2015 Gwinnett Prep Hoops Preview

Gwinnett Daily Post Sunday, November 8, 2015

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ARCHER ....................................................... 3 BERKMAR...................................................... 4 BROOKWOOD............................................... 5 BUFORD........................................................ 6 CENTRAL GWINNETT................................... 7 COLLINS HILL................................................ 8 DACULA......................................................... 9 DISCOVERY..................................................10 DULUTH........................................................11 GREATER ATLANTA CHRISTIAN.................12 GRAYSON.....................................................13 HEBRON CHRISTIAN...................................14 LANIER..........................................................15 MEADOWCREEK..........................................16 MILL CREEK.................................................17 MOUNTAIN VIEW..........................................18 NORCROSS..................................................19 NORTH GWINNETT..................................... 20 PARKVIEW................................................... 21 PEACHTREE RIDGE................................... 22 PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN.......................... 23 SHILOH........................................................ 24 SOUTH GWINNETT..................................... 25 WESLEYAN.................................................. 26

2 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Wesleyan’s Natalie Armstrong (44) celebrates with teammates after winning the Class AA girls basketball championship game against the Holy Innocents’ Golden Bears in March at the Macon Coliseum in Macon. (File Photo)

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BOYS COACH: Joel Lecoeuvre 2014-15 RECORD: 20-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Darrion Taylor, 5-7, Sr. Bryon Andrews, 6-3, Sr. Rhian Mann, 6-5, Jr. Amori Atkinson, 6-3, Sr. Antione Joe, 5-11, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Malik Sproles, 6-2, Soph.

Brenden Tucker, 6-2, Fr. OUTLOOK: Archer earned the No. 3 seed in Region 8-AAAAAA and defeated Duluth in the first round of the state tournament before falling to Tucker in the second round. The Tigers lost six seniors from that team, including four who played big minutes.

Senior point guard Darrion Taylor is one of three starters who is back this season. The three-year starter averaged 14.8 points per game, 5.5 assists, 2.1 steals and was a 90 percent free-throw shooter. He’ll look to distribute the ball to 6-foot-2 junior power forward Bryon Andrews (6.2 points and 5.5 rebounds) and 6-foot-5 senior Rhian Mann (5.7 points and 5.2 rebounds).

Seniors Amori Atkinson and Antione Joe have also been in the rotation for Archer before. The Tigers also like what they’ve seen from sophomore guard Malik

archer

TIGERS REGION 8-AAAAAA

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 at Mountain View Nov. 23, 24 Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 28 at Duluth, On the Radar Classic (boys) Nov. 28 Loganville Girls Showcase (girls) Dec. 1 at Shiloh Dec. 4 at Central Gwinnett Dec. 8 Brookwood Dec. 11 at Grayson Dec. 12 South Gwinnett Dec. 14 Carrollton Dec. 18-22 Crescom Classic, Myrtle Beach (girls) Dec. 28-30 Sweet South Classic (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge Jan. 5 Parkview Jan. 8 Berkmar Jan. 12 at Dacula Jan. 15 Shiloh Jan. 16 Krossover Classic (girls) Jan. 19 at Brookwood Jan. 22 Grayson Jan. 23 Central Gwinnett Jan. 26 at South Gwinnett Jan. 29 at Parkview Jan. 30 at Berkmar Feb. 5 Dacula

s Archer’s Autumn Newby Sproles and freshman guard Brenden Tucker.

“We’ve got a pretty good senior class,” head coach Joel Lecoeuvre said. “After

that we’ve got some younger guys … how they develop will be key to our success.

I know what my five or six seniors can do, developing

those younger guys and trying to add some depth, that’s going to be a big key.

Especially early in the year.”

WORTH NOTING: After six seasons at the helm, Tim Watkins stepped down as the programs only head

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coach in May to focus solely on his responsibilities as the school’s athletic director.

Archer promoted Lecoeuvre, who has been an assistant for the Tigers the last two seasons.

FAST FACT: Archer opens the season with a pair of showcase events, playing in the Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett and Duluth in the On the Radar Classic.

GIRLS COACH: Ryan Lesniak 2014-15 RECORD: 26-6 RETURNING REGULARS: Autumn Newby, 6-2, Jr. Linsey Marchese, 6-3, Jr. Tia Shorter, 5-8, Jr. Asia McCoy, 5-11, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Hannah Dunston, 5-3, Soph.

Renna Mitchom, 5-6, Soph.

Kyleeyah Whitehead, 5-5, Fr. OUTLOOK: Archer returned to the Final Four last season after finishing as the Class AAAAAA runner-up in 2014.

Once again the Tigers’ season was ended by McEachern, which won its second straight title. The Tigers return plenty of key players from last year’s team, but will have to replace all-state point guard Madison Newby (Georgia State) and threepoint threat Amber Skidgel (Georgia). That means highly rated juniors Autumn Newby

(No. 25 in the class of 2017 per ESPN) and Linsey Marchese (Indiana commit) will have to carry the load inside.

Tia Shorter will replace Madison Newby at point guard and 5-foot-11 Asia McCoy will play guard.

“We’re excited,” head coach Ryan Lesniak said. “I think we have two of the best post players in the state of Georgia and two of the best post players nationally. They’re great and we’ve got two other kids who are definite Division-I caliber kids. Now some of them are going to get their opportunity. Tia Shorter, Linsey Marchese, they’ve had their games but we haven’t necessarily leaned on them like we will this year.”

WORTH NOTING: Sophomore guards Hannah Dunston and Renna Mitchom will join the varsity team after leading the JV to an undefeated season last year before dressing out with varsity for the Final Four run.

FAST FACT: Kyleeyah Whitehead finished third this summer at the United States Track and Field Junior Olympics 100-meter dash in the 13-14 age group with a time of 12.33 seconds. She also won silver in the 400-meter and 1600-meter relays with Titan Track Club.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 3

berkmar

PATRIOTS REGION 8-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Greg Phillips 2014-15 RECORD: 13-15 RETURNING REGULARS: Al Durham, 6-4, Jr. Josh Faulkner, 6-0, Sr. Lane Foster, Sr., 6-1 OTHERS TO WATCH: Zach Cooks, 5-9, Jr. Jay Estime, 6-4, Jr. Leroy Jones, Sr., 5-11 Darius Harrison, 6-7, Sr. OUTLOOK: After rallying from a slow start due in no small part to an injury that limited Al Durham for the better part of the first two months of the season, one thing is certain about this season’s team.

A repeat of last season’s early-season struggles, during which the Patriots dropped 10 of their first 16 game, seems unlikely.

For one thing, Durham, a junior who is committed to Indiana, is back and healthy, and looking to build on a strong second half of last season in which he averaged 14.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists in just 22 games.

In addition, the supporting cast figures to be considerably deeper in talent and experience for 2015-16.

While there are some important pieces to the puzzle returning from last season, most notably Lane Foster,

knit group. You want to have balance. It’s like in football.

You can’t just run the ball, you can’t just throw the ball.

I feel like we’ve got balance on offense. We’ve got guys who can flash and penetrate.

We’ve got plenty of shooters.

We’ve got size inside. I think it’s good balance.”

FAST FACT: Despite last year’s early-season struggles, the Patriots did keep a fairly impressive postseason streak going with their sixth straight appearance dating back to Phillips’ second season as coach in 2009-10.

In fact, Berkmar has made 11 state tournament appearances in the last 16 seasons dating back to 2000.

s Berkmar’s Al Durham who was an important ballhandler and floor leader, the biggest key is the addition of transfers.

Zach Cooks should give a boost to the perimeter both as a ball-handler and shooter after averaging 9.1 points and 1.5 assists off the bench at Norcross last season.

Meanwhile, Jay Estime (10.7 ppg, 4.7 rpg) comes in from Peachtree Ridge and brings scoring ability, length and

GIRLS COACH: Kari Slaten 2014-15 RECORD: 10-17 RETURNING REGULARS: Jirah Simpkins, 5-6, Sr. Hylan Clayton, 5-6, Sr. athleticism to the wing posiTia Lowery, 5-5, Sr. tion.

While all the new faces might Clara Lawton, 5-10, Sr. beg the question of how well Destini Shumate, 5-11, Sr. everyone will blend together, OTHERS TO WATCH: Dericka Byrd, 5-6, Soph. head coach Greg Phillips OUTLOOK: The Patriots doesn’t seem concerned certainly won’t be lacking in about team chemistry. experience, with five seniors “That’s always a challenge to get guys to mesh well and returning to the club. share the ball, and it’s no dif- Chief among those upperclassmen are Jirah Simpferent with this group,” Philkins, who produced across lips said. “But it shouldn’t be too hard. They’re a very tight- the board as the team’s

leader in scoring (12.3 ppg), assists (2.1 apg) and steals (3.1 spg), as well as producing on the boards with 6.1 rebounds per game. Leading rebounder Clara Lawton (8.1 rpg) is also back.

But as much as first-year head coach Kari Slaten is pleased with the experience, the one thing she wants to see out of the Patriots more than anything is self motivation and a desire to get better. So far, she likes what she sees.

“I think it’s going to be awesome,” Slaten said of her team’s enthusiasm. “We’ve got leadership, a lot of good experience. I think they’re hungry. I know they (were) last year, but I think they want so much better this year.

They’ve been working hard in the offseason to get there.

“I think they had good talent last year. Sometimes I think they lacked the motivation to get there, and I hope this year, being their last year, they’re going to be motivated to get there.”

In addition to Simpkins, Lawton and fellow seniors Hylan Clayton, Tia Lowery and Destine Shumate, Slaten will look towards an equally hungry group of younger players like Byrd to help turn the Patriots’ energy level up a notch this season.

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 White County (girls) Nov. 21 Nike/BMASP Showcase at Berkmar (boys) Nov. 24 vs. Duluth in Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett (boys) Nov. 28 vs. Newton in On The Radar Hoopfest at Duluth (boys) Dec. 1 Central Gwinnett Dec. 4 South Gwinnett Dec. 5 at Brookwood Dec. 8 Grayson Dec. 11 at Parkview Dec. 12 Berkmar Shootout at Berkmar (girls) Dec. 12 vs. Jenkins in East Hall Shootout (boys) Dec. 19 vs. Harrison in SEBA hoopefest at Pope (boys) Dec. 21 at White County (girls) Dec. 28-30 Lake City Classic at Allatoona (boys) Dec. 28-30 Pickens County Holiday Classic (girls) Jan. 8 at Archer Jan. 9 Dacula Jan. 12 Shiloh Jan. 15 at Central Gwinnett Jan. 18 BCB/MLK Shootout at Peachtree Ridge (boys) Jan. 19 at Grayson Jan. 22 Parkview Jan. 23 at South Gwinnett Jan. 26 Brookwood Jan. 30 Archer Feb. 2 at Dacula Feb. 5 at Shiloh

SANTA IS COMING!

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SANTA IS COMING!

4 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

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HomefortheHolidayExpo.com

BOYS COACH: Daniel Bowles 2014-15 RECORD: 7-19 RETURNING REGULARS: Micah Kinsey, 6-0, Sr. Trae Higginbotham, 5-11, Jr. Bubba Parham, 5-10, Jr. Sean Agnant, 6-1, Sr. Amari Kelly, 6-7, Soph.

Da’vonne Mills, 6-2, Sr. Leonard Warner, 6-4, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Jordan Benjamin, 6-2, Sr. Markus Smith, 6-4, Jr. OUTLOOK: Brookwood’s ugly record was based heavily on its inability to win close games — it lost 11 games by single digits. The Broncos hope to flip those results in their favor this season with the help of nine returning players with varsity action.

“We have a lot of experience, more than we’ve had in the past,” Brookwood boys coach Daniel Bowles said.

“We’re excited. The guys are working hard.” Bowles still plans to use his preferred up-tempo style with a deep lineup from his roster of 14 or 15 players. “We’re a little bit bigger than we’ve been in the past, but we will still be up tempo, still go up and down and press a little bit,” Bowles said. Brookwood returns 87 percent of its scoring from last season, including double-figure scorers Sean Agnant (10.8) and

brookwood

BRONCOS REGION 8-AAAAAA

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 Peachtree Ridge Nov. 20 at Meadowcreek (girls) Nov. 21 at Milton Nov. 28 at South Cobb Dec. 1 at Grayson Dec. 4 Parkview Dec. 5 Berkmar Dec. 8 at Archer Dec. 11 at Dacula Dec. 12 at East Hall Showcase (boys) Dec. 19 at North Gwinnett Dec. 28-30 Deep South Classic Jan. 6 Shiloh Jan. 8 Central Gwinnett Jan. 9 at South Gwinnett Jan. 12 Heritage Jan. 15 Grayson Jan. 19 Archer Jan. 22 Dacula Jan. 23 at Parkview Jan. 26 at Berkmar Jan. 29 at Shiloh Jan. 30 at Central Gwinnett Feb. 2 South Gwinnett

s Brookwood’s Micah Kinsey Bubba Parham (10.3). Micah Kinsey (9.1 ppg, 4.9 apg, 4.2 rpg, 3.1 spg) and Trae Higginbotham (9.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.3 apg) also are important returning guards, while

Amari Kelly, Da’vonne Mills and Leonard Warner lead the way in the frontcourt.

WORTH NOTING: A huge boost comes from the return of Jordan Benjamin, out

last season with an injury. Benjamin averaged 8.3 points and 4.2 rebounds as a sophomore. … The Deep South Classic, after a oneyear hiatus, returned last season with success. It is back this year for a 24th year Dec. 28-30. “We’re adding a few more (teams) from out of state, from Florida, from South Carolina,” Bowles

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said. “We’re trying to bring it back to that. We’d like half from Georgia and half from out of state.”

