Southeast Georgia February 2017 Edition

Building Champions

Lemetrice Ray Wayne County

Trailblazers Tristen Music & Madison Pickett Pierce County Middle School

Lady Gators Going Strong This Season

Ware County High School

Bright & Bold, Green & Gold Cole White and Britton Jones Ware County High School

Finishing where he started, Stewart leads Bacon County Trae Stewart Bacon County

The Game of His Life GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

$4.00 / Issue

IN THE

February 2017

Durand Green Glynn Academy

Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab 2004 Pioneer St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-284-2410 phone 912-284-2386 fax

Neurology 1921 Alice St., Suite B4 Waycross, GA 31501 912-285-5690 phone 912-285-1753 fax

Primary Care 1921 Alice St., Suite B4 Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-0722 phone 912-490-7227 fax

Cardiology 2004 Pioneer St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-284-2460 phone 912-284-2389 fax

Obstetrics & Gynecology 505 City Blvd.

Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-2229 phone 912-490-9023 fax

Pulmonary Medicine 2005 Pioneer St., Suite C Waycross, GA 31501 912-338-9704 phone 912-338-9758 fax

Express Care 1921 Alice St., Suite A4 Waycross, GA 31501 912-283-5616 phone 912-287-0788 fax

Occupational Medicine 1921 Alice St., Suite A3 Waycross, GA 31501 912-283-3136 phone 912-287-0788 fax

Radiation Oncology 1451 Church St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-9729 phone 912-283-7337 fax

Family Psychiatry 1707-A Boulevard Sq. Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-0078 phone 912-490-0083 fax

Ophthalmology & Optometry 413 Lister St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-0041 phone 912-490-0042 fax

Satilla Advocacy Services 1908 Tebeau St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-285-7355 phone 912-283-4570 fax

Hematology/Oncology 1706 Alice St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-490-4673 phone 912-490-4674 fax

Orthopedics 305 Pineview Dr. Waycross, GA 31501 912-283-8444 phone 912-283-7132 fax

Satilla Care Center 1600 Riverside Ave. Waycross, GA 31501 912-283-1182 phone 912-285-1554 fax

Multi-specialty Physician Office 316 South Shirley Ave. Douglas, GA 31533 912-383-0815 phone 912-383-0826 fax

Outpatient Laboratory 1921 Alice St., Suite A2 Waycross, GA 31501 912-284-2335 phone 912-283-8788 fax

Surgery (General & Vascular) 1908 Alice St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-338-6010 phone 912-287-2796 fax

111 Colonial Way Jesup, GA 31545 912-810-6296 phone 912-810-5329 fax

Pierce County Nursing Home 221 Carter Ave. Blackshear, GA 31516 912-449-6631 phone 912-449-2640 fax

Hospital 1900 Tebeau St. Waycross, GA 31501 912-283-3030 main

4 | itgsportsnetwork.com

IN THIS ISSUE

18

Building Champions

24

Lady Gators Going Strong This Season

Lemetrice Ray Wayne County High School

Ware County High School

8

The Game of His Life Durand Green Glynn Academy

12

Trailblazers

Tristen Music & Madison Pickett Pierce County Middle School

17

ALSO:

Bears Welcome New Football Coach Pierce County High School

23

Sphire bringings the Air Raid to Camden County Camden County High School

25 Bacon County’s One-Man Team Bacon County High School

27 Coach Eichfeld Recognizes Wrestlers

28

Finishing where he started, Stewart leads Bacon County Trae Stewart Bacon County

32

Bright & Bold, Green & Gold Cole White and Britton Jones Ware County High School

Ware County High School

36 Hobbs Hopes

3rd Season's the charm for Lady Yellow Jackets Ware County High School

In The Game | 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

It’s February in SEGA, and that means one thing: it’s tournament time for winter sports. On the hardwood all over the state, there are boys and girls region basketball tournaments kicking off as teams battle for region titles, and more importantly, their seeding as the enter the state tournament. Last year, Liberty County’s boys were crowned the kings of AAAA, and the year before that it was Brunswick High School’s boys winning it all in the state’s highest classification. Who will be next?

On the mat, wrestlers all over the state converge on the Macon Centreplex to battle it out for state supremacy in traditional.

Camden County, under Coach Jess Wilder, has continued its dominance this season after having five individual state title winners last season, along with back-to-back Team Traditional State Titles. Ware County had another strong season under Coach Joe Eichfeld, sending 11 qualifiers to compete for the 2017 titles. It should be a great finish to winter sports with spring just around the corner.

When you are a little kid shooting hoops in the backyard or down at the playground, you visualize having that big game where you just go off and light up the basket like a Christmas tree. Glynn Academy’s Durand Green had that dream come true against his cross-town rival, putting up 39 points, including 10 three-pointers. He’s not a oneact play though; Durand has had an outstanding senior season, averaging over 19 points per game and almost eight assists per game. Keep your eyes open; you may see Durand playing at the next level right here close to home.

6 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Two Ware County Gator seniors are our Academic Athletes for this month. Both Cole White and Britton Jones are stars on the mat and the classroom. They lead by example. On the mat, their work ethic has paid off as both Cole and Britton have qualified for the State Traditional Tournament. In the classroom, their study habits have proven valuable as they carry a 3.8 and a 3.3 GPA respectively and have both qualified for college with SAT scores over 1100. If wrestling at the next level for either Cole or Britton is a part of their future, the program or programs that sign these young men will be better because of it.

Three-sport star Trae Stewart has become one of coach J.P. Bergeron’s go-to players on the Bacon County basketball team.

An accomplished triple-jump track athlete and a touchdown-scoring kick returner on the gridiron, Trae’s favorite of the three is basketball. Making the return move to his native Alma from Cedar Shoals High School in his sophomore year opened the opportunities to compete in multiple sports, and Trae has excelled on the court under Coach Bergeron. It’s great to see Trae make the best of all his opportunities.

They say “patience is a virtue,” and after honing his craft at the side of some of the best in the state of Georgia, Lemetrice Ray’s patience has paid off. The new Wayne County boy’s basketball coach now has his chance at the helm of the Yellow Jacket’s program. His philosophy is to build champion young men first, who are judged by what they do in the classroom before what they do in the gym. Sounds like Coach Ray appreciates the STUDENT-athlete to me. That’s my kind of coach!

