. For Brunswick High School senior point guard Marcus Scott V, it also takes planning and preparation.

“To improve myself on the court, I have stayed in the gym and put up countless shots,” he said. “To improve myself in the classroom, I made up a study schedule.”

Pirate fans are accustomed to seeing Scott score points on the basketball court. He is also a high honor roll student who was chosen as one of the few students to be named to Georgia’s Superintendent Advisory Council.

The son of Marcus Scott IV, the younger Scott holds down a solid 3.7 GPA in the classroom. His favorite class is Advanced Placement Literature. He is a member of Brunswick High’s Key Club, Student Council, Beta Club, and the National Honor Society.

“My college plans are to attend a four-year university on a basketball scholarship and get my doctoral degree,” he said.

He wants to play professional basketball but will major in education.

“Good grades will help a player on the court because it proves that you can multitask,” Scott said. “Also, good grades will help in certain situations on the court where the clock is running down, which causes you to think critically fast and to be aware of time management.”

Scott is confident that his hard work and dedication on the court and in the classroom will pay off with a college scholarship. Brunswick economics teacher Pam Griner has had a major impact on Scott by teaching

34 | itgnext.com

Don’t be an Amateur when the game is on the line CALL A PROFESSIONAL 1701-B Boulevard Square, Waycross 912-809-3572 cjeffers@southeasterncu.com

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him the importance of finding a great budget and being smart about everything he does in college and dealing with finances.

“He has a quiet but strong presence in the classroom,” Griner said. “Marcus places just as much focus on his academics as he does basketball. His strong work ethic is evident in his attendance, his course work, and his classroom participation.”

He is not the tallest or biggest player on the court, but his ball-handling and shooting skills keep the 5’8", 150-pound point guard ahead of his opponents.

“Marcus is a scoring point guard that can shoot the eyes out,” Chris Turner, Brunswick head basketball coach, said. “He is a hard

36 | itgnext.com

worker in the classroom and weight room. He is a clutch scorer and free throw shooter, especially late in games.”

Scott wears the No. 23 jersey, not because of an affinity for NBA legend Michael Jordan, but because of his father.

“It was a number my father picked for me, and ever since I continued to wear this number,” Scott said.

He credited his father for motivating him to be great and pushing him to his limits to make him stronger.

Scott has the ability to get into the teeth of a defense and can make pull up jumpers. He is an excellent shooter from the three and especially from the free throw line.

“He’s the kid you want taking the last shot,” Turner said. “He is quick and strong with an impressive vertical leap.”

Scott started playing organized basketball in the recreation leagues and continued until middle school. In seventh grade he played for Midway Middle School, where the Panthers went undefeated. He moved to Lewis Frazier Middle School in eighth grade and

averaged 20 points per game. As a freshman, he was part of the Jenkins High School Warriors team in Savannah that won a two-point state championship victory on a buzzer-beater over Morgan County.

“In my sophomore year in high school I transferred to Brunswick High School and learned Coach Turner’s system," he said. "I averaged 10 points per game.”

In his junior year he came on strong for the Pirates and made several clutch shots to help lead the team to last year’s state championship game. In a quarterfinal game against the Dacula Falcons, Scott hit the game winner to send the Pirates to the Final Four.

“What made this moment so huge for me was that I was a little off the entire game in terms of scoring, but for me to hit that shot after being off was a relief,”

he said.

He was also 14 of 14 from the free throw line in the Final Four.

During his high school career, Scott won the 3-point championship at the Savannah Holiday tournament, was Second Team All-Region, First Team All Tournament Savannah, First Team All Tournament Tift County, and Preseason Region Player of the Year.

“I believe I improved in confidence through the sport of basketball because of all the hours I have put into the gym by myself,” Scott said. “My favorite part of playing the game is hearing the ball go through the net and winning.”

Each time he takes to the court he is thinking about the game at hand and the thrill of an impending victory.

“I think about my strategies that will help my team and I win,” he said.

Coaches are confident that Scott will play in college, not only because of his skills on the court but because he is an outstanding student.

“This is a high character kid with a bright future,” Turner said. “I call him ‘The Iceman’ because he is Mr. Clutch.”

38 | itgnext.com

In The Game | 39

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