FAST FACT: Bowles is in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater. He coached previously in college at Southern Poly, then in high school at Chattahoochee and South Cobb.

GIRLS COACH: Mark Isenhour 2014-15 RECORD: 7-19 RETURNING REGULARS: N’dea Jones, 6-2, Jr. Nkemji Okonkwo, 6-0, Jr. Erika Allen, 5-8, Jr. Tori McGhee, 5-8, Jr. OUTLOOK: Brookwood had an uncharacteristically rough season in 2013-14, winning just two games, but grew up considerably last season and improved under first-year head coach Mark Isenhour. That should prove beneficial this season as the Broncos build around a core group of juniors who already are entering their third year of varsity play — N’dea Jones, Nkemji Okonkwo, Erika Allen and Tori McGhee. Jones, one of three sophomores on the Daily Post’s all-county teams last season, leads the way.

The top college prospect averaged 14.5 points, 16.4 rebounds, 6.8 blocks and

2.6 steals as a sophomore.

McGhee also averaged 6.6 rebounds. Those two, along with Okonkwo and Allen, are part of an experienced junior group. “I’m expecting to see a lot of growth out of this group,” Isenhour said. “I’ve got four juniors who have been playing varsity since they were freshmen. They have taken a lot of beatings and had a pretty significant learning curve, being thrown into minutes. I tell this group they’ve been kind of stealing minutes when they’re too young. I like to think this is the year when all those minutes and experiences form where we go.”

WORTH NOTING: Isenhour is a 2000 Brookwood grad who played for legendary coach Eddie Martin. … The overwhelming youth in the program of the past two seasons shouldn’t be an issue this season. “Youth is no longer an excuse,” Isenhour said. … Like the boys team, the Broncos will stay at home for their post-Christmas tournament, the Deep South Classic.

FAST FACT: The Broncos improved by five wins in their first season under Isenhour, who had a 98-57 record from 2007-13 as the head women’s basketball coach at LaGrange College.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 5

buford

WOLVES REGION 8-AAAA

BOYS COACH: Eddie Martin 2014-15 RECORD: 17-13 RETURNING REGULARS: Will Springer, 6-6, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Alex Jones, 5-9, Soph.

Sahil Patel, 6-8, Jr. Brandon Iverson, 5-9, Sr. Dawson Wehunt, 6-2, Jr. Austin Mize, 5-9, Sr. Dillon Vann, 6-3, Sr. OUTLOOK: Martin, who won three state titles at Greater Atlanta Christian after four at Norcross, took his first Spartans team to the Final Four.

That may be a little much to ask with the Wolves, but the highly successful veteran coach has some pieces to build around and Buford showed under former coach Allen Whitehart that it could compete at the state level.

While the Wolves usually outscored teams in the past, defense will be stressed as always with Martin. Buford lost about 25 points per game with the graduation of Tre Hansbrough (Tennessee Tech) and leading inside player Kyrin Galloway (transferred to Milton). Senior Will Springer, who is a good outside shooter, is the only returning starter, but the Wolves picked up promising sophomore point guard Alex Jones from Alpharetta. Junior

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s Buford’s Zikaya Wright Sahil Patel, at 6-foot-8, provides size inside. Senior Dillon Vann will give the Wolves a boost if he can return in January from knee surgery.

WORTH NOTING: Martin, a standout at Central Gwinnett in the 1970s, has a 713-227 career record at Brookwood, Norcross and GAC. … He was 193-29 in seven seasons with the Spartans, going to the Class AA Final Four five times with standout players like Malcolm Brogdon, Isaiah Wilkins and Trent Wiedeman. … Prior to

6 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

GAC, Martin led Norcross to a 170-18 record and three state titles in a row, the first time that had happened in Georgia’s largest classification in boys basketball since 1938-40.

FAST FACT: Whitehart didn’t win a state title in his five seasons at Buford, but took the Wolves to the championship game twice. His first four teams won 22 or more games and the Wolves reached the state tournament all five times. Before Whitehart’s arrival, Buford

Nov. 21 at Tift County Nov. 23 Sequoyah in Jared Cook at North (boys) Nov. 28 Berrien County (boys), at Loganville Showcase (girls) Dec. 1 Jefferson (girls) Dec. 5 at Morgan County Dec. 8 at St. Francis Dec. 12 Greenbrier Dec. 18 Stephenson (boys) Dec. 19 NW Whitfield (girls) Dec. 21-22 at Woodward Classic Dec. 28-30 at Grayson Classic Jan. 1-2 at Gwinnett Challenge Jan. 8 North Oconee Jan. 9 at Banks County Jan. 12 at Johnson Jan. 15 North Hall Jan. 16 Tift County Jan. 18 BCB Showcase at Peachtree Ridge (boys) Jan. 19 at Chestatee Jan. 22 at Stephens County Jan. 23 Morgan County Jan. 26 Monroe Area Jan. 29 at Madison County Jan. 30 at Wesleyan (girls) Feb. 5 White County

had gone three seasons with nine or fewer victories.

Whitehart also took Centennial to a title game and has a 212-68 career record.

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GIRLS COACH: Gene Durden 2014-15 RECORD: 30-3 RETURNING REGULAR: Chandler Hall, 5-11, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Zikaya Wright, 5-11, Jr. Marissa Bruce, 5-8, Jr. Snoodie Johnson, 5-4, Jr. Tory Ozment, 6-0, Soph.

Jessica Nelson, 6-3, Soph.

Tatum Shipes, 6-3, Soph.

Rachel Dobbs, 5-6, Jr. Audrey Weiner, 5-11, Soph.

Mary Walters, 5-9, Soph.

OUTLOOK: The Wolves must replace North Carolina State signee Camille Anderson and three other starters from last season’s Class AAAA state championship team, but coach Gene Durden again has a deep and talented squad. Anderson sprained an ankle in the semifinals, but the Wolves edged Carrollton 35-34 even with their top player hobbled.

Senior Carter Hall, a threeyear starter, returns and juniors Zikaya Wright, Marissa Bruce and Snoodie Johnson were all key contributors a season ago. The Wolves will also get a boost from talented sophomore Tory Ozment, who missed last season because of a knee injury. Potentially giving Buford plenty of size inside are a pair of

6-foot-3 sophomores, Tatum Shipes and Jessica Nelson.

Shipes, though, may decide to concentrate at volleyball, where she is an Auburn commitment.

WORTH NOTING: St. Pius, led by All-American Asia Durr, knocked off Buford en route to state titles in 2013 and 2014, but Buford turned the tables in the state quarterfinals last year, knocking off the Lions 59-55 at home. … The Wolves won four state championships in Durden’s first 10 seasons, playing in a title game six of the past seven seasons. …

Buford won three straight titles in Class AA from 2009 through 2011 before moving up to Class AAA and then Class AAAA. … Durden, entering his 28th season as a coach, has a 263-57 record at Buford.

FAST FACT: Buford will play its annual showdown with rival Wesleyan at Wesleyan on Jan. 30. Wesleyan won the Class AA state title last season and has 11 state championships overall. Since Buford’s first championship in 2009, the schools have combined for 10 titles. Buford broke a five-game losing streak to Wesleyan with a 54-53 home victory last season.

central gwinnett

BLACK KNIGHTS REGION 8-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Branden Mayweather 2014-15 RECORD: 9-17 RETURNING REGULARS: Derrick Lawrence, 5-9, Soph.

Kevin Stamps, 6-6, Sr. Adnan Antonio, 6-5, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Jalen Hillery, 6-3, Jr. Zion Fluellen, 6-4, Soph.

Jaquan Morris, 6-3, Jr. Jamal Johns, 5-9, Jr. Kwinton Turner, 5-11, Jr. OUTLOOK: The Black Knights were disappointed in their 2014-15 season, and the returning players aim to turn things around. “I expected us to have a better season than we did, but really it’s made these guys work,” Central boys coach Branden Mayweather said.

“Going into this next season, I really think it’s what fueled the summer workouts, the preseason workouts. I’m really expecting a lot from this group.” Seniors Kevin Stamps and Adnan Antonio are two of the returnees, and they offer Central some size at 6-6 and 6-5. Sophomore guard Derrick Lawrence also brings experience after playing in 25 games as a freshman. Those three are s Central’s Kevin Stamps surrounded with talent, including a junior class that inexperienced at the varsity they haven’t been tested yet,” won county titles as eighthlevel. “We’ve got a lot of juMayweather said. “They’ve and ninth-graders, albeit niors that are talented but been good in the eighth

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 21 at North Gwinnett, Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 21 Riverwood at Wesleyan Turkey Tipoff (girls) Nov. 23-24 TBA at Wesleyan Turkey Tipoff (girls) Nov. 24 Collins Hill at North Gwinnett, Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 28 East Paulding Dec. 1 at Berkmar Dec. 4 Archer Dec. 8 at Shiloh Dec. 12 Dacula Dec. 18 at Peachtree Ridge Dec. 28-31 at Morgan County Holiday Classic (boys); at Alabama Holiday Tournament (girls) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge (boys) Jan. 5 South Gwinnett Jan. 8 at Brookwood Jan. 9 Grayson Jan. 12 Parkview Jan. 19 Shiloh Jan. 23 at Archer Jan. 26 at Dacula Jan. 29 at South Gwinnett Jan. 30 Brookwood Feb. 2 at Grayson Feb. 5 at Parkview

grade, and at the sub-varsity levels but now it’s time to step it up.”

WORTH NOTING: Among the seniors who graduated off last season’s Central team are double-figure

scorers Karon Jackson (11.3 ppg) and Jeremiah Buford (10.9 ppg). … The Black Knights scheduled a couple of early-season tests against Region 7-AAAAAA teams in the Jared Cook Classic, with matchups vs. host North Gwinnett in the opener and then Collins Hill in the second game. They also will play a post-Christmas tournament at Morgan County … Mayweather played high school basketball at Dacula.

FAST FACT: The finish to the regular season will be a tough stretch for Central, with five of the last six games in region play on the road.

GIRLS COACH: Tracey Tipton 2014-15 RECORD: 15-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Ericka Perez, 5-8, Sr. Nyla Murray, 5-9, Jr. Maima Sonii, 5-5, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Tawnecia Rush, 5-8, Sr. Jayla Black, 5-8, Jr. OUTLOOK: The Central girls will boast a mostly revamped lineup, as graduation took the majority of last season’s key players. The biggest loss was the go-to player of the last few seasons, Alexandra Frazier, Gwinnett’s top scorer the past two years. Frazier averaged 22.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 2.4

assists as a senior. Her loss was huge, as was the graduation of fellow senior Briana McGee. Maima Sonii and Ericka Perez, both returning guards, will try to fill the void left by Frazier, while Nyla Murray brings experience to the post. Tawnecia Rush and Jayla Black also figure to be key contributors in the post. “This year will be pretty much like putting a completely brand-new team on the floor,” Tipton said. “It’s going to take some time for us to develop and learn to work together but hopefully by the end of the year we will be a team that can and will compete with everyone.”

WORTH NOTING: Central had an impressive regular season in 2014-15, but its finish was disappointing when it was upset by Shiloh in the first round of the Region 8-AAAAAA Tournament. … Frazier signed with East Carolina and McGee signed with North Georgia.

FAST FACT: Tipton was an assistant at Central for three seasons until taking over as head coach before last season. She previously served as head girls coach at Collins Hill, where she coached current WNBA star Maya Moore and led the Eagles to state championships in 2006 and 2007.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 7

collins hill

EAGLES REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Ty Baumgardner 2014-15 RECORD: 18-8 RETURNING REGULARS: Kai Lambert, 6-3, Sr. Max Clark, 6-1, Jr. J.D. Ozoh, 6-2, Jr. Justin Macaulay, 6-5, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: A.J. Cheeseman, 6-6, Sr. Chris Parks, 6-5, Soph.

TeShaun Hightower, 6-4, Sr. OUTLOOK: From an overall standpoint, Ty Baumgardner’s initial season as head coach was a major success after the Eagles added five wins from the previous season.

However, if there’s one thing he wants his team to improve upon in his second season is a better finish, as the Eagles dropped six of their final nine games and missed the postseason despite a 15-2 start to the campaign.

“I think we kind of experienced some success early on that we weren’t quite, maybe, anticipating or ready for,” Baumgardner said. “Even though it kind of looked like we hit a wall late, we didn’t get some bounces go our way and didn’t make some free throws when we needed to make some free throws in some games that could’ve been a difference in seeding come (region)

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s Collins Hill’s Kai Lambert tournament time. So, 18-8 was still a pretty good year, all things considered.”

With four full- or part-time starters back from last season, including secondleading scorer and leading rebounder Kai Lambert, there is a good nucleus for the Eagles to build upon to take another step forward.

Further giving them a boost is the arrival of a trio of transfers.

Senior A.J. Cheeseman averaged 11.4 points, 7.1 rebounds and 1.1 blocked

shots at Duluth last year, while fellow senior TeShaun Hightower was one of DeKalb County’s top scorers after averaging 18 points per game at Towers.

Meanwhile, junior Chris Parks joins Cheeseman and bolstering the low post after averaging 8.0 points and 5.2 rebounds at Lanier.