Call it pioneering, groundbreaking, or trend setting, but the Pierce County Middle School

is at the forefront of female wrestlers. In the male dominated sport, Pierce County Middle School has not one, but two, female wrestlers. Tristen Music, an eight grader, and Madison Pickett, a seventh grader, are opening eyes and turning heads at mats all over SEGA. Tristen broke the gender barrier last season and Madison followed suit this season. The girls are not there to be placeholders for the team; both girls are very competitive and compete for wins every time they step on the mat. Tristen finished second at this year’s Bulldog Brawl in the 138-weight class, beating a host of male competitors.

We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. We would like to thank our friends at the Georgia High School Football Historians Association (ghsfha.org) for their assistance. We are always open to suggestions, story ideas, or ways you think we can improve our magazine.

Please visit our website at www. inthegamesportsnetwork.com and Facebook at www.facebook. com/inthegamenation. Follow us on Twitter @SEGAInTheGame and on Instagram at inthegamesega. You can now keep up with all the scores across SEGA and the state with our new partner app, Scorestream. Download the Scorestream app at Google Play or the Appstore today. Join us every Thursday evening live from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. as we broadcast live from Firehouse Subs in Waycross. Listen to “In the Game on Radio” on WWUF 97.7 FM or stream the show live on www.waycrossradio. com. 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@itgsportsnetwork.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 Michael Brinson Feature Photography Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Jeffery Griffith Feature Writers John DuPont Rob Asbell John Wood Copy Editor Cole Parker

Anna Limoges

Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Cole Parker 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 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.

The Game of His

LIFE Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson

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Facing their cross-town rival on the court for the second time this season, Glynn Academy sought redemption for an earlier defeat at the hands of the Brunswick High Pirates. Durand Green, the Terrors’ senior point guard, knew that for his team to win the game he would have to step up and take control.

He pumped in 10 3-pointers, including an individual run of 12 consecutive points, and confounded the Pirates defense to the tune of 39 points, giving the Terrors the win and putting them squarely into contention for a home court advantage in the region tournament. In short, Green took the court and played the game of his life.

When I walk on the court, I feel invincible. I feel like I could go for 40 every night.

– Durand Green

“When I walk on the court, I feel invincible,” Green said, still riding high following the 71-63 victory, the seventh consecutive win for Glynn Academy. “I feel like I could go for 40 every night.”

Standing just under 6 feet tall, Green has speed and ball handling skills that are among the best in the state. More

than just an ordinary point guard, he is a combination point guard/shooting guard that can score from anywhere on the floor, although he is especially dangerous from outside the 3-point line. As the season came to a close, Green led the Terrors with 19.2 points and 7.8 assists per game.

presented by

In The Game | 9

Durand is definitely the leader of our team. He is a quiet leader that does it by example.

— Terrance Haywood, coach

On film you can see him bring the ball up court, dribble between his legs, pull up at the top of the key, and strike from 3-point range. Defensively, he can steal the ball and get it back in play quickly. He has a keen eye on the floor and can score or hit an open man with ease. He is also a highly coachable player and takes direction well.

10 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“He watches a great deal of film on himself and opposing teams to consistently try to get better or get an edge on the next team that we are facing,” said Terrance Haywood, first year Glynn Academy basketball coach.

Haywood became impressed with Green even before he took the GA job last spring.

The coach traveled to Brunswick to work with the players after school three days a week. His intention was to build relationships with the players before he arrived on campus full time in the fall.

“Durand never missed a workout,” Haywood said. “He is the returning leading scorer from last year’s team, and he made every voluntary offseason workout. That says a lot about the type of young man he is.”

Green is one of only three seniors playing for the Terrors this season.

Along with fellow senior Dominique Walker, Green serves as a team captain.

“Durand is definitely the leader of our team,” Haywood said. “He is a quiet leader that does it by example.”

Green is an intensely focused player and maintains a calm demeanor no matter the situation.

“Whether I’m yelling at him or praising him, whether he scores five or 25, whether we are up 15 in a game or down 20, his demeanor stays the same,” Haywood said.

Green picked up a basketball and learned to play at an early age.

By the time he was 6 years old, he was playing competitively in the Glynn County Recreation Department leagues. That devel-

oped into AAU ball, where he most recently played for the Golden Isles Warriors.

His play at point guard draws comparisons to his favorite player, ninetime NBA All-Star Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers. He matches the NBA star in height, and both have a knack for seeing the court and hitting long distance shots. Green is also an outstanding ball-handler, court communicator, and shooter who plays with composure.

Not surprisingly, Green still recalls hitting his first trey.

“My first 3-pointer was freshman year versus Richmond Hill,” he said.

But it was in the offseason when he accomplished another amazing feat.

“It was in a summer league game when I dunked,” Green said.

After becoming a starter his sophomore

year, Green was named the team’s MVP in his junior season when he led the team in scoring.

Several schools show interest in him, including the South Georgia State College Hawks.

He plans to play basketball at a four-year school where he can major in business.

“I definitely feel like Durand has the ability to play at the next level,” Haywood said. “He will be a steal for any school that offers him a scholarship for next year.”

For now, Haywood and the Terrors look to make a deep run in the state playoffs, and Green will be a major part of that endeavor.

“Durand is an awesome player to have on your team,” Haywood said. “I’m glad that he’s a Red Terror and I don’t have to try and stop him night in and night out.”

In The Game | 11

Trailblazers Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

They are local pioneers: two female competitors in a traditionally male-oriented sport. Tristen Music and Madison Pickett are respectively the first and second female athletes to wrestle competitively at Pierce County Middle School. Music broke the gender barrier a season ago, and her friend Pickett followed suit this past season in what seems to be a growing trend in Bearville.

12 | itgsportsnetwork.com

“Tristen and Madison are very hard workers,” PCMS wrestling head coach David Lanier said. “Tristen would go from our practice to another two-hour practice, and Madison would also go to extra workouts. Both girls always showed great sportsmanship and never complained no matter the outcome of their matches.”

Seventh grader Pickett competed in the 152-pound class in 2016-17. She notched a ledger of 6-11 during her rookie campaign, including four pins.

She brought home a second place finish at the prestigious Bulldog Tournament, which determines seeding for the conference tournament, and subsequently placed fourth at the Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference tournament.