WORTH NOTING: Baumgardner will likely see some familiar faces when he takes his current team to the Charlotte Hoops Challenge in North Carolina over Thanks-

Nov. 21 at Clarkston (boys) Nov. 24 vs. Central Gwinnett in Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett (boys) Nov. 27-28 at Charlotte (N.C.) Hoops Challenge (boys) Nov. 28 at Loganville Showcase (girls) Dec. 4 at Mill Creek Dec. 5 vs. Johns Creek (girls) Dec. 8 vs. Norcross Dec. 12 vs. Holy Innocents’ (girls) and vs. Clarkston (boys) Dec. 14 vs. North Gwinnett Dec. 19 vs. Mountain View Dec. 21 at McDonald’s Big South Tournament, Valdosta Dec. 28-30 at Commerce Holiday Tournament (boys) Jan. 5 at Duluth Jan. 8 at Meadowcreek Jan. 12 vs. Peachtree Ridge Jan. 15 vs. Mill Creek Jan. 19 at Norcross Jan. 22 at Mountain View Jan. 23 at St. Francis (girls) Jan. 26 at North Gwinnett Jan. 29 vs. Duluth Feb. 2 vs. Meadowcreek Feb. 5 at Peachtree Ridge

giving weekend.

The Eagles are slated to take on his former team, Charlotte’s Olympic High School, in one of Collins Hill’s two games scheduled for the weekend.

GIRLS COACH: Brian Harmon 2014-15 RECORD: 11-15 RETURNING REGULARS: Kyra Dixon, 6-0, Sr. Sydney Brown, 5-7, Sr. Jazmin Smith, 5-6, Sr. Jaelin White, 5-10, Sr. Nia Lee, 5-11, Jr. Jada Rice, 6-3, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Javyn Nicholson, 6-3, Fr. Bria Harmon, 5-7, Fr. Jordan Releford, 5-6, Fr. Desiree Conner, 5-6, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Brian Harmon likes the building blocks he has to work with as he takes over the reins of the Eagles program.

In addition to inheriting a group of four experienced seniors, led by Kyra Dixon, he also welcomes in a large group of promising younger players that includes his own daughter Bria.

And he has as high expectations of his large group of freshmen and sophomores as he does his seniors and juniors.

“They’re actually pretty seasoned,” Harmon said of his youngsters. “They’ve played a lot in travel ball, and they’ve looked pretty good in practice so far. We had a really good June with them.

We’re going to have actual competition to see who starts, and think that will pull

the best out of everyone.

“We’ve got a pretty good group of kids and we’re pretty balanced. We’ve got good size at each position and players playing in their true position.”

Dixon may be the biggest beneficiary of that situation.

After playing a lot in the post last season, the development of Jada Rice and the addition of freshman Javyn Nicholson will allow the Stony Brook-bound senior to play more at the forward position.

“She’ll be able to play the three a lot more this season,” Harmon said of Dixon. “We’re really happy to have two true posts this year.”

WORTH NOTING: On the surface, it might seem concerning that the Eagles will have to get used to their fourth new head coach in the last five seasons.

However, Harmon is actually no stranger to many of the Eagles after having coached for several years on the AAU circuit, most recently with the FBC (Finest Basketball Club) program based in Suwanee.

“Many these kids were in the (FBC) program,” Harmon said. “The senior kids were there years ago, so I know pretty much everybody, the parents and the kids. So, we’ll hit the ground running.”

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BOYS COACH: Russ Triaga 2014-15 RECORD: 20-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Kevon Tucker, 6-4, Sr. Derek St. Hilaire, 5-10, Sr. Demari Edwards, 6-3, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Gary Bishop, 6-0, Jr. Aruscha Hunter, 6-3, Soph.

Shayne Buckingham, 6-4, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Dacula finished as the Region 8-AAAAAA runner-up last season and advanced to the second round of the state tournament for the second straight season. The Falcons return four starters, including leading scorer Kevon Tucker and his 18.3 points per game average. He also averaged 6.4 rebounds per game last season. Seniors Derek St. Hilaire (12 points) and Demari Edwards (6 points, 4.8 rebounds) are back. Sophomore Shayne Buckingham returns after playing in all 30 games as a freshman. Junior Gary Bishop (2 points and 1.1 rebounds) and sophomore Aruscha Hunter (4.7 points) along with a few other underclassmen will also be key contributors for Dacula this season.

Head coach Russ Triaga said he knows what he’s going to get from his three seniors, but will need the

dacula

FALCONS REGION 8-AAAAAA

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 16 at Gainesville Nov. 21-24 Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 21-24 Parkview TipOff Classic (girls) Nov. 28 vs. Lowndes in Loganville Showcase (girls) Nov. 28 On the Radar Tournament at Duluth Dec. 5 Mill Creek Dec. 8 at South Gwinnett Dec. 11 Brookwood Dec. 12 at Central Gwinett Dec. 19 SEBA Hoopfest (boys) Dec. 28-31 Kingdom of the Sun Tournament in Ocala, Fla. Dec. 28-31 Ladies Land Air Classic in Greenville, Tenn. (girls) Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge (girls) Jan. 8 Parkview Jan. 9 at Berkmar Jan. 12 Archer Jan. 16 Shiloh Jan. 19 South Gwinnett Jan. 22 at Brookwood Jan. 23 at Shiloh Jan. 29 Grayson Jan. 30 at Parkview Feb. 2 Berkmar Feb. 5 at Archer

s Dacula’s Jonnae Johnson younger players to get better throughout the season.

“More than anything it just makes us realize that the guys behind them, what the younger guys do, they’re going to determine how far

we can go and how well we can play,” he said. “The three seniors that are pretty well experienced, I know what I’m going to get from them.

It’s matter of what those sophomores and juniors are

going to contribute, some freshmen as well. That group of guys has the most incline from the beginning of the year to the end of the year and if they can make a big jump for us by the time we

gwinnettprepsports.com

get to the middle of January we should be OK.” WORTH NOTING: Dacula made the state tournament last season for the fourth straight season and has averaged 20 wins the last three seasons … The Falcons defeated North Gwinnett 73-62 in the first round of the state tournament.

GIRLS COACH: Jason Adams 2014-15 RECORD: 16-13 RETURNING REGULARS: Faustine Aifuwa, 6-5, Sr. Jonnae Johnson, 5-9, Sr. Kandy Brown, 6-1, Jr. Helena Lee, 5-7, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Alaina Bock, 6-2, Jr. Kayla West, 5-7, Jr. OUTLOOK: Dacula made the state playoffs last season for the first time in nine years, falling to Mountain View in the first round. The Falcons return four starters from that team, and another player in Kandy Brown who played big minutes when senior Star Toomey was injured last season.

“I think that was a big deal to them last year,” head coach Jason Adams said. “To get in the state playoffs after nine years of not being there and getting that taste and being so close to advancing. I think we ended up losing by (nine) to Mountain View and it went

down to the very end. You realize how close you are and how far you could have advanced and I think that motivates them a lot.”

Dacula’s top-two scorers return in LSU commit Faustine Aifuwa (14 points, 12 rebounds, 4.5 blocks per game) and senior guard Jonnae Johnson (14 points).

Sophomore point guard Helena Lee returns after taking over the starting job midway through the season last year. Brown will see a big role increase with Toomey’s graduation and 6-foot-2 junior Alaina Bock will be a big contributor after missing the majority of last season with a torn ACL. In a loaded Region 8-AAAAAA, the Falcons are ready to push Parkview and Archer for the top spot.

“It starts on the defensive end for us,” Adams said. “Defensive pressure, rebounding, holding teams to one shot and then getting out in transition — our posts running the floor, our guards pushing it up. That’s pretty much it.”

WORTH NOTING: Adams is a Dacula graduate and led the Falcons to the state playoffs in his first season at the helm after previously coaching Central Gwinnett …

Aifuwa chose LSU over offers from Kentucky, Georgia and Florida State among others.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 9

discovery

TITANS REGION 8-AAAAA

BOYS COACH: Cory Cason 2014-15 RECORD: N/A PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jevonte Gordon, 6-0, Sr. D.J. Young, 5-11, Jr. Curtis Newman, 6-1, Sr. Theo Benn, 6-2, Sr. Michael Ball, 5-9, Sr. OUTLOOK: On the one hand, Discovery might be an appropriate name for the school’s first team given that there is so much going into the program’s inaugural season that is unknown.

But based on what he’s been able to see so far, head coach Cory Cason is pleased about at least one aspect of his initial team.

“I think going into the season, our depth will be our biggest asset,” Cason said. “I feel really good that we can play 12 to 15 guys.

Consistently, realistically, we can play about 10 to 12 guys a night and feel good about it. We’ve got a lot of guard depth. We’ve got two or three guys who can help us out up front, and we’ll rotate a ton of guards. We’ll tempo up and use our depth, which is our biggest asset, especially going into region and try to build from there.”

Among that large rotation of guards is a surprising number of upperclassmen, with Jevonte Gordon, Curtis Newman, Theo Benn and Michael Ball all being seniors and D.J. Young being a junior.

Still, Cason admits he won’t really see what he has to work with until he can actually get the team on

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s Discovery’s Michael Ball the court.

“The biggest challenge probably is not being able to spend (much) time practicing with them in the fall,” Cason said. “We start practice, … and we basically get two weeks and then … let’s roll it out and play a game.”

WORTH NOTING: Like his counterpart with the girls team, Tamara Brooks, Cason has a lot of winning experience after serving as a junior varsity head coach at Norcross and varsity assistant to

Nov. 13 at Harrison (boys) Nov. 17 vs. White Co. at Norcross (boys) Nov. 21-24 at Chestatee Tournament Nov. 28 at Heritage-Conyers Dec. 1 North Springs Dec. 4 at Jefferson Dec. 5 Clarke Central Dec. 8 at North Hall Dec. 12 Loganville Dec. 14 Cedar Shoals Dec. 22 North Hall Dec. 28-30 at Grayson Ram Classic (girls) Dec. 30 Sprayberry (boys) Jan. 5 at Salem Jan. 8 at Lanier Jan. 9 Winder-Barrow Jan. 12 Gainesville Jan. 15 Flowery Branch Jan. 16 Lanier Jan. 22 at Winder-Barrow Jan. 26 Apalachee Jan. 29 at Gainesville Feb. 2 at Flowery Branch Feb. 5 at Apalachee

Jesse McMillan.

FAST FACT: Though the program’s initial game will be a home scrimmage against Meadowcreek, the Titans’ first official home game won’t take place until Dec. 1, when North Springs comes to the Lawrenceville school. Before then, Discovery will play road games against Harrison and HeritageConyers (the latter being the inaugural region game), as well as a game against White County at Norcross and at a tournament at

Chestatee in Hall County.

Another scheduling quirk has the Titans playing home-and-home games against their region foes except Heritage, Salem, Loganville, Clarke Central and Cedar Shoals, whom they will play just once each. The two Athens area schools and Loganville will play at Discovery, while the games against the two Rockdale County foes will be on the road.

GIRLS COACH: Tamara Brooks 2014-15 RECORD: N/A PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jasia Paraoan, 5-0, Jr. Jaryn Priester, 5-5, Sr. OUTLOOK: Tamara Brooks admits that building a brand-new program from the ground up is a challenge unlike anything she’s ever faced before in her career.

However, the veteran coach is eager to help shape the kind of atmosphere her young group of Titans will experience and build for the future.

“Because they’re not coming into someone else’s culture or expectations from the past, to me, it’s nice to have a blank slate,” Brooks said. “You get to set the tradition.

You get to build the culture. I get to take everything I learned from Coach (Randy) Gowen and Coach (Angie) Hembree at Berkmar and at Norcross and put my own flair on it.”

The stamp Brooks puts on the brand-new Discovery program will

start with a very young group of players made up primarily of freshmen and sophomores.

However, there is a little bit of experience, particularly in the backcourt, where senior Jaryn Priester and junior Jasia Paraoan have both had some varsity experience in the past at Berkmar.

And with little size to speak of, due in no small part to the team’s youth, Brooks says the perimeter game and running the floor will be the team’s focus out of the gate.

“Everything this year will be based on speed and just being smarter than the other team,” Brooks said.

“Because they’re so inexperienced, a lot of it will be learning how to play basketball, learning how to play fast-paced basketball.”

WORTH NOTING: To start out, the Titans will play in Region 8-AAAAA along with Lanier, Gainesville, Flowery Branch, HeritageConyers, Salem, Winder-Barrow, Apalachee, Clarke Central, Cedar Shoals and Loganville.

FAST FACT: Brooks has known plenty of success in her coaching career, having assisted Gowen on a state-tournament team at Berkmar in 2006-07 before succeeding him and guiding the Patriots to postseason appearances over the next two seasons.

She then moved on to Norcross in 2012, where she served as an assistant to Angie Hembree, including the Blue Devils’ Class AAAAAA state title team in 2013 and state runner-up team this past season.

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BOYS COACH: Eddie Hood 2014-15 RECORD: 20-9 RETURNING REGULARS: Obinna Ofodile, 6-7, Sr. Javis Diaz, 6-4, Sr. Jalen Hodges, 6-5, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Brandon Blair, 6-0, Jr. Adam Powell, 6-9, Fr. Adam Flagler, 6-0, Soph.

OUTLOOK: On the surface, the Wildcats appear to have been devastated by attrition with the loss of so many key players from last season’s 20-win campaign. The loss of Joseph Gordon to graduation and Anthony Showell and A.J. Cheeseman to transfer removes more than 44 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and four steals per game from the lineup. However, head coach Eddie Hood is still very optimistic of his team’s chances to remain postseason contenders this year with a solid core of players that do return. “Sometimes there’s addition by subtraction,” Hood said. “In many cases, I felt like our team got better as a team (at times) because they played team ball and were committed to playing for each other. So, with Obinna being the cornerstone of what we’ve done the last four years — he anchors our defense and he’s going to be an offensive presence this year.”

duluth

WILDCATS REGION 7-AAAAAA

s Duluth’s Obinna Ofodile Indeed, Ofodile, who will start the season fully healthy for the first time in four seasons as a letterman, should add an offensive dimension to his game in addition to being the shot-blocker and rebounder extraordinaire he’s been.

Meanwhile, both Javis Diaz and Jalen Hodges got plenty of experience last season and will look to increase their roles.

The Wildcats will also benefit from the addition of a pair of newcomers in Brandon Blair, who was the leading scorer for Shiloh’s Region 8-AAAAAA champion junior varsity team last season, and freshman

Adam Powell, who should team with Ofodile to provide plenty of size in the paint.

WORTH NOTING: The Wildcats reached several different milestones last season, including posting their third straight winning season for the first time since the early 1990s. ... In addition, their trip to the region championship game was their first since 1999 and gave the program its first back-to-back state tournament appearances since 1985-86. ... 2014-15 was the program’s first 20win season since winning 23 games in 1985.

GIRLS COACH: Charlie Parker 2014-15 RECORD: 17-13 RETURNING REGULARS: Deja Mitchell, 6-0, Jr. Endia Banks, 5-9, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Destinee Auzenne, 5-3, Jr. Erika Dunn, 5-6, Fr. Torey Walker, 5-11, Fr. OUTLOOK: The Wildcats’ talent for the 2015-16 season seems to be stocked in waves, and young waves at that, with no seniors on the opening-day roster.

The first wave, however, does have plenty of experience in the form of juniors like Endia Banks, who led the team in scoring (13.3 ppg) and steals (2.5 spg), was second on the team in rebounding (5.1 rpg) and tied for second in assists (1.5 apg), and Deja Mitchell (7 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.5 spg), who was also among the team leaders in several categories.

In addition,Destinee Auzenne returns to Duluth after attending Peachtree Ridge last year to further bolster the strong junior class, particularly on the perimeter.

The next wave is what appears to be another strong and enthusiastic freshman class, led by Erika Dunn in the backcourt and Torey Walker on the low block. Head coach Charlie Parker said he’s extremely excited about the

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possibilities from such a blend of two different age groups.

“There are no seniors this year, so obviously, this junior class is our strongest class,” Parker said. “So, it’ll be a twoyear process for them. Some of these upcoming freshmen, we want them to be able to come in and produce right away. They played with us over the summer and got some good varsity minutes, so we’re going to continue to work hard with them and get them as varsity-ready as we can before we tip it off for our first game.”

WORTH NOTING: As tough as Region 7-AAAAAA has been in recent years with traditional powers like Norcross and Mill Creek, plus up-andcoming programs like Mountain View, it’s easy to overlook just how strong Duluth has been over the past decade.

The Wildcats extended their postseason streak to four straight seasons in 2014-15, matching the longest such streak in school history, when they made it to the state tournament in Classes B and C under coach Louis Grizzle from 1966-67 to 1969-70.

That streak included two state runner-up finishes.

Beyond the streak, Duluth has reached the postseason for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, missing only in the 2009-10 campaign.

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 vs. Druid Hills Nov. 19-23 Parkview Holiday Tournament (girls) Nov. 21 Nike Exposure Event at Berkmar (boys) Nov. 24 vs. Berkmar at Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett (boys) Nov. 27 at Holy Innocents’ in Hoopgiving Atlanta Classic (boys) Nov. 28 vs. Archer at On The Radar Invitational at Duluth (boys) Dec. 1 at Mill Creek Dec. 4 vs. Mountain View Dec. 8 vs. Peachtree Ridge Dec. 10 vs. North Gwinnett Dec. 12 vs. White Creek at Nashville (Tenn.) Showcase (boys) Dec. 12 at Berkmar Showcase (girls) Dec. 18 vs. Rockdale Co. Dec. 19 SEBA Showcase at Pope Dec. 28-30 Antebellum Holiday Classic at GCSU, Milledgeville (boys) Dec. 28-30 at X-Mass Holiday Tournament (girls) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge at Archer (girls) Jan. 5 vs. Collins Hill Jan. 8 vs. Norcross Jan. 12 at Meadowcreek Jan. 15 at Mountain View Jan. 20 at Peachtree Ridge Jan. 22 at North Gwinnett Jan. 26 vs. Mill Creek Jan. 29 at Collins Hill Feb. 2 at Norcross Feb. 5 vs. Meadowcreek

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 11

greater atlanta christian

SPARTANS REGION 6-AA

BOYS COACH: David Eaton 2014-15 RECORD: 19-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Garrett Covington, 6-4, Sr. Brian Coffey, 6-1, Jr. Jacob Hoffman, 6-4, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Charlie O’Briant, 6-8, Jr. Buck Blanz, 6-4, Sr. Basil Peterson, 6-0, Sr. Jordan Williams, 5-9, Sr. Anthony Carter, 6-2, Sr. Hunter McIntosh, 6-0, Fr. Chris Hinton, 6-5, Fr. OUTLOOK: When Eddie Martin stepped down after last season, Greater Atlanta Christian turned to an alum, David Eaton, as its next head boys basketball coach. Eaton has 10 years of coaching experience, beginning as director of basketball operations at his alma mater, Wofford College. He also was an assistant coach at Dorman (S.C.) and then an assistant and head coach at Wando (S.C.). He had a 13050 record with three region titles and the 2014 Class AAAA state title as Wando’s head coach. “It means a lot (to coach at GAC),” Eaton said. “I was coming from a good place. This was really a good chance to be in a better situation with such a good basketball tradition.

I wanted to go to a place where the expectations were

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s GAC’s Brian Coffey really high. I knew I’d get to coach some really good athletes and really good players.” Eaton inherits a team with a solid group of returning players, headed up by Garrett Covington. Covington averaged a team highs 16.5 points and 8.9 rebounds as a junior. Guard Brian Coffey also returns after averaging 9.7 points and 3.7 assists, as does sharp-shooting Jacob Hoffman (12.1 ppg).

12 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

Charlie O’Briant and Buck Blanz give the team some size, while Basil Peterson, Jordan Williams and Anthony Carter also are seniors with experience.

WORTH NOTING: Martin had an astonishing 193-29 record in seven seasons at GAC that included four state championships. The Spartans lost in the second round of state last season. … Two of GAC’s top players

Nov. 17 Whitefield Academy (girls), Lakeview Academy (boys) Nov. 20 Verizon Tournament at St. Francis Nov. 21, 23-24 at North Forsyth Tournament Dec. 1 Seneca, S.C. (boys) Dec. 4 at Holy Innocents’ Dec. 5 Stephenson (girls) Dec. 8 at Pace Academy Dec. 11 at Hapeville Charter Dec. 12 at Berkmar Showcase (girls) Dec. 22 at St. Pius Dec. 28-30 at Deep South Classic (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge Jan. 5 Wesleyan Jan. 8 KIPP Atlanta Jan. 9 Lovett Jan. 12 BEST Academy (boys) Jan. 15 Holy Innocents’ Jan. 19 Pace Academy Jan. 22 Hapeville Charter Jan. 26 at Wesleyan Jan. 29 at KIPP Atlanta Feb. 2 at Lovett Feb. 5 at BEST Academy (boys)

in recent seasons, Malcolm Brogdon and Isaiah Wilkins, both play at Virginia. … The Spartans have won seven state championships in boys basketball — 1971, 1972, 1977, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014.

gwinnettprepsports.com

FAST FACT: Eaton was a two-time Daily Post all-county player during his career at GAC from 1998-2000. He helped the Spartans to a 48-7 record and two region titles during that span. His sister Lauren won two state titles at GAC in girls basketball.

GIRLS COACH: Lady Grooms 2014-15 RECORD: 9-17 RETURNING REGULARS: Lexi Mann, 6-1, Jr. Caria Reynolds, 5-11, Soph.

Clarke Permenter, 5-9, Sr. Brenna Miller, 5-10, Sr. Caeden Price, 5-7, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Taylor Sutton, 5-6, Soph.

Tamiah Lewis, 5-7, Jr. Kennedi Williams, 5-7, Fr. Bianca Fizouaty, 5-7, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Greater Atlanta Christian hit rebuilding mode last season under new head coach Lady Grooms, who was hired to replace Cal Boyd. She inherited a young team that lost its two go-to players, but the Spartans had a solid team in her debut season, which ended with a region tournament loss to Hapeville Charter.

Lexi Mann, Caria Reynolds, Clarke Permenter, Brenna Miller and Caeden Price were big contributors last season, and they have some new help this season from a

promising group of newcomers. Junior Tamiah Lewis is a move-in from North Atlanta, where she averaged 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds as a sophomore.

She is joined by sophomores and Woodward Academy transfers Taylor Sutton and Bianca Fizouaty. Sutton, a point guard who averaged 13.3 points as a freshman, already has experience with USA Basketball’s youth national teams. Grooms also is expecting early contributions from freshman Kennedi Williams.

WORTH NOTING: Grooms, then Hardmon, was a two-time All-SEC player at Georgia in the early 1990s and finished in the school’s top 10 for career scoring, assists and steals. She was named an SEC Legend in 2010 and played eight seasons in the WNBA and 13 seasons internationally. …

Grooms coached at Arlington Christian for seven years before being hired at GAC, helping the team there to four consecutive GISA state titles from 2009-2012.

FAST FACT: GAC reached the state playoffs five straight seasons under previous head coach Boyd, including two trips to the Final Four and one to the state championship game.

BOYS COACH: Geoffrey Pierce 2014-15 RECORD: 15-11 RETURNING REGULARS: Alphonso Willis, 6-2, Sr. Austin Dukes, 6-0, Sr. Trevian Sconiers, 6-4, Sr. Hafeez Anifowoshe, 6-4, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Marquan Shakur, 6-8, Sr. Justin Fleming, 6-0, Fr. Kyle Butts, 6-3, Jr. Brandon Uziewe, 6-1, Sr. Nick Edwards, 5-6, Soph.

OUTLOOK: On the surface, it would be easy to look at last season as somewhat of a step back, as the Rams fell back to 15 wins and missed the state tournament.

However, they still had a winning record and got valuable experience for a number of players, including returning starters like All-County wing Alphonso Willis, who is the second-leading scorer among all of the county’s returning players after averaging 18.4 points in 2014-15, and also was among the team leaders in just about every statistical category.

The return of Austin Dukes at the point and high-jumping shot erasers and rebounders Trevian Sconiers and Hafeez Anifowoshe will also be a major boost, while the addition of 6-foot-8 Connecticut move-in Marquan Shakur will give the Rams some much

grayson

RAMS REGION 8-AAAAAA

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 Centennial Nov. 20 at Lanier Nov. 21-24 Titan Classic at North Oconee (girls) Nov. 28 vs. East Jackson in On The Radar Classic at Duluth (boys) Dec. 1 Brookwood Dec. 5 at Centennial Dec. 8 at Berkmar Dec. 11 Archer Dec. 12 at Parkview Dec. 19 Lanier Dec. 28-30 Ram Classic at Grayson Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge at Grayson (boys) Jan. 5 Dacula Jan. 8 at Shiloh Jan. 9 at Central Gwinnett Jan. 12 South Gwinnett Jan. 15 at Brookwood Jan. 16 Shiloh Jan. 19 Berkmar Jan. 22 at Archer Jan. 26 Parkview Jan. 29 at Dacula Feb. 2 Central Gwinnett Feb. 5 at South Gwinnett

s Grayson’s Imani Connor needed size in the paint.

Add it all up, and the sum of those parts has Pierce excited about the Rams’ chances of mounting a serious challenge toward a return to the postseason for the second time in three seasons.

“The team two years ago, I think the thing that helped

them a lot was they had a lot of senior leadership (and) experience,” Pierce said.

“You can’t really duplicate or create that. You either have experience or you don’t. So, returning three starters who have been playing varsity since they were sophomores, you can’t help but

have experience.

“I think last year, there were some expectations that were put on their shoulders. I think they’ll be better equipped to deal with those expectations this year both on and off the court.”

WORTH NOTING: The Rams have never had a losing season since Pierce

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arrived in 2012, posting a 5031 record in that time.

Even more important, last season’s 15-11 mark marked the first time in Grayson history that the program has posted a winning record in back-to-back seasons.

an impact in the low post.

Also back are fellow seniors Imani Connor, who was the Rams’ primary ball-handler and defensive stopper by posting team-best averages of 3.4 assists and 3.8 steals per game last season, and Destiny Newkirk, who GIRLS cracked the starting line-up COACH: Tony Watkins after the holidays.

2014-15 RECORD: 16-10 If newcomers like South GwinRETURNING REGULARS: nett transfer Essence Jordan Imani Connor, 5-4, Sr. and youngsters like Kendra Emari Crenshaw, 5-9, Sr. Hutchinson, Jada McRae Jessica Ewing, 6-0, Sr. and the Torrence twins can Destiny Newkirk, 5-3, Sr. bolster the team’s depth, the OTHERS TO WATCH: Rams could put themselves in Kendra Hutchinson, 5-5, Soph. position to challenge to return Essence Jordan, 5-8, Sr. to the post season for the first LeLe Torrence, 5-6, Jr. time in five years.