Music wrestled at 138 pounds, crafting a 6-9 record in her second season.

The eighth-grader won four of those bouts via pin. She wrestled her way to a second place finish at the Bulldog Tournament and also earned second place honors at the conference tourney.

“Considering the way I and my older brother, daddy, and older cousins always roughhoused, I honestly didn’t think about it (being a girl),” Music said. “It didn’t faze me. I honestly treated the guys like they were my daddy. I wasn’t worried about getting hurt. I was worried about going out there and winning and not getting pinned.”

Holding her own among the girls had never been a problem for Music, a softball catcher for the conference champion PCMS Lady Bears and for the travel team Cage. She also throws shot and discus for the PCMS track team. And while she has been pursuing aspirations of a state wrestling

"I wasn’t worried about getting hurt. I was worried about going out there and winning and not getting pinned.”

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title in February’s Team USA Georgia State Championships, Music’s journey to the mat was a testament of commitment and patience. She said her parents were initially hesitant about green-lighting entry into the male-dominated sport.

“I was always worried about Tristen being hurt,” Kisha, Music’s mother, said. “We kept giving her obstacles to meet, like getting her grades up, and she kept meeting them until we ran out of things.”

“I wrestled in high school and knew what she was getting into physically,” Wayne, Music’s father, said. “It’s the toughest sport there is.

Boys are stronger than girls, and I was worried about her getting

slammed or bent the wrong way. You would think the boys would take it easy on her, but they don’t, and they often don’t realize they are in a real fight until it is too late.”

Nearly three years after her quest began, Music’s parents finally caved to her wishes. She worked hard to shed 15 pounds for competition at the 138-pound weight class. In her first match, she lost to a male wrestler from Coffee. Since then, she has become a force to be reckoned with. Earlier this year, she squared off against another female wrestler, whom she dispatched within a mere 11 seconds. Music acknowledged the contributions of PCHS head coach

Brandon Jernigan, PCMS assistant Terry Tarr, and noted area guru Rico Gilbert in helping her become a proficient wrestler.

“Almost all of my pins except for a few have been from the crossface cradle,” Music said.

“It seems to work. And when I get choice of position, I tend to pick neutral. That’s because when it comes down to the last few minutes, if they are going to be stronger than me, I’m not going to be able to get off the bottom.”

Like Music, Pickett previously earned her stripes as a rough-andtumble softball catcher, starring for PCMS and on the travel diamond with Southern Panic.

Though a year behind Music, Pickett wanted

"You would think the boys would take it easy on her, but they don’t, and they often don’t realize they are in a real fight until it is too late.”

– Wayne Music

14 | itgsportsnetwork.com

to join her teammate on the mat during the breakthrough campaign of 2015-16. However, the chore of convincing her parents also took priority.

“Madison and Tristen were both going to try after softball last year,” said Stephanie, Pickett’s mother. “I didn’t want her to. But this year after Tristen did it, we let Madison do it.”

“Madison is very strong and athletic,” Stephan, Pickett’s father, said. “She is the strongest girl in the school. The very first match she got her first pin, so it was pretty exciting. When she comes out to wrestle, she wakes up the whole gym.”

With dreams of her own to cultivate, Pickett actually started out as scorekeeper for the varsity. That role afforded her the chance to watch her brother, Cameron Woodell, in action. She also got used to having her dad matside.

Stephan Pickett assisted coach Jernigan with the high school team, but stepped down to work with the middle school this year “When I grew up, I knew I wanted to wrestle,” Pickett said. “Last year I wanted to, but I got a little scared. Softball has always been my main sport, since I was 7 or 8, and it still is.

Last year I decided I was

going to wrestle, and my dad said my weight class was the hardest weight class. We were able to wrestle in the living room, and Cameron would teach me a move every day. During the season my dad and I would go to the gym and work on moves.”

Her self-professed signature move is the “cowboy,” one not part of the regular inventory of moves taught at PCMS. But it came naturally for the 5’5” Pickett, whereby she became adept at taking opponents to the mat from a standing position.

She also relied upon a stern diet to get down from 160 pounds to the 152-pound weight class, a feat she attributes to her mom’s healthy offerings of meat and vegetables.

As January gave way to February, both girls wrapped the 2016-17 campaigns, and each had already begun to focus on softball. However, both grapplers say they look forward to continuing their wrestling careers. Each understands her role as a pioneer and stands willing to encourage the next girl who wants to pursue dreams of wrestling.

“I would tell that girl not to give up, to focus on that dream,” says Music. “Be who you are and never give up on that.”

GROWTH OF FEMALE WRESTLER PARTICIPATION Since 1994, the number of women who wrestle in high school nationwide has grown from 804 to over 8,000.

Twenty-two colleges now sponsor a varsity women’s wrestling program.

Women’s wrestling is now a recognized Olympic sport.

Texas, Hawaii, and Washington sponsor a state high school girls wrestling championship Females account for 2.9 percent of high school wrestlers nationwide.

“I would tell that girl not to give up, to focus on that dream. Be who you are and never give up on that.”

– Tristen Music

In The Game | 15

Catch ALL the Action of Gator Baseball with Legendary Coach James Conley and In the Game Publisher Shawn Smoak