MeeMee Torrence, 5-7, Jr. WORTH NOTING: Last Jada McRae, 6-2, Soph. season’s 16-10 mark not OUTLOOK: The Rams only gave the Rams their first made major progress in Wat- winning season since the kins’ first year on the bench, 2005-06 campaign, but also improving from 10 wins in set a school record.

2013-14 to 16 last season FAST FACT: If the Rams and nearly advancing to the can qualify for the Class postsesason.

AAAAAA state tournament To take the next step this this season, they will become season, they’ll have to do so the fifth team Watkins has without leading scorer and guided to the postseason. He all-around top player Shahas previously coached boys kara Burton, who has gone teams at Woodward Acadon to Augusta University. emy and Shiloh and girls However, Grayson’s four teams from North Gwinnett other starters from last year and Parkview to the postseaare back, including Jessica son. In all, Watkins-led teams Ewing (8.9 ppg, 9.1 rpg, 3.4 have made 18 different state bpg) and Emari Crenshaw tournament appearances, (5.0 rpg), both of whom had nine by Woodward’s boys.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 13

hebron christian

LIONS REGION 8-A

s Hebron’s Luke Crawford

BOYS COACH: Will Cantrell RETURNING REGULARS: Connor Holliday, 6-1, Sr. John Dussling, 6-2, Sr. Shane Smith, 6-1, Sr. Thomas Swift, 6-1, Sr. Luke Crawford, 6-5, Sr. Kobe Wharton, 6-0, Sr. Paul Bogdan, 6-0, Sr. OUTLOOK: For the second straight season, Hebron Christian set a school record for wins and reached the Class A state playoffs. The Lions fell to Whitefield Academy in the Sweet 16. Hebron did lose its top two scoring options in Cory Johnson and Jackson Welch to graduation, but they return seven seniors who have played varsity minutes.

“We try not to have expectations that are set by other teams in the past,” head coach Will Cantrell said. “This team is different. This team is unique. They’re really going to kind of lead the way when it comes to expectations. We always talk about the best teams being player-led. Our expectations will be determined by these kids and how they come together. We’re not going to put any expectations that they haven’t earned yet on them.”

Leading rebounder Luke Crawford (average 8 rebounds per game) gives the

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 13 Mt. Pisgah Nov. 17 at Pinecrest Nov. 20 Mt. DeSales Nov. 24 at Apalachee (boys) Dec. 1 at Mt. Paran Dec. 5 At Providence Dec. 8 Excel Dec. 12 Athens Academy Dec. 18 at Winder Dec. 22 Providence Dec. 28 vs. Walnut Grove in Winder-Barrow Christmas Tournament Dec. 29 vs. North Oconee in Winder-Barrow Christmas Tournament Dec. 30 vs. Winder-Barrow in Winder-Barrow Christmas Tournament Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge Jan. 5 at Talluah Falls Jan. 9 at Athens Christian Jan. 12 Commerce Jan. 15 Towns County Jan. 19 at Lakeview Jan. 22 Talluah Falls Jan. 23 George Walton Jan. 26 at Commerce Jan. 30 Prince Avenue Feb. 2 at Towns County Feb. 5 Lakeview

team an inside presence at 6-foot-5. Shane Smith, Thomas Swift, Connor Holliday and John Dussling also played big roles last season.

Cantrell said this year’s team will play a little different than

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gwinnettprepsports.com

previous Hebron teams.

“I think we’ve got some length,” he said. “I think we’ve got some length so we’re going to have to pick our spots when we like to run. The last few years we’ve been more of an up-tempo-type team.

Liked to shoot a lot from the outside and that sort of thing. This team is a little bit different in that our strength is probably going to be a little bit more in the half court, inside-out that sort of thing.”

WORTH NOTING: In addition to playing a big role for the Lions on the hard court this season, Dussling is a two-way starter at offensive line and defensive end for the Hebron football team.

FAST FACT: Hebron will play three games in the WinderBarrow Christmas Tournament at the end of December and also play in the Gwinnett County Challenge.

GIRLS COACH: Lori Fisher 2014-15 RECORD: 8-17 RETURNING REGULARS: Madison Cagle, 5-7, Sr. Athena Hawkins, 5-7, Sr. Yarimel Ramirez, 5-6, Sr. Mathis Bagwell, 5-5, Soph.

OUTLOOK: The Hebron girls will be in a transition during head coach Lori Fisher’s second season at the helm as it graduated six

seniors from last year’s team.

A trio of seniors will lead the way in Madison Cagle, Athena Hawkins and Yarimel Ramirez.

While the team does lose some height and experience with those seniors, Fisher thinks that this year’s team will have an ability to generate some offense in the transition game.

“We’re going to be quicker than the group last year,” she said. “Last year we were more of a half court offense, I think this year we’re going to push it some more. We’re not as big as we were last year so I think the perimeter is going to where we’re going to be going to mostly … we’ve got some quick hands, quick feet and we’ll try to generate off of defense I think.

Mathis Bagwell is one of five sophomores and freshmen that Fisher hopes will be able to contribute to the varsity team this season.

WORTH NOTING: Hebron started the season 5-1 last season before dropping 12 of its next 13 games … The Lions are just three seasons removed from a Sweet 16 appearance in 2013.

FAST FACT: Hebron will play Walnut Grove, North Oconee and Winder-Barrow in the Winder-Barrow Christmas tournament.

lanier

LONGHORNS REGION 8-AAAAA

BOYS COACH: Jeremy Huckaby 2014-15 record: 11-13 RETURNING REGULARS: Adrian Martin, 6-2, Soph.

Tyler Taylor, 6-2, Jr. A.J. Holmes, 6-1, Sr. Juwuan Jones, 6-3, Jr. Derrick Brown, 6-5, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Christian Pasley, 5-10, Soph.

Justin Simon, 6-0, Soph.

Marcus Whitaker, 6-4, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Going with a young lineup, Lanier held its own in Region 8-AAAAA but fell short of its first state playoff trip. Close losses doomed the Longhorns throughout the season, and coach Jeremy Huckaby thinks those results will trend more toward his team this season after a year of growing up.

Sophomore Adrian Martin returns after averaging 12.1 points as a freshman. “Adrian Martin, he’s a sophomore who shot 46 percent from 3 (-point range) and hit 62 of them as a freshman,” Huckaby said. “He was first-team all-region in a very talented region. It doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it’s a really talented region top to bottom. I really think he’s going to have a tremendous year.” Four upperclassmen also are back — Derrick Brown, A.J. Holmes, Tyler Taylor and Juwuan Jones. Brown, at 6-foot-5 and more than 300 pounds, is a force inside who averaged in double figures scoring last season. Big things also are expected from sophomores Christian Pasley, Justin Simon and

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s Lanier’s Adrian Martin Marcus Whitaker. “We’ve got everybody back,” Huckaby said. “We’ve got a nice group. I think we have all the pieces. I think this is the year we break through the wall (and make state).”

WORTH NOTING: Lanier will get stronger on the interior and as a team when football season is over.

Brown, Taylor and James are all key football players and college prospects for the Longhorns, including Brown, ranked as the state’s No. 1 football recruit in the senior class. “Once the football guys come

GWINNETT DAILY POST

out there, we’ve got a lot of size,” Huckaby said. … Before moving to Lanier when it opened, Huckaby led the Duluth girls to the Final Four.

FAST FACT: Seven of the Longhorns’ 13 losses last season were by one possession, including four in overtime and two at the buzzer.

Those losses include an OT loss

GIRLS COACH: Oji Perkins 2014-15 record: 4-20 RETURNING REGULARS: Ashlan Leazer, 5-9, Sr. Bailey Bassette, 5-8, Soph.

Jamyah Montissol, 5-8, Soph.

Angela Raez, 5-7, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Kalen Surles, 5-6, Fr. Mekala Fuller, 5-3, Fr. Jasmine Sullivan, 5-10, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Oji Perkins, a successful track and cross country coach at Lanier and North Gwinnett in past seasons, was hired in the offseason as Lanier’s new girls basketball coach. He also has coached basketball since 1998, but this is his first head coaching job at the high school level. “I’m just trying to keep it real mellow in the first year,” Perkins said. “Expectations are through the roof because of what I’ve done with the cross country program and the track program, and my track record with other sports. I’m coming in used to building programs from scratch or turning a bad program into a good one. At North Gwinnett, the track and field program was kind of on the outs and after three years we were competing for region championships and sending kids to state.

Now that’s the expectation for the

girls here. The only issue we have is that we’re just young. And it’s a new system so it’s like it’s our first year all over again. But the girls are working hard.” Perkins will employ an up-tempo style to take advantage of the team’s strengths and lack of size. No girl on the team is taller than 5-10. He hopes the hustle and effort leads to some success, which would be new for the still-young program.

WORTH NOTING: Lanier won just one region game last season. …

Perkins coached the Longhorns’ ninth-grade girls to a 6-2 region record, the only winning record in the program, last season. He also coached basketball at Oak Ridge High in Orlando and played high school basketball at Dr. Phillips in his native Florida before playing football and running track at Bucknell. … Perkins will bring a track athlete’s mentality to the basketball program, stressing conditioning and hustle. “If you’re not fit, you can’t play,” he said. “Point blank, if you’re not in shape you can’t play. We’re going to get after it. The girls have never worn mouth pieces before, but we’re wearing them this year. That’s how much we’re going to get after it.”

FAST FACT: The Longhorns have never made the state playoffs or finished with a winning record, but last season’s four-win total wasn’t a good indicator of the past. It was the program’s worst season since its inaugural year and it came on the heels of 10-, nine- and 10-win seasons.

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Nov. 20 Grayson Nov. 21 Titan Turkey Classic at North Oconee Nov. 24 Titan Turkey Classic at North Oconee Dec. 1 at Loganville Dec. 4 Salem Dec. 8 at Clarke Central Dec. 10 Heritage Dec. 14 North Hall Dec. 18 at Cedar Shoals Dec. 19 at Grayson Dec. 28 Centennial at Grayson Ram Classic Dec. 29 Oconee County at Grayson Ram Classic (girls), Buford at Grayson Ram Classic (boys) Dec. 30 Discovery at Grayson Ram Classic (girls), Jefferson at Grayson Ram Classic (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge at Archer Jan. 5 at Gainesville Jan. 8 Discovery Jan. 9 at Chattahoochee Jan. 12 Apalachee Jan. 15 at Winder-Barrow Jan. 16 at Discovery Jan. 19 Flowery Branch Jan. 22 Gainesville Jan. 29 at Apalachee Feb. 2 Winder-Barrow Feb. 5 at Flowery Branch

at the buzzer to Cedar Shoals, an eventual Final Four team in the state playoffs, and a one-point loss on the road to eventual region champion Heritage.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 15

meadowcreek

MUSTANGS REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Willie Reese 2014-15 RECORD: 7-19 RETURNING REGULARS: Travontay Taylor, 6-3, Sr. Shadiah Toppin, 6-5, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Joseph Toppin, 6-5, Fr. OUTLOOK: After a mostly successful decade under head coach Billy Davis, Meadowcreek found itself in the market for a head boys coach again in the offseason and landed an experienced one in Willie Reese. Reese has won 131 games and has taken six teams to the state playoffs the past eight seasons at Landmark Christian and Sandy Creek.

He inherits a new-look team, but one that does include two experienced scorers in 6-foot-3 Travontay Taylor (12.9 ppg last season) and 6-5 Shadiah Toppin (15.1 ppg, 8 rpg). Joseph Toppin, a 6-5 freshman, also has shown potential to be a top player at the varsity level.

“We’re trying to implement that work ethic,” Reese said.

“Wherever I’ve been we’ve always been the hardestworking team around. That’s what I bring. I understand that the more work you put into it, the more results you get out. It’s going to take a little time for it to show. But that’s what we’re doing right

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 14 at Therrell (girls) Nov. 17 at Clarkston Nov. 20 Clarkston Nov. 21 Clarke Central Nov. 21, 23-24 Marietta Turkey Classic (boys) Nov. 27-28 Lou Williams Thanksgiving Classic at South Gwinnett (girls) Dec. 4 at Peachtree Ridge Dec. 8 Mill Creek Dec. 11 at Norcross Dec. 14 Mountain View Dec. 28-30 Sweet South Tournament at Morgan County (girls) Dec. 28-30 Monterrey Christmas Tournament at Evans (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge Jan. 5 at North Gwinnett Jan. 8 Collins Hill Jan. 12 Duluth Jan. 15 Peachtree Ridge Jan. 19 at Mill Creek Jan. 22 Norcross Jan. 26 at Mountain View Jan. 29 North Gwinnett Feb. 2 at Collins Hill Feb. 5 at Duluth

s Meadowcreek’s Arian Rumph now, developing that work ethic.”

WORTH NOTING: Reese, one of Gwinnett’s tallest coaches at 6-9, played basketball for four seasons at Georgia Tech, winning ACC regular-season and tournament titles with the Yellow Jackets in 1985. He

16 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

also worked as a Tech assistant coach beginning in 1999, a tenure that included the team’s run to the 2004 NCAA title game. … Meadowcreek must replace high-scoring guard Adrian Hicks, who averaged 22.5 points and 7.3 rebounds last season as a senior. … The

competition level in Region 7-AAAAAA attracted the Mustangs’ new coach. “One of the reasons I left Sandy Creek, because I had a really good team at Sandy Creek, was this region,” Reese said. “Windows of opportunity only happen at a certain time and this was

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an opporutnty to get into this region. I’ve always said this is the ACC of high schol basketball.”