DAY

DATE

OPPONENT

SITE

TIME

DAY

DATE

OPPONENT

SITE

TIME

MON

FEB 13

TIFT CO

WAYCROSS

6:00

TUES

MAR 7

LOWNDES CO

VALDOSTA

5:30

TUES

FEB 14

VALDOSTA

VALDOSTA

5:55

THURS

MAR 9

BRANTLEY CO

WAYCROSS

6:00

FRI

FEB 17

PAULDING CO

VALDOSTA STATE

7:00

TUES

MAR 14 GLYNN ACD

WAYCROSS

6:00

TUES

FEB 21

RICHMOND HILL

WAYCROSS

6:00

WED

MAR 15 RICHMOND HILL

RICHMOND HILL

5:55

FRI

FEB 24

APPLING CO

BRUNSWICK

3:30

MON

MAR 20 STATESBORO*

STATESBORO

6:00

SAT

FEB 25

GLYNN ACD

BRUNSWICK

6:00

WED

MAR 22 STATESBORO*

WAYCROSS

5:55

TUES

FEB 28

BRANTLEY CO

NAHUNTA

5:55

FRI

MAR 24 STATESBORO*

STATESBORO

6:00

THURS

MAR 2

COFFEE CO

WAYCROSS

6:00

TUES

MAR

WAYCROSS

5:30

THURS

MAR 30 COFFEE CO

DOUGLAS

6:00

FRI

MAR 31 CAMDEN CO

WAYCROSS

6:00

MON

APR 3

NEW HAMPSTED*

POOLER

6:00

WED

APR 5

NEW HAMPSTED*

WAYCROSS

5:55

FRI

APR 7

NEW HAMPSTED*

POOLER

6:00

MON

APR 10

WAYNE CO*

WAYCROSS

6:00

WED

APR 12

WAYNE CO*

JESUP

5:55

FRI

APR 14

WAYNE CO*

WAYCROSS

6:00

MON

APR 17

SOUTH EFFINGHAM*

WAYCROSS

5:00

WED

APR 19

SOUTH EFFINGHAM*

GUYTON

5:00

FRI

APR 21

SOUTH EFFINGHAM*

WAYCROSS

6:00

LOWNDES CO

* DENOTES REGION GAMES

Ware Baseball 2017 16 | itgsportsnetwork.com

PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BEARS WELCOME NEW FOOTBALL COACH

P

Written by: Pierce County High School | Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

When the Pierce County Bears return to the gridiron in the fall, they’ll have a new head coach for the first time in six years.

Jason Strickland, who guided Fitzgerald High School to the state finals the past two seasons, takes over for Sean Pender, who left Bearville in January. Pender will be the new head coach at Brunswick High School.

Strickland’s Purple Hurricanes posted consecutive ledgers of 13-2 in 2015 and 2016.

The ‘Canes fell short of a state championship this past season, losing to Benedictine in the Class AAA final. Two years ago, Pace Academy topped Fitzgerald for the title. In five seasons at FHS, Strickland’s teams never missed the playoffs and advanced to the Elite Eight four of those times. His team also won a region title in 2014. His record at Fitzgerald was 54-14-1.

Prior to Fitzgerald, Strickland served as head coach at Lamar County High School for four seasons. His teams were a combined 2718 with playoff berths each of his last three seasons there. The Trojans also won a region title in 2013. Overall, Strickland’s teams have gone 81-32-1 including a playoff record of 16-8.

“We’re excited about the opportunity to be here,” Strickland said.

“The big thing that brought us here was the vision of what the future was going to look like that was laid out before us by Mrs. Bennett and other members of the

administration. You know, I think football is football. What you’re hoping for with any stop that you get to is that you’ve got great administrative support and great community support. And I don’t know that we’ve been anywhere where that has been stronger than what we’re seeing right here in Pierce County.”

Meanwhile, Pender leaves Bearville as the winningest coach in school history with a 54-18 mark. PCHS was the third head coaching stop for Pender, who came to PCHS from Crisp County in 2011. Prior to his arrival, PCHS won only two region titles in 30 seasons of existence, with the most recent coming in 1995. Pender’s teams subsequently captured back-to-back region titles in 2011 and 2012. The Bears also posted consecutive 10-win seasons for the first time, doing so in three straight seasons: 2012, 2013, and 2014. His teams earned postseason berths during all six years of Pender’s tenure, including two trips

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to the Elite Eight. With a 6-5 postseason record, he coached more playoff games and registered more playoff victories than any other coach in PCHS history.

Strickland, a noted proponent of the Wing-T, saw his Hurricanes average 42.1 points per game last season en route to their finals appearance. Historically, Pender favors a spread offense, and his Bears averaged 42.0 points per game on the way to an Elite Eight appearance.

Pender, who was previously named In the Game magazine’s (Southeast) Coach of the Year, takes over a BHS program that has experienced just one winning season during the past six years and averaged 28.4 points per game over the course of a 5-5 campaign in 2016.

BUILDING

CHAMPIONS Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Jeffrey Griffith

He waited patiently for his opportunity, and now is the time to shine for new Wayne County head basketball coach Lemetrice Ray. After years of learning from some of the state’s most legendary coaches and putting in his time on the sidelines, Ray believes he has what it takes to reenergize the Yellow Jackets program.

“My work ethic, not giving up, but trusting in God knowing that I was going to do something special with my life,” he said.

Ray has always known that basketball would play a part in his life.

To this day he still plays pickup games at his church. His concern for young people is such that had he not become a basketball coach, he would have still been a teacher, but at a Juvenile Corrections high school facility.

Although originally from Tifton, Georgia, 18 | itgsportsnetwork.com

Ray graduated from Crisp County High School in Cordele. He attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College on a scholarship, Georgia Southwestern State University, and American Military University.

Ray not only stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, he managed one.

“I was a manager at Holiday Inn Express while I was in school my last semester when my coach from high school asked me to come be a part of his staff,” Ray said.

He learned at the knee of Henry Gardner at Crisp County. Wanting to be around the team, Ray was a manager for three years before he started playing for Gardner. He credited the coach with teaching him basic coaching principles and, more importantly, how to be a man. Gardner made sure his players were champions on and off the court.

Immediately after graduation, Ray returned to his alma mater, where he was named the Region Assistant Coach of the Year for two consecutive years and the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year for the 201112 season. That was the year Crisp County won

"My work ethic, not giving up, but trusting in God knowing that I was going to do something special with my life." a region title and made it to the state final four.

“Each game we just had a mindset of greatness that led us to the final four that year to lose by three points to a great Eagle’s Landing team,” Ray said.

During his tenure as an assistant, Ray coached the Cougar’s ninth-grade team, winning several championships. To win his first championship, he had to guide his team to three wins in just two

days at the Tift High Southwest Georgia tournement – an amazing accomplishment for a 3-A school in a 6-A tournament, especially to play two games back to back to win the title.

While his career is still young, Ray has coached some outstanding players. The best, he said, is Crisp County graduate and current Thomas University guard Javoris Cooks.

“This kid had it all – values, integrity, dis-

cipline – and he was just a hard worker,” Ray said. “He took no days off on or off the court.

He was the true definition of a professional high school kid. He left it all on the court each practice. Each game we knew he was going to give his all.”