FAST FACT: Under Davis, the Mustangs won 162 games and made the state playoffs six times in the past 10 seasons despite losing some talented players along the way who transferred to other schools. Their best playoff showing came in 2006, when they made the state quarterfinals.

GIRLS COACH: Sherida Triggs 2014-15 RECORD: 1-25 RETURNING REGULARS: Kaiya Ingram, 5-2, Sr. Kadejah Tyler, 5-7, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Arian Rumph, 5-7, Jr. Kiana Thaddies, 5-9, Jr. OUTLOOK: In hopes of returning the girls basketball program to prosperity, Meadowcreek named Sherida Triggs its head coach. Triggs was around for the heyday of Mustang girls basketball, leading the program to a state runner-up finish in 2002 as a junior and a return state tournament trip her senior year in 2003.

She is familiar with the current personnel after working as a community coach with the Meadowcreek girls last season and she knows

she has work to do with a program that has struggled of late. Guard Kaiya Ingram will be a senior leader for Triggs’ first team after playing heavy minutes last season.

Sophomore Kadejah Tyler also was a contributor as a freshman, while solid play also is expected from Arian Rumph and Kiana Thaddies, both juniors. Developing some interior play will be important as the season progresses, and the new coach is experienced in that regard — she has been a 6-foot-1 frontcourt player throughout her playing career.

WORTH NOTING: The Mustangs had just one varsity victory in 2014-15. … Triggs grew up in the Meadowcreek cluster from kindergarten through 12th grade, then played college basketball for four NCAA Tournament teams at Old Dominion. She played internationally in Germany, Finland and Portugal, and most recently in the Women’s Universal Basketball Association (WUBA) in the U.S. … Julissa AguirreLara and Kourtni Hill were the two biggest losses to graduation off last season’s team.

FAST FACT: Meadowcreek’s girls basketball program has produced two first-round picks in the WNBA Draft — Jocelyn Penn and Amber Holt.

mill creek

HAWKS REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: David Allen 2014-15 RECORD: 16-13 RETURNING REGULARS: Charles Botchway, 6-0, Sr. Keetone Glover, 5-9, Sr. Evan Richardson, 6-5, Sr. Miles Riley, 6-1, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Chase Cochran, 6-4, Sr. Christian Mancillas, 6-3, Jr. OUTLOOK: Longtime Mill Creek boys coach Chad Rogers stepped down after last season and the Hawks replaced him with former Central Gwinnett head coach David Allen. Allen takes over a program that made the state playoffs last season after a two-year hiatus and lost to powerful Shiloh in the first round. “We had a good summer, of course everything was new to them (with a new coach),” Mill Creek David Allen said. “Their work ethic has been really good.

You can tell Chad had done a great job with them because they all came in ready to work, wanting to work and wanting to get better.”

A few key components from Rogers’ last team graduated, including Davion Clark (12.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg), Scotty Chadwick (9.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg) and Sha Powell (9.2 ppg).

The top returning player is Charles Botchway (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.8 apg), a prolific

daughter’s final two seasons of basketball at George Walton Academy. Six of his last seven Central teams, despite significant losses from transfers, made the state playoffs and his 2009-10 team went 29-3 (a school record for wins) and made the state semifinals. … Botchway began his career at Greater Atlanta Christian before transferring to Mill Creek.

FAST FACT: The Hawks finished 16-13, but their record and region finish easily could have been better.

They suffered losses by four points or less to North Cobb, Norcross, North Gwinnett and Duluth.

GIRLS COACH: Ashley Phillips 2014-15 RECORD: 19-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Tatum Ragsdale, 6-1, Sr. Morgan Simmons, 5-7, Jr. Wynter Webb, 5-9, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Kim Forbes, 5-10, Jr. Katie Kenerly, 5-5, Jr. Holly McQueen, 5-4, Jr. Kate Kostel, 5-7, Sr. OUTLOOK: Graduation took an exceptional senior class from Mill Creek, including go-to scorer Meredith Schulte (16 ppg, 7 rpg) and Madison Phillips (8.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg). The Hawks expect junior Tatum Ragsdale to

pick up the scoring load left

by Schulte. Ragsdale averaged 7.8 points last season, but her shot attempts were limited by other capable scorers. The Furman commitment has the ability to handle the ball at 6-foot-1, and also score inside and out. “Tatum Ragsdale is the most experienced and most talented player coming back,” Mill Creek girls coach Ashley Phillips said. “We’re going to look to her to be more of a scorer than she’s been in the past. We’ve asked her to do a lot of things in the past other than score which has held her scoring numbers down a little bit. Now that’s going to change. We’re not going to ask her to do a lot of other things. We just need her to score and be the focal point of the offense.” Morgan Simmons and Wynter Webb are the other main returning players with varsity experience, but Phillips likes the younger group of players stepping up this season and thinks depth will be a strength.

WORTH NOTING: Both Schulte (Tulane) and Madison Phillips (North Georgia) are playing college basketball. … The younger programs fared well last season, led by an undefeated junior varsity team. The ninth

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 17 at Hillgrove Nov. 21, 24, 28: Tabo’s Tipoff Tournament at Jefferson Dec. 1 Duluth Dec. 4 Collins Hill Dec. 5 at Dacula Dec. 8 at Meadowcreek Dec. 11 Peachtree Ridge Dec. 12 at Wesleyan (girls) Dec. 18, 19, 21 Carrollton Christmas Tournament at West Georgia Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge at Archer Jan. 5 at Norcross Jan. 8 at Mountain View Jan. 12 North Gwinnett Jan. 15 at Collins Hill Jan. 16 at West Forsyth Jan. 19 Meadowcreek Jan. 22 at Peachtree Ridge Jan. 26 at Duluth Jan. 29 Norcross Jan. 30 East Hall Feb. 2 Mountain View Feb. 5 at North Gwinnett

grade also made the finals of the postseason tournament. … Phillips, the only girls coach in program history, has a 226-99 career record.

FAST FACT: The Hawks made at least the Sweet 16 of the state playoffs for seven straight seasons until missing the state playoffs in 2012-13. That included Final Four appearances in 2008 and 2011.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING! s Mill Creek’s Charles Botchway

scorer at times in a balanced offense last season. He is joined by two other returning guards, Keetone Glover and Miles Riley, and Evan Richardson on the interior. Chase Cochran and Christian

Mancillas also are important to replacing the production of Clark and Chadwick.

WORTH NOTING: Allen had a successful run as Central’s coach through 2012-13, when he stepped down to watch his

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mountain view

BEARS REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: B.J. Roy 2014-15 RECORD: 6-20 RETURNING REGULARS: Nick Hayes, 6-0, Sr. Spencer Rodgers, 6-3, Soph.

Kevin Kayongo, 6-3, Soph.

Miles Long, 5-10, Soph.

Jalen Hayes, 5-11, Soph.

Alex Wesig, 6-2, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Brandon Green, 6-4, Fr. Donell Nixon, 5-6, Fr. OUTLOOK: Six wins last season might not catch anyone’s attention, but it marked improvement (and doubled the 2013-14 win total) for a program that hadn’t won more than five games in a season the previous four years, including a one-win season in 2011-12.

It also was the first season for head boys coach B.J. Roy, who used an incredibly young lineup last season in tough Region 7-AAAAAA. “Last year we could stay in it for a half or a quarter, but this year we’re looking to compete every night,” Roy said. “Our experience from last year will hopefully help us pick up a couple of extra wins along the way.” The five freshmen who were key players on the varsity last season are back — Spencer Rodgers, Kevin Kayongo, Miles Long, Jalen Hayes and Alex Wesig. They are

s Mountain View’s Jordan Stallworth joined by some solid upperclassmen, led by senior guard Nick Hayes. “Our style of play is a little more aggressive (this season),” Roy said. “We’ve got the ability now, based on our strength and conditioning, to get into the lane and score inside.

Last year we were looking to take shots as quickly as possible, but this year I’m hoping we can get into the lane. I think we can apply more pressure to the ball defensively as our guys have grown up, too.”

WORTH NOTING: Mountain View is counting on a pair of freshmen to step in immediately on the varsity, 6-foot-4

wing Brandon Green and 5-6 point guard Donell Nixon. …

Rodgers averaged a teambest 11.2 points last season and Hayes led the team in assists with 3.2 per game. … Roy coached at Dacula and Central Gwinnett before joining Mountain View as an assistant coach in 2013-14.

FAST FACT: Mountain View took some lopsided losses to veteran powers in region play last season, but it also had close setbacks along the way that could have made the record look a little better. The Bears’ tight losses included Mill Creek (67-61), East Jackson (61-57) and Loganville (61-58).

GIRLS COACH: Jackie Lindquist 2014-15 RECORD: 25-6 RETURNING REGULARS: Jordan Stallworth, 6-1, Sr. Lillian Kennedy, 6-0, Soph.

Jaron Stallworth, 6-2, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Tamara Jordan, 5-5, Jr. Madison Maggert, 5-9, Sr. Alea Spears, 5-6, Fr. Katherine Fourie, 5-8, Fr. OUTLOOK: A core of seniors from the 2014-15 team graduated after leading the Bears to the first three state playoff berths in school history the past three seasons.

Those losses won’t be easy to replace, but the talent level is still high for Mountain View, which expects to maintain its standard of success. The team strength among returnees is in the frontcourt, where post Jordan Stallworth is back.

Stallworth, who plans to play for Princeton, averaged 6.5 points and 5.8 rebounds last season for a team with balanced scoring. Sophomores Lillian Kennedy and Jaron Stallworth, Jordan’s sister, proved themselves on the interior as freshmen for an Elite Eight team, while Tamara Jordan is the only returning guard with experience. Madison Maggert is a senior who will be a factor this year, while the Bears

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18 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

gwinnettprepsports.com

are counting on two talented freshmen, Alea Spears and Katherine Fourie, right away. “Our hopes are to stay as one of the top teams in Region 7-AAAAAA and get another berth to the state tournament, making this our fourth bid in a row to the state tournament in seven years as a school,” Mountain View girls coach Jackie Lindquist said.

WORTH NOTING: Mountain View’s five seniors off last season’s team all signed with college basketball programs — D’Andra Pringle (South Alabama), Iceis Walker (Kennesaw State), Aneysa Williams (Southern Wesleyan), Arianna Williams (Montreat) and Keni Haynes (Montreat). … The 25 wins last season established a new school record. …

Lindquist is entering her seventh season as the Bears’ head coach. She won a state title as a Central Gwinnett assistant in 2001 and also was Berkmar’s head coach in the late 1990s.

FAST FACT: Lindquist made sure the non-region schedule was challenging as preparation for Region 7-AAAAAA. In November alone, the Bears face Archer, Dacula, Southwest DeKalb, Lambert, St. Francis and South Atlanta.

2015-16 SCHEDULE

Nov. 17 Archer Nov. 21 Lassiter (boys), Dacula (girls) at Parkview Holiday Tournament Nov. 23 TBA (boys), SW DeKalb (girls) at Parkview Holiday Tournament Nov. 24 TBA (boys), Lambert (girls) at Parkview Holiday Tournament Nov. 27 St. Francis (girls) at Holiday Hoopsgiving at Holy Innocents’ Nov. 28 South Atlanta (girls) at Holiday Hoopsgiving at Holy Innocents’ Dec. 4 at Duluth Dec. 8 at North Gwinnett Dec. 14 Meadowcreek Dec. 19 at Collins Hill Dec. 28 Boys TBA, Shiloh (girls) at Grayson Rams Classic Dec. 29 Boys TBA, Buford (girls) at Grayson Classic Dec. 30 Boys TBA, Banneker (girls) at Grayson Rams Classic Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge at Archer Jan. 5 at Peachtree Ridge Jan. 8 Mill Creek Jan. 12 Norcross Jan. 15 Duluth Jan. 16 Shades Valley, Ala. (girls) at Krossover Classic at Archer Jan. 19 North Gwinnett Jan. 22 Collins Hill Jan. 26 at Meadowcreek Jan. 29 Peachtree Ridge Feb. 2 at Mill Creek Feb. 5 at Norcross

BOYS COACH: Jesse McMillan 2014-15 RECORD: 27-4 RETURNING REGULARS: Rayshaun Hammonds, 6-7, Jr. Chris Curlett, 5-10, Sr. Dalvin White, 5-9, Soph.

Jordan Goldwire, 6-0, Jr. Robert Sims, 6-6, Jr. Lance Thomas, 6-8, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Kyle Sturdivant, 6-1, Fr. Zach Butler, 6-3, Jr. OUTLOOK: Given their 27-4 record, another region championship and another trip to at least the Class AAAAAA state quarterfinals, it’s easy to forget just how young the Blue Devils were last season.

Despite losing leading scorer and second-leading rebounder Ricky Madison from a year ago, the Blue Devils are actually a year older, a year wiser and a year more confident this season.

No fewer than six players are back after playing significant minutes last season, led by Super Six selection Rayshaun Hammonds, whose coordination and confidence grew with his body to make him one of the state’s most highly recruited juniors.

Combined with Lance Thomas and Robert Sims, the Blue Devils should be formidable in the paint on the boards and running the floor.

And despite the loss of Berkmar transfer Zach Cooks, Norcross should also be quite deep in the backcourt with the return of Chris

norcross

BLUE DEVILS REGION 7-AAAAAA

vant and junior Division I prospect Zach Butler, who moved in from South Carolina.