After spending seven years at Crisp County High, Ray left to become an assistant coach at Wayne County in 2015. Following last season, four-year coach

Robert Cotton left to take the head coaching position at Dodge County. That’s when Ray was chosen to became the Yellow Jackets head basketball coach. The first thing he had to do this season was find a way to turn around a program that had won only four games the previous year.

“It’s a process, but it starts with relationships that you build with your team – each individual player,” Ray said.

He has worked to get his players to buy into doing the right thing on and off the floor. His

biggest moment came in December when the Yellow Jackets got the opportunity to play the Valdosta Wildcats in Atlanta’s Philips Arena, home to the NBA’s Hawks.

He continues to improve the Wayne County team, but his system seems to be working so far, as the Yellow Jackets have more than doubled their win total from last season. But even more importantly, he has seen a change in the young men he coaches on a daily basis.

“Our focus this year was to make sure that we build champion young men first,” Ray said. “I will be a hall of fame coach by teaching young men how to be men on and off the court. My players’ success will be judged in the classroom, not in a gym by playing a sport.”

In The Game | 19

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In The Game | 21

22 | itgsportsnetwork.com

CAMDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

SPHIRE BRINGS THE AIR RAID TO CAMDEN COUNTY Written by: John Wood | Photography by: Shawn Smoak

For many years under former Thomson legend the late Luther Welsh and as the current Grayson Rams head coach, Jeff Herron made the Wing-T offense the staple of Camden County football. The buck sweep, the belly, and an aggressive 3-5 defense helped Herron win three state titles and put the Wildcats on the map nationally.

Last season, the Wildcats only completed 20 passes.

Current Camden County athletic director Gary Blount will retire at the end of the year.

Welton Coffey II will assume the athletic director duties. Coffey spent time as an assistant under Herron and spent the last three seasons as head coach at Camden County, finishing 27-16 during his time at the helm. He will take over as athletic director during the 2017-18 school year.

Camden County had a number of strong applicants, but North Gwinnett’s Bob Sphire emerged as the leading candidate. Sphire is known for a wide open, fast paced offense, a definite departure from the ground attack of the Wing-T that the Wildcats used so well.

Sphire wasn’t necessarily looking to leave North Gwinnett at the end of the season, but programs like Camden County High School’s, with a storied past and surrounded by a larger supportive base and natural beauty, can be intriguing.

On the recommendation of Camden County Schools Superintendent Will Hardin, the school board hired Sphire to be the next head football coach at Camden County High School.

Sphire, originally from Kentucky, attended Western Kentucky University and was head coach at Lexington Catholic in Lexington, Kentucky, before coming to Georgia to be the head coach at North Gwinnett High School.

Before Sphire’s arrival, North Gwinnett had never reached a 10-win

season. A ball of energy and enthusiasm, Sphire was popular among the student fan base of North Gwinnett. The students even created a group called the “Bob Squad.”

During his 11 seasons at North Gwinnett, Sphire completely revolutionized the program with his fast-paced, quick hitting, “pass first, pass often” spread offense. After making it to the quarterfinals in his first season guiding the Bulldogs in 2006, Sphire embarked on 10 winning seasons.

Led by quarterback Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett made it to the AAAAAA state championship but lost to Lowndes in 2007.

Tamburo was named the No. 1 junior prospect in 2007 and one of the top 15 quarterback prospects in the nation in 2008. He finished his career with 6,496 yards passing from 2006 to 2008. He originally signed with Boise State, but after redshirting he ended up finishing his eligibility at the University of Georgia.

When the Bulldogs did meet Camden County in 2009, Her-

ron’s Wildcats blanked North Gwinnett 35-0 on their way to win the 2009 state championship over Northside Warner Robbins 31-3.

Tamburo was among five all-state quarterbacks that Sphire coached, including his son Hayden who is currently at Murray State. North Gwinnett returned to the AAAAAAA title game in 2013 but ran up against an ultra-talented Norcross team led

by Tennessee running

back Alvin Kamara and Georgia defensive end Lorenzo Carter. Sphire finished his tenure with North Gwinnett, holding a convincing record of 110-28 and a .797 winning percentage.

The Bulldogs also won five region titles under Sphire. Twenty-seven North Gwinnett players have move on to play Division I college football, and five have gone on to play in the NFL.

LADY GATORS GOING STRONG THIS SEASON Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography courtesy of Ware County High School

Teamwork: It’s the key element behind the success of the Ware County girls basketball team this season. This group of young ladies put together an unblemished record through more than half of the season. Coach Mandy Lingenfelter led Ware County to a perfect 17-0 record through mid-January that included wins against Statesboro, New Hampstead, and South Effingham.

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“We’re doing well,” Lingenfelter said at the 15-0 mark. “They’ve just been getting after it and playing together as a team. We don’t have any selfish individuals on this year’s team.

I think that holds a lot of ground right there, just playing together.”

The streak came to an end against the Wayne County Lady Yellow Jackets, who managed a one-point victory in the final seconds to defeat Ware County and put them at 17-1.

A few days later, the Glynn Academy Lady Terrors got revenge on the Lady Gators 40-34 to put them at 18-2 on the season.

The Lady Gators played a few close games including a five-point victory over Swainsboro in the preseason tournament. They also defeated bigger schools like Glynn Academy, Houston County, Lowndes, Tattnall, Vidalia, and Coffee County during their unbeaten run.

“These two teams are very athletic and quick and gave us a good run for our money there,” Lingenfelter said.

Ware County is led by four seniors this year, including point guard Kennedy Sanders.

“You’ve got to have a director out on the court,” Lingenfelter said. “Kennedy has matured and stepped up and taken over that role. She’s getting it done at the top of the key running the show.”

Another senior leader is Chyna Bacon.

“She is our ‘go to’ on defense,” Lingenfelter said. “If you’re reading the paper, you don’t see her name, but she does a phenomenal job on defense for us.”

Bacon and junior Kelsey Davis share major defensive responsibilities. Davis also has director responsibilities at the point. The other seniors are Rodniqua Davis and Lizzie Shubert, who has added points from the bench.

The team’s leading scorer this season has been junior center Shondell Vickers.

“She’s averaging a double-double each game and compliments that with at least two blocks per game,” Lingenfelter said.

Juniors Waynisha Coleman, Arviniece McDonald, and Markeah Green also play in the post and help bring down priceless rebounds. Another offensive threat comes from sophomore Mataea Boyd, who averages 10 points and three steals per game.

Guards Shaqaila Davis and Latreona Holmes also come off the bench and contribute to the total team.

“It’s spread out,” Lingenfelter said. “Everyone has a role, and everybody is contributing, so it’s fun to watch.”

Coach Lingenfelter looks for Statesboro and Wayne County to be strong this season as they entered region play in January. The team is confident in their chances at making the playoffs this season.

“The team concept; It starts with character,” Coach Lingenfelter said. “I have a great group of girls who have high character. Legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden once said, ‘If you do enough small things right, big things can happen.’“

BACON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BACON COUNTY’S ONE-MAN TEAM Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Shawn Smoak

Some team names instantly incite concern and respect when they appear on an opponent’s schedule. The Bacon County High School swim team is one of those fear-inspiring teams. Amazingly, however, the Bacon swim team consists on only one person: sophomore Garrett Holton.

He IS the entire Raiders team. This season he was good enough to qualify in four events for the Georgia High School Association’s state swim meet.

“My favorite part of swimming is the exhilaration of the cold water rushing over me when I dive in the water,” Holton said.

Swimming is a yearround family activity in the Holton household.

His father, Keith, got him started at an early age, and he was swimming competitively by the time he was six-yearsold.

“My dad has taught, trained, and pushed me to be the best swimmer that I can be,” Holton said. “He won the 50yard freestyle at the

GHSA state swim meet 20 years ago, and I hope to accomplish this same feat before I graduate from high school.”

Those who have seen him swim believe it is a goal the younger Holton can accomplish.

He is only a few years removed from setting the state record in the 11-12 age division at the Georgia Recreation and Parks Association state swim meet.

“My dad also set this same record,” Holton said. “He is the one that taught me all of the different strokes in swimming and what it means to be a true competitor.”

One disadvantage Holton faces is the lack of a recreation department swimming program in Bacon County.

So he and his younger sister must make the 30-minute trek across Highway 32 to participate in the Coffee County Recreation Department’s program in the summer. Holton also attended summer swim camps at the Bolles School in Jacksonville.

In the winter, he prac-

tices at South Georgia State College in Douglas. To reduce travel to and from the pool, Holton’s father built a lap pool so Holton and his younger sister would have a place to train at home in Alma. And mom? Amy Holton is the coach of the Bacon County swim team.

Holton swims the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard individual medley, and the 100-yard butterfly in times that may one day catch the eyes of college recruiters. Another number colleges will soon be interested in is Holton’s GPA of 96, which makes him a standout in the classroom, too.

“I hope to obtain a scholarship in swimming,” Holton said, adding that he would like to major in mechanical engineering or forestry.

“I would love to be on a swim team if I get a scholarship.”

An athletic young man, he participated in mixed martial arts, track, cross-country, and football. He also taught himself to do

front and back flips. But swimming holds his attention these days with year-round practices and summer competitions.

“When I get into the pool, I am constantly reminding myself to push harder,” Holton said. “I tell myself that if you don’t, you’ll never get better.”

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WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

COACH EICHFELD RECOGNIZES WRESTLERS Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography courtesy of Ware County High School

The Ware County Gators wrestling team has fared well this season, sweeping the area duals in January and doing well in the traditionals after starting the season on a tear prior to the area tournaments.

The Gators hit the road to Pooler for the Area 2-AAAAA Dual Tournament.

Ware County defeated region foes New Hampstead, Statesboro, and South Effingham for the championship. After taking the area title, the Gators competed in the state duals in Macon.

The Gator wrestling team then traveled to the area traditionals, where they won the 2017 title with 14 Gators qualifying for the regional traditional tournament including 10 individual champions. The top four finishers in each weight class get to advance.

Coach Joe Eichfeld had high praise for his team that surpassed expectations this season. Among the Ware County grapplers leading the way this year were seniors Cole

White, who won the regional traditional title in the 152-pound weight class, and Britton Jones, who had been wrestling at 220 pounds.

“But he is going to be our 195-pounder at the end of the year,” Eichfeld said and correctly predicted. Jones was the region 195-pound class champion and won it with one match that ended in a 17-second pin.

Senior Sharod Cobb has also done well for the Gators.

“He's a pretty tough wrestler,” Eichfeld said.

“He's just about to break out, and I expect

to see that happen this year.”

The junior class has Brandon Foster, the team's most technical wrestler.

“And I'll go as far as saying the best wrestler on the team at this point,” Eichfeld said of the 113-pound region champion.

Nawin Hyers has been wrestling at 195 pounds, Austin Sweat at 138 pounds, and Eli Hodge at 170 pounds.

“He has been tearing up the mat,” Eichfeld said of Hodge, who won the 170-pound weight class championship with two pins. “He's one of

our pin leaders.”

Sophomore Reese Poole had been wrestling in the 132-pound weight class and is a returning starter who has had a solid season so far, coming away with the 120-pound weight class championship.

“We have a lot of good ninth graders who have come up from the middle schools, and they are really showing out,” Eichfeld said.

Cooper Thomas came up from Ware Middle and has been wrestling a lot of varsity at the 145- and 152-pound

weight classes. Freshman Connor White has been wrestling at the 120-pound weight class.

Ware could have as many as five placers and up to 10 qualifiers in the state traditional tournament, according to Eichfeld.

“The last time we had five state placers, we took second in the state in the traditional tournament,” Eichfeld said.

The state traditional tournament is set for Feb. 9 at Gwinnett Arena outside of Atlanta.

Finishing where he started, Stewart leads Bacon County Written by: John Wood | Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t always take the country out of the boy. Bacon County Red Raiders senior Trae Stewart was born in Alma, Georgia, and moved to Athens when he was in elementary school, but he missed Bacon County.

“I was born in Alma but moved to Athens in the third grade,” Stewart said. “My mother asked me if I wanted to leave Cedar Shoals High School after my freshman year, and I did, which gave a chance to come back and graduate in my hometown. I’m glad I decided to move back because it has opened so many opportunities to continue playing sports thanks to my great coach, J.B. Bergeron.”

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Stewart plays football and basketball and runs track for the Red Raiders. Through hard work and dedication, he found success in all three.