“We do have kids who played significant minutes for us last year,” McMillan said. “So, I think it’s going to be by committee. Obviously, Rayshaun Hammonds is a young man who had the most success out of the returners, but we expect guys like Chris Curlett, Jordan Goldwire, Lance Thomas, Dalvin White, all those guys to step up.”

FAST FACT: Last year’s state tournament berth gave Norcross a Gwinnett-best streak of 15 straight seasons with a postseason appearance.

It also marked a milestone for McMillan, who passed his mentor and predecessor Eddie Martin in guiding the Blue Devils to their seventh straight tournament berth in his tenure. Martin, now at Buford, led Norcross to six straight tournaments from 2003-08. Dave Corder started the streak by leading the Blue Devils to the postseason in 2001 an 2002.

s Norcross’ Vash Perry Curlett, Dalvin White and Jordan Goldwire — all of whom saw significant minutes last season — augmented by the addition of highly touted freshman Kyle Sturdi-

GIRLS COACH: Angie Hembree 2014-15 RECORD: 28-5 RETURNING REGULARS: Taylor Mason, 5-9, Jr. Vash Perry, 5-6, Sr. Ty Gillespie, 5-10, Jr. Janee’ Knorr, 6-0, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Vanessa Blagmon, 5-8, Jr. Devyn Wilson, 5-11, Soph.

Tehya Lyons, 5-6, Soph.

gwinnettprepsports.com

Raven Etheredge, 5-6, Soph.

Zamiya Passmore, 5-4, Fr. Sierra Zinnamon, 5-10, Sr. OUTLOOK: After finishing just a matter of inches short of yet another state championship, the Blue Devils appear to be in good position to make another deep run into March this season.

Three important components of last year’s state runner-up team are back, with Florida Atlantic commit Vash Perry and juniors Taylor Mason and Ty Gillespie bringing back a strong percentage of the Blue Devils’ scoring, assists and steals.

“Vash, Taylor and Ty bring a lot of experience to the table,” Hembree said. “It’ll just be a matter of getting everybody to jell and buy into what we’re trying to do.”

Part of how well and how fast the Blue Devils jell together depends on few factors. One is the incorporation of newcomers like freshman point guard Zamiya Passmore and transfers Vanessa Blagmon (Woodland-Stockbridge) and Devyn Wilson (Whitefield Academy) into the system. Perhaps a more important factor may be how much production the Blue Devils get in the low post. Janee’ Knorr, who was a part-time starter and played significant minutes as a freshman last season, is not expected to be ready to play until around or just after the holidays as she rehabs an offseason knee injury.

That means others like Wilson and Sierra Zinnamon, in particular, will be counted on to adapt quickly.

2015-16 SCHEDULE

Nov. 12 at Woodland-Stockbridge (girls) Nov. 14 Tift County (girls) Nov. 17 King’s Ridge (boys) Nov. 19 vs. Harrison at Parkview Tip-Off Classic (girls) Nov. 21 vs. Parkview at Parkview Tip-Off Classic (girls) Nov. 21 Lovejoy (boys) Nov. 23 vs. Tucker at Parkview Tip-Off Classic (girls) Nov. 27 Atlanta Hardwood Jam Fest at North Atlanta HS (boys) Nov. 28 vs. Greenforest Christian in Holiday Hoopsgiving at Holy Innocents’ (boys) Dec. 3 at North Gwinnett Dec. 5 at Mays (girls) Dec. 8 at Collins Hill Dec. 11 Meadowcreek Dec. 14 Peachtree Ridge Dec. 18-21 CresCom Bank Holiday Invitational at Myrtle Beach, S.C. (girls) Dec. 18 vs. Oak Ridge (Tenn.) in Southern States Classic at TriCities HS (boys) Dec. 21-22 Capital City Classic at Tallahassee, Fla. (boys) Dec. 28-30 at Hoodies House Hoops Classic in Charlotte, N.C. (boys) Jan. 5 Mill Creek Jan. 8 at Duluth Jan. 12 at Mountain View Jan. 15 North Gwinnett Jan. 16 Krossover Classic at Archer (girls) Jan. 19 Collins Hill Jan. 22 at Meadowcreek Jan. 23 Alderdice (Pa.) (boys) Jan. 26 at Peachtree Ridge Jan. 29 at Mill Creek Feb. 2 Duluth Feb. 9 Mountain View

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 19

north gwinnett

BULLDOGS REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Matt Garner 2014-15 RECORD: 14-14 RETURNING REGULARS: Adam James, 6-1, Jr. Colby Leifson, 6-1, Sr. K.J. Hancock, 6-1, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Ethan Smith, 6-5, Jr. Mikey Joseph, 6-4, Jr. Delon Smith, 6-0, Sr. Brandon Maffei, 6-5, Jr. OUTLOOK: North Gwinnett returns just one starter from last year’s state tournament team in junior Adam James.

Seniors Colby Leifson and K.J. Hancock played big minutes last season, but will take on even bigger roles this year.

“The rest of the guys we have are returning (players), but not many guys have played a lot of minutes,” new head coach Matt Garner said. “A lot of guys have played a lot of JV and then came off our bench. They played sparingly last year when we got some injuries and some suspensions, but a lot of talent. Just a lot of guys who haven’t had a chance to show it yet.”

The Bulldogs will have to replace the production of 6-foot-4 Kam Calhoun and 6-foot-7 Malik Carter. A trio of juniors will look to assume that inside presence with 6-foot-5 Brandon

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s North Gwinnett’s Jessica Belcher Maffei leading the way. Mikey Joseph and Ethan Smith are also expected to play big minutes.

WORTH NOTING: After five seasons as the head coach at North Gwinnett, Zach Smith stepped down in February to prepare for a career as an administrator. The Bulldogs didn’t wait long to promote Garner to head coach. Garner has been an assistant for North since 2007, working under his father Len Garner before Smith took over.

While the role is a little differ-

20 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

ent for Garner, he said not much will change for North.

“A little bit,” he said when asked if it was different. “But I’ve been a part of North Gwinnett since 2000. It’s the same facilities, same program, I was a player there and then my dad was the head coach and then coached for Zach (Smith) for five years. It’s different — more responsibility as far as being a leader, but not really that much of a different feel.”

FAST FACT: Hancock is also a star for the Bulldogs’ football team. The senior

Nov. 10 Milton Nov. 17 East Hall (girls) Nov. 21-24 Chestatee Tournament (girls) Nov. 21 Central Gwinnett in Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 23 Lambert in Jared Cook Classic (boys) Nov. 24 Dacula in Jared Cook Classic (boys) Dec. 3 Norcross Dec. 5 South Gwinnett Dec. 8 Mountain View Dec. 10 at Duluth Dec. 12 at East Hall Showcase Dec. 14 Collins Hill Dec. 18 Harrison (boys) Dec. 19 Brookwood Dec. 28-30 at Grayson Holiday Tournament (girls) Dec. 28-31 at Kingdom of the Sun in Ocala, Fla. (boys) Jan. 5 Meadowcreek Jan. 8 Peachtree Ridge Jan. 12 at Mill Creek Jan. 15 at Norcross Jan. 19 at Mountain View Jan. 22 at Duluth Jan. 23 Kennessaw Mountain Jan. 26 Collins Hill Jan. 29 at Meadowcreek Feb. 2 at Peachtree Ridge Feb. 5 Mill Creek

receiver is verbally committed to play football for the University of Miami (Ohio) next season.

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GIRLS COACH: Bryan Sellers 2014-15 RECORD: 9-14 RETURNING REGULARS: Sydnee Jackson, 5-4, Soph.

Jessica Belcher, 5-6, Jr. Kathleen Wilson, 5-11, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Savannah Chunn, 5-8, Sr. Sherricka Sims, Sr. OUTLOOK: North Gwinnett finished 9-14 last season as it went through some growing pains. The Bulldogs will be young again this season, but do return starters Sydnee Jackson, Jessica Belcher and Kathleen Wilson.

“We’re going to be young, but we are returning three starters who were very young last year also,” head coach Bryan Sellers said.

Belcher, a junior, led the team in scoring last season with 10.3 points per game, was also the top rebounder with an average of 7.4 boards per game and led the team in assists with an average of 3.8 per game.

Wilson, a senior, averaged 8.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Jackson started as a freshman and averaged 5.3 points per game.

The challenge will be to get the rest of the players on North’s inexperienced roster, like Savannah Chunn, ready to play at the varsity level.

“They’ve played this sum-

mer, but playing in the summer is a little different than playing in AAAAAA, so we’ll find out,” Sellers said of the young group. “Our most important game is game No. 25, that’s the first game of the region tournament. If you win that game it doesn’t matter, so that’s the one we’re focused on.”

WORTH NOTING: In order to help get ready for the speed and physicality of varsity basketball, North’s girls varsity team often scrimmages against the boys ninth-grade team.

“It’s just something you’ve got to try to experience,” Sellers said of the speed.

“We do try to scrimmage our ninth-grade boys to simulate the varsity level. We’ll bring the boys over and play against them. A lot of colleges do that where they have a boys group that comes out and scrimmages their girls.

We don’t have the depth and size to simulate that of a Norcross or an Archer or somebody like that, so we bring out the ninth-grade boys team and scrimmage against them. It kind of gives them a good look of what to expect.”

FAST FACT: North will play in showcase events at Chestatee and Grayson this season.

parkview

PANTHERS REGION 8-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Nick Gast 2014-15 RECORD: 7-20 RETURNING REGULARS: Nasir Walker, 6-0, Sr. Aaron Rowe, 6-1, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Justin Spencer, 5-11, Soph.

Cam Chavers 5-11, Soph.

Jack Lapenta, 6-0, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Parkview experienced some growing pains last season as a trio of freshman played some key minutes for the team. Malik Abraham, who scored over 1,000 points in his career, will be tough to replace for the Panthers as he was the only player on the team to average double-figures scoring.

Nasir Walker is the lone returning senior. He averaged 5.7 points per game last season. Aaron Rowe (4 points, 2.4 rebounds) is also a returning starter.

Other than the two veterans Parkview will rely on the sophomore trio of Justin Spencer, Cam Chavers and Jack Lapenta.

“They all contributed last year as ninth-graders and will have a big role this year as sophomores,” head coach Nick Gast said.

Gast wants the team to improve on the defensive end of the floor and transition into an up-tempo team.

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 14 Norcross Showcase (girls) Nov. 17 Loganville (boys) Nov. 19-24 Parkview TipOff Classic Nov. 28 at South Forsyth (boys) Dec. 1 at South Gwinnett Dec. 4 at Brookwood Dec. 11 Berkmar Dec. 12 Grayson Dec. 18, 19 Tina Thompson Classic in Murfreesboro, Tenn. (girls) Dec. 18-21 Better Basketball Classic in Dallas, Ga. (boys) Dec. 28-30 Boo Williams Tournament in Hampton, Va. (girls) Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge (boys) Jan. 5 at Archer Jan. 8 at Dacula Jan. 9 Shiloh Jan. 12 at Central Gwinnett Jan. 15 South Gwinnett Jan. 22 at Berkmar Jan. 23 Brookwood Jan. 26 at Grayson Jan. 29 Archer Jan. 30 Dacula Feb. 2 at Shiloh Feb. 5 Central Gwinnett

s Parkview’s Raven Johnson “We want to be a team that can really rely on being a great defensive team this year,” he said. “We want to have that be part of our identity as being a great

defensive team and we want to play fast as well this year, so I think that’s something you can look to see from us this year.”

WORTH NOTING: The boys

GO COMETS!

bracket of the Parkview Tip-Off Classic returns from last season and the Panthers went 1-3, winning its opener over Lassiter … The Panthers’ lone two region

wins both came over Central Gwinnett.

FAST FACT: Parkview will play in Gwinnett County Challenge and the Better Basketball Classic in Dallas.

GIRLS COACH: Kirk Call 2014-15 RECORD: 26-4 RETURNING REGULARS: Raven Johnson, 5-11, Sr. Dominique Leonidas, 5-6, Sr. Kristi Derouen, 6-0, Sr. Khari Jernigan, 6-2, Sr. Autumn Sizemore, 5-8, Sr. Kiersten Hunter, 5-5, Sr. OUTLOOK: After reaching the Elite Eight two seasons ago, Parkivew took another step forward last season with a region championship and a trip to the Final Four.

The Panthers were ousted by state runner-up Nocross.

This year the Panthers return plenty of experience, including leading scorer and East Carolina commit Raven Johnson (15.6 points per game), but they do have to replace Vickie Harris (Rutgers) and three other key rotation players. Dominique Leonidas is another returning starter, who averaged 2.5 steals per game last season. Parkview will lean on seniors Kristi Derouen (5.9 points per game) and Khari Jernigan (3.1 rebounds per game) to pick up their production this season.

Parkview often played 10 or more players in each game last season, but head coach Kirk Call said that while they got their feet wet last season seeing how they perform in crunch-time will be a whole different deal.

“That’s the question that we’ve got right now,” he said.

“Is the rise of those kids that are going to get more minutes as their roles increase, are they going to make up for the big roles that we lost?

Because, we do have kids that have played. They’ve been in the rotation, but not all of them have been in the rotation in the fourth quarter of a region championship game where we need to make a play. So, it’s how quickly we can transition form being the secondary to being the primary group.”

WORTH NOTING: The Panthers will host their annual Parkview Tip-Off Classic again this season. This year’s field will feature 16 teams that won at least one game in last year’s state tournament … Last season’s Final Four appearance was the first for Parkview since 2008.