“When I was in eighth grade, coach Mike Scott asked me to come out and run track,” Stewart said.

“This was my first year doing track and I won first place in the triple jump and have made it to state every year since.”

On the gridiron, he plays safety and returns punts and kicks. His junior year, he ran back an 80-plusyard kickoff return for the Red Raiders’ only touchdown against rival Pierce County.

Of the three sports Stewart competes in, his favorite and the one that has had the biggest impact on him is basketball.

Stewart could visualize the potential that he had when he got his first slam dunk his freshman year.

Immediately, some of the upper classman saw him in a different light and realized that he had some ability. However, even with that ability,

In The Game | 29

he left a AAAAAA program at Cedar Shoals to go back to AA Bacon County.

“During my sophomore year, I started to realize that this is a different game than what I was used to in middle school,” Stewart said.

“Playing junior varsity and getting varsity system, I have learned the system and what I need to do to make myself better, (but) more importantly to help my team be better.”

Though his work ethic transformed him into a player that currently averages 18 points, seven rebounds, and two steals per game, his leadership qualities don’t go unnoticed.

“Trae has grown tremendously over the last two years,” said J.B. Bergeron, Bacon County boys basketball head coach. “He has become a very good player, a great teammate, but most importantly a fine young man. Trae has bought into our system, and I am excited about the run we are about to make. He is a big part of our success.”

Playing with the Red Raiders, Stewart embraced his position as shooting guard.

“As shooting guard, I have to recognize the defense in order to decide which option is there: either stay out or have a hard cut to the paint for an easy bucket or open up for another teammate.” Stewart said. “My favorite shot is mid-range pop up.

If outside the 3-point range, I shoot from the angle.”

Developing court

"Every game I go into like it was my last because I will never get to play that moment of that second in that gym again, nor do I know what unturned holds for that game.” vision and creating scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates have been important parts of the game, but he is equally as proud of the leadership opportunities it has earned him on and off the court.

“I know I am to do everything I can to help us win, not only in games but also practice,” Stewart said. “The extra effort comes from within. I build myself for circumstances as if it becomes game situations. Every game I go into like it

was my last because I will never get to play that moment of that second in that gym again, nor do I know what unturned holds for that game,” Stewart said.

A combination of Stewart’s play and attitude created a favorable situation for the Red Raiders this season. On Jan. 20, Bacon County knocked off previously unbeaten Swainsboro.

“Trae is the steady force on our team,” Bergeron said. “I never have to worry about

him showing up. He is a gamer. Trae’s athletic ability is undeniable and his will to win unquestionable. Trae anchors our team in many ways. He is a leader in every facet of the game (offensively, defensively, and as a captain). He is averaging 18 points a game, seven rebounds, two steals. He leads our team in free throws attempted and free throw percentage. That’s a good combination.

Trae has three offers to play college ball, all in the Midwest. I am confident he will receive more.”

Stewart hopes to play college basketball somewhere after graduating from Bacon County and major in sports management. His focus right now is to finish the season strong with the Red Raiders and make a run in the playoffs.

“I want us to win the region and make a deep run in the state playoffs, and I think we are ready to do that,” Stewart said.

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Bright & Bold,

GREEN & GOLD Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Ware County High School wrestling has long been known for its success on the mats. Nowadays, though, student-athletes like Cole White and Britton Jones are seeing to it that the program gets proper accolades as well for producing top scholars. The senior co-captains are winding down their respective prep careers in successful fashion this season without missing a beat in the classroom.

“Both young men are valuable assets to the team and have been full-blooded Gators from the start,” said Ware County head coach Joe Eichfeld. “Britton is a dedicated, hard-working athlete who is relentless in his pursuit to be a champion. Cole goes the extra mile,

does his homework, and constantly seeks ways to beat his opponents.”

White, the son of Clinton and Teresa White, has wrestled for seven years. This season, he has been vying for a third consecutive bid to the state tournament. Two years ago, White went 0-2 at the state tourney after being injured at sectionals. He rebounded last year, though, for an eighth place finish.

Though he occasionally wrestled up at 160 this year, White primarily competed in the152-pound weight class.

After capping the season as Region 2-AAAAA champion, he remains methodical on his future as a wrestler.

“Wrestling is a sport where you have to be disciplined the entire season and be

dedicated to it to be good at it,” White said. “You can’t just come out for the season and be good at it. I’ve had a few college coaches contact with me, but I’m not sure where I’d like to go yet. I do plan to wrestle at the next level, though. I feel like it would be a waste to wrestle all these years and then just give it up.”

Equally tenacious is White’s approach to his studies, where he carries a 3.8 GPA for an academic slate comprised of honors classes.

He ranks 28th in a class that numbers roughly 350 students. He also scored 1190

on the SAT. White is also a member of Beta Club and the National Honor Society. He listed economics as a favorite class from his current class load. That’s because the hopeful engineering major has already completed his math and science requirements.

“Mechanical engineering is what I’d like to do,” White said.

“My dad is an engineer at the hospital in Waycross, and I’ve been around it my life, so it’s easy for me to understand. At the house we have a shop, and my dad and I work together a lot doing farm mechanics. One project we had was working on my papa’s tractor, a Hesston 1000, where the hydraulic lines broke loose.

“Wrestling is a sport where you have to be disciplined the entire season and be dedicated to it to be good at it.”

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A lot of the places I’ve been contacted by don’t really have engineering programs, but if a school has an engineering program, as well as a decent wrestling team and the facilities to go with it, I might go there.”

Jones, the son of Jeff Jones and Daphne Jones, has also been wrestling for seven years. Like White, he also runs cross country in the fall. And since his off-season weight hovers around 210, Jones admitted that the process of getting down to his competitive weight of 195 makes running a less-than-favorite activity. On the mat, he 34 | itgsportsnetwork.com

finished among the Elite Eight at the state tournament last season and, like his teammate, capped a senior campaign as the Region 2-AAAAA champion.

Jones compiled a 48-5 mark heading into February.

“So far, I don’t have any college offers, but I have received a tournament offer in Virginia that invites high school students from around the nation,” Jones said.

“Wrestling is always a possibility for me in college, but right now my plans are to attend Georgia Southern and work somewhere in the boundaries of psychology. I want to help peo-

ple with addictions or other problems in their lives.”

Fittingly, Jones subscribes to an advanced placement regiment that has included psychology and biology in addition to microeconomics and macroeconomics. He maintains a 3.3 GPA and scored 1140 on the SAT. He also joined a club this semester – the Future Farmers of America – in efforts to branch out socially. Biology, though, remains the focal point of his studies right now because he sees it as a roadmap for navigating the complexities of life, which in turn bridges to his interest in psychology.

“Coming up through high school is a difficult time for some people, and I’ve met folks that have been through situations,” Jones said.

“I’ve attempted to be there for people and help them with these things. I enjoy being the kind of person that can be there for people during difficult times in their lives and enjoy knowing at the end of the day I’ve helped make a difference in their lives.”

Now co-captains for the Green and Gold,

White and Jones have known each other since kindergarten even though they attended different middle schools (Jones went to Waycross Middle School while White attended Ware County Middle School.). However, each recognizes a day coming soon when they will go their separate ways.

“I have definitely been thankful for the friendship,” Jones said.

“Even though we went to different middle schools, Cole and I were at the same weight class then. It has been great wrapping it up with him being co-team captains.”

White said: “Britton and I still hang out and work out together. He’s

like another brother to me.”

Kinship of that magnitude, the wrestlers said, is forged upon a personal philosophy routinely preached by Eichfeld: respect, commitment, discipline, hard work, and sacrifice.

“Coach E has drilled that philosophy into us,” Jones said. “As I have trained getting up early and training late, those six words have come back to me as far as being in one of the toughest sports in the world. When you carry them back into the world, it helps define your character in that you are able to get more out of life.”

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WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

HOBBS HOPES 3RD SEASON'S THE CHARM FOR LADY YELLOW JACKETS Written by: John Wood | Photography by: Shawn Smoak

Every season that Kala Hires Hobbs walks into the gym to begin practice, there is an air of anticipation. Three seasons ago it wasn’t just anticipation but a little nervousness too, breaking the ice with a new program and introducing her style of play to a new team, the Wayne County Lady Yellow Jackets. She inherited a young team that a season later won 25 games, was undefeated in region play, and loss by four points, 28-24, in the Final Four to Veterans High School. The foundation had been laid and the program established coming into this season.

Graduating two starters who were the team’s leading scorers and rebounders over the last two seasons did not change expectations one bit for Hobbs or any player on the team. They knew Hobbs’s expectations, and even with the loss of fire power and no true standout scorer, Wayne County remained determined.

“I knew that we would be losing our two girls that had been our top two leading scorers and leading rebounders the past two years, but we also returned three starters that were a huge part of our final four run last season and stressed the fact that if everyone could step up to their potential, we would continue to be competitive,” Hobbs said. “My girls knew I needed them to

step up and do their role on the team. We have to play hard for four quarters, but collectively they know we can achieve the same things we did last year.”

The 2016 season brought New Hampstead into the region and returned South Effingham and Statesboro.

The region is athletic and has tough competitors.

Hobbs knows and has stressed to her team that they need to play their best basketball to get back to the region championship game.

Wayne County is currently riding an eight-game winning streak and has an impressive 17-3 record, but Hobbs is quick to not be overconfident with the re-

cord. It’s been a season of highs and lows regardless of what the score board reflects.

“We are 17-3 going into our last region game and last regular season game, and it has definitely been a season of highs and lows,” Hobbs said. “There have

been nights when we performed to the best of our ability and looked like a team that could go deep in the playoffs. There have also been nights when we couldn’t seem to get in the groove of things and it took us three quarters to begin to run a play cor-

rectly.”

The Lady Yellow Jackets fought hard during the 2016 campaign, having to rely on a different style of play at times. Without a lot of overall team height and no player shooting above 20 percent from the perimeter, Hobbs put her best ball handler in the post and stressed rebounding collectively instead of oneon-one. However, the biggest weapon in the Lady Yellow Jackets’ arsenal is to play sold-out, relentless defense.

“Last season we began to click after Christmas, and the girls really bought into the concept,” Hobbs said. “This season the girls are playing defense well,

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but will sometimes struggle on the transition or on the help side.

This is something that will have to become instinct to all five on the court to win the big games. We are definitely a team that has to play defense to win. We spend an hour of our practice every day solely working on our own defense. We know that there will be nights our shots are not going to fall, and it has happened, but we can always play defense and do our role to create turnovers and prevent them from scoring.”

The lineup has been a guessing game this season as Hobbs has worked different combinations to put together the best team on the floor. Some of her younger players are just starting to realize varsity time and are getting comfortable playing at the same level as the veterans. Tough practices are starting to pay dividends during games.

“We have struggled with free throws and layups from the beginning, and all I can hope is that we make the big ones once playoffs begin,” Hobbs said. “These senior girls are very special to me.

They are hard workers, and I am pretty close to each of them individually. They are all friends, which helps, and I have a lot of pressure on them because I know their potential.”

Seniors on the team include point guard Amani Trice, a threeyear starter and vocal leader; Chandler Henderson, a second-year starter and guard; Jada Balsinger, who moved to Jesup last January; Martina Davidson; Allie Hall in the post; and Alexis

Derr, who fills the role of the Lady Yellow Jackets’ sixth man.

Junior Alex Thomas and freshman Terren Ward round out the starting lineup. Hobbs has also been impressed with the play of freshman Divine White and the selfless work and effort that junior Tyerra DeSouza and sophomores Bre Wilson and Shay Jenkins bring to the team.

“Last year, after Christmas, every game got better and better,” Hobbs said. “I can’t really say that for this season as we played our worst game after Christmas and then have gone up and down since then. We have had one or two games where some players stepped up and made a substantial difference, but we haven’t really been consistently strong. Hopefully we are headed up from here as this is when it counts.”

Only one week stands between the Lady Yellow Jackets and the first part of the goal that Hobbs’s team sets each October: to win the region. Winning the region isn’t just important for the hardware and emotion, but it could mean that a team can limit the number of miles they have to travel.

“Our goal every year is to win the region, not only for the morale, but of course that home court advantage,” Hobbs said. “Playing in your own gym in front of your own crowd, not to mention not having to travel four hours on a bus, is definitely what we are shooting for. We know that everything has to align perfectly to repeat a run, and it starts with doing our best in the region tournament to ensure this is possible.”

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