FAST FACT: In last season’s Elite Eight 73-69 overtime win against Osborne, Johnson scored 10 of her teamhigh 23 points in overtime.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 21

peachtree ridge

LIONS REGION 7-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Keith Arrington 2014-15 RECORD: 16-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Milz Tatum, 5-10, Sr. Connor Heyward, 6-1, Jr. Kristian Collins, 6-6, Jr. Jeremiah Starks, 6-0, Sr. Markell McCollum, 5-11, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Fred Payton, 6-3, Soph.

Hirum Maxey, 6-1, Soph.

OUTLOOK: The Lions will definitely have some adjustments to make after losing some talented players from last year, including starters Aaron Augustin (Miller Grove) and Jay Estime (Berkmar) to transfer.

Even when it looked like Romello White might return from Florida, he wound up leaving soon after for Wheeler.

However, Keith Arrington is more interested in focusing on who the Lions are, rather than who they are not.

“We’re happy with the kids we’ve got,” Arrington said.

“They’re a great group of kids to coach, and we’re going to be very competitive.”

The Lions still have a chance to be very competitive with the return of players like Milz Tatum (8.8 ppg) and Connor Heyward (6.1 rpg, 1.6 apg) as well as the continued development of 6-foot-6 junior Kristian Collins, one of the few players with size returning.

well at the right time is very important. So, we think that’s going to be key for us.”

GIRLS COACH: James Clanahan 2014-15 RECORD: 5-21 RETURNING REGULARS: Maya Fitzgerald, 5-6, Sr. D’Angel Brooks, 5-9, Sr. Blake Davis, 5-5, Sr. Quinnay Summers, 5-5, Jr. Jalea Gray, 5-10, Jr. Ivie Cameron, 5-5, Jr. OUTLOOK: Many coaches of a team that loses nearly one-third of its offense from a that won just five games the previous season might find reason to be discouraged. But head coach James Clanahan is actually upbeat about the Lions’ prospects for improvement during the 2015-16 season despite losing Marissa Bowman, who averaged more than 12 points per game for a team that scored only about 38 per contest, to graduation.

That’s because he has a s Peachtree Ridge’s Milz Tatum group of upperclassmen who WORTH NOTING: The Lions opposite end of the scale from seem primed to be able to are riding a streak of 10 the first eight years of the cur- assert themselves more this straight season with a postrent state tournament streak, season with another year of season appearance after during which Peachtree Ridge experience under their colmaking the state tournament made it past the first round in lective belt. last season. But there is one six of those seasons.

“The girls we have this year trend Arrington and the Lions “It doesn’t really matter what have been playing together hope to break. you do until that tournament,” for four years,” Clanahan They have been eliminated Arrington said. “Obviously, said. “That’s a lot of team in the first round each of the you want to win every game, chemistry. And even with our last two seasons, which is the but peaking and playing junior class, there’s a lot of

22 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

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good chemistry on the floor, as well. Those kids got a lot of experience as sophomores this year.”

Experience aside, the return of a closely knit group of seniors like Blake Davis (4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.5 spg), Maya Fitzgerald and D’Angel Brooks, plus juniors Quinnay Summers (7.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 spg), Jalea Gray and Ivie Cameron may help with the team’s cohesiveness.

“We saw that this summer,” Clanahan said. “We had a great summer, and I saw a lot of good things, especially in the post game. Jalea Gray really played her first year of organized ball last year.

Mix that in with D’Angel, and we’ve got a pretty good post game, probably the best post game since I’ve been here.

“It’s like in football, (where) you’ve got to run to throw.

It gives us the option to go inside, and that’s something we worked on this summer was our posts really learning how to screen for our guards and our guards reading screens and playing inside out. … It just gives us a total option inside or outside.”

WORTH NOTING: The Lions will have to be road warriors by spending almost the entire month of December and the first half of January away from home.

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 19 at Brookwood Nov. 21 vs. Greenforest Christian in Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett (boys) Nov. 24 vs. Archer in Jared Cook Classic at North Gwinnett (boys) Dec. 1 at East Hall (girls) Dec. 4 Meadowcreek Dec. 5 vs. Kell in Nike Explosion at Wheeler (boys) Dec. 8 at Duluth Dec. 11 at Mill Creek Dec. 12 at Berkmar (girls) Dec. 14 at Norcross Dec. 18 Central Gwinnett Dec. 19 vs. North Cobb in SEBA Atlanta Hoops Festival at Pope (boys) Dec. 19 Battle of Chickamauga Showcase at Gordon Lee (girls) Dec. 28-30 at Rotary Roundball Classic, Charleston, S.C. (boys) Dec. 28-30 Holiday Tournament, TBA (girls) Jan. 2 Gwinnett Challenge (girls) Jan. 5 Mountain View Jan. 8 at North Gwinnett Jan. 12 at Collins Hill Jan. 15 at Meadowcreek Jan. 18 Blue Collar/MLK Classic at P’tree Ridge (boys) Jan. 20 Duluth Jan. 22 Mill Creek Jan. 26 Norcross Jan. 29 at Mountain View Feb. 2 vs. North Gwinnett Feb. 5 vs. Collins Hill

providence christian

STORM REGION 8-A

BOYS COACH: Chris Clark 2014-15 RECORD: 18-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Bobby Rogers, 6-5, Sr. Jeremy Hardnett, 5-10, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Elijah Carlson, 5-8, Sr. Alex Timm, 6-3, Sr. Mitchell Miller, 5-8, Jr. Connor Allen, 5-10, Soph.

Luke Matthews, 5-9, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Providence Christian loses six seniors from last year’s team that all played crucial minutes.

The Storm earned the No. 10 seed in the state tournament, but were knocked out in the first round by Stratford Academy.

Starters Bobby Rogers and Jeremy Hardnett do return but a trio of underclassmen who split time with the varsity last season will take on bigger roles this year.

“We lost six seniors and all pretty key contributors,” head coach Chris Clark said. “Three starters, so we’re bringing two starters back. This year we have four returning seniors and three kids that were kind of crossovers for us. Some played JV and played a little varsity so now they’re stepping into the varsity role.”

Seniors Elijah Carlson and

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 14 Lassiter (girls) Nov. 17 Landmark Nov. 20 Pinecrest Nov. 21 at Mt. Pisgah Dec. 1 Mt. Vernon Dec. 4 Mt. Paran Dec. 5 Hebron Christian Dec. 11 Lakeview Dec. 12 Tallulah Falls Dec. 18 Wesleyan (boys) Dec. 19 North Cobb Christian (girls) Dec. 22 at Hebron Christian Dec. 28-20 George Walton Christmas Tournament Jan. 5 at George Walton Jan. 8 Pinecrest Jan. 9 at Commerce Jan. 12 Prince Avenue Jan. 15 Athens Academy Jan. 19 at Athens Christian Jan. 22 George Walton Jan. 23 at Towns County Jan. 26 at Prince Avenue Jan. 29 Mt. Pisgah Feb. 2 at Athens Academy Feb. 5 Athens Christian

s Providence’s Megan Parker Alex Timm will provide some depth off the bench, but the young trio could be the key to a return trip to the state tournament for the Storm.

Sophomores Mitchell Miller, Connor Allen and Luke Matthews got their first taste of varsity last season and now will take on larger roles for

the program. They also got experience running with the first-team this summer for Providence.

“This summer we saw some of the things we need to work on and we saw a lot of improvement,” Clark said.

“Which was a great thing.

It gave them a lot of time

and varsity minutes so I’m really looking forward to their development. I’m not going to say our team hinges on them, but their growth is going to kind of determine how far we go with the region.”

WORTH NOTING: Clark takes over as the varsity head coach after serving as

the junior varsity head coach for Providence last season.

He replaces Norman Brown, head coach for four seasons.

FAST FACT: Providence’s boys team will play Wesleyan in a non-region game at home on Dec.18.

GIRLS COACH: Seth Kindig 2014-15 RECORD: 3-23 RETURNING REGULARS: Megan Lee, Sr. Megan Parker, Sr. Mallory Larson, Jr. Allison Brooks, Jr. Mary Beth Kindig, Soph.

Zoe Albury, Soph.

OUTLOOK: When Seth Kindig took over the Providence girls program this offseason there were just six total players in the program.

While some underclassmen have joined the program to add some depth, Kindig said he will point to those six players throughout the season as the example to follow.

“We will be heavily dependent on those returners for sure,” he said.

The group includes seniors Megan Lee and Megan Parker, juniors Mallory Larson and Allison Brooks and sophomores Mary Beth Kindig and Zoe Albury. With a

SPORTS

lack of height, the Storm will look to spread the ball out and let playmakers like Lee make plays off the dribble from the perimeter.

“Our team this year is small,” Kindig said. “There a lot of girls teams in our region who will be small … so, we’re going to spread it out. We have a couple girls who are really good off the dribble and then we have a couple girls who can shoot so we will space it out, spread it out and run a highball screen. We’ll let those girls go to work and try to make plays. We’ll try to let our playmakers make plays, our shooters shoot, our role players — our rebounders — kind of fit into their niche. We’re going to try and spread it out and we’ll see how long that lasts and how long that goes.”

WORTH NOTING: Providence earned two of its three wins last season against King’s Ridge Christian, including a 32-28 win in overtime during the season opener. The Storm’s other win came against Athens Academy.

FAST FACT: Providence will face Lassiter and North Cobb Christian in non-region games this season.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 23

shiloh

GENERALS REGION 8-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Kim Rivers 2014-15 RECORD: 28-4 RETURNING REGULARS: Josh Okogie, 6-5, Sr. Malik Chandler, 6-0, Sr. Dejon Waters, 6-3, Sr. Shamarie McLeod, 6-6, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Tajah Fraley, 6-4, Jr. Thurman Massenburg, 6-8, Jr. Greg James, 6-4, Jr. Darnell Rogers, 5-3, Sr. Khalil Richards, 6-1, Sr. Orlando Merrick, 6-6, Jr. Chris Kern, 6-6, Sr. Kolby Wyatt, 6-3, Jr. OUTLOOK: After finally breaking through to the Final Four for the first time in school history last season, the Generals appear equipped to give a serious challenge towards the program’s first state championship.

It helps to have five regular contributors back from last season’s historic team, including defending Daily Post Player of the Year and Georgia Tech commit Josh Okogie, plus fellow returning starters Malik Chandler and Dejon Waters.

“This is, really since I’ve been here, the best group of returning kids I’ve had, having three proven starters in the region that played major minutes for us,” head coach Kim Rivers said.

But what makes an already

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s Shiloh’s Emani Bell formidable squad even more powerful is the large group of talented newcomers that will add to the mix. Each brings a different specialty the table that seems to fit in with the Generals’ fast-paced, 94-foot mentality. Out-of-state moveins Darnell Rogers and Khalil Richards join Greg James in giving Shiloh no fewer than three top ball-handlers to be able to push the pace and transition from defense to offense. James brings a strong, consistent shooting touch from the perimeter that he displayed as a sophomore at Alpharetta last season. But the biggest, in every sense of the word, addition might be Thurman Massenburg, who

at 6-foot-8 brings one of the few elements the Generals lacked last season — size and strength in the low post.

WORTH NOTING: While Okogie understandably casts the highest profile, having committed to Tech, the Generals will boast no fewer than three Division I prospects on this year’s team, with Rogers having committed to George Washington and Richards giving his verbal pledge to attend Siena. Meanwhile, Chandler could attract some interest, and juniors Massenburg and James will also likely command an early look from colleges.

FAST FACT: In addition to the program’s first Final Four

Nov. 21-24 North Forsyth Tournament (girls) Nov. 23-25 Thanksgiving Tournament (boys) Nov. 28 vs. Pebblebrook in On The Radar Showcase at Duluth (boys) Dec. 1 Archer Dec. 4-5 at Monteverde Classic in Orlando, Fla. (boys) Dec. 8 Central Gwinnett Dec. 11 South Gwinnett Dec. 21 vs. Starr’s Mill at Woodward Academy (girls) Dec. 22 at Woodward Academy (girls) Dec. 28-30 Farm Bureau Insurance Classic in Roebuck, S.C. (boys) Dec. 28-30 Ram Classic at Grayson (girls) Jan. 2 at Gwinnett Challenge (girls) Jan. 6 at Brookwood Jan. 8 at Grayson Jan. 9 at Parkview Jan. 12 at Berkmar Jan. 15 at Archer Jan. 16 at Dacula Jan. 19 at Central Jan. 22 at South Gwinnett Jan. 23 Dacula Jan. 29 Brookwood Jan. 30 Grayson Feb. 2 Parkview Feb. 5 Berkmar

best 20-game winning streak to start this season. Those marks may be difficult to match, given a schedule that includes another tournament hosted by national power Monteverde, as well as several other showcase tournaments or match-ups.

GIRLS COACH: Regina Tate 2014-15 RECORD: 14-15 RETURNING REGULARS: Emani Bell, 5-6, Sr. Christina Massey, 5-11, Sr. Sharai Lay, 5-9, Jr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Kamryn Jackson, 5-4, Soph.

OUTLOOK: Heading into her second season as head coach, Regina Tate seems convinced that the Generals have bought into her philosophy. It’s not hard to commit to a system that produced an increase of six wins from the previous season like Shiloh did last season. With a strong nucleus of returning starters in Emani Bell, Christina Massey and Sharai Lay, Tate is hopeful the General can make an even bigger splash in Year 2.

“I think it’s attainable because that first year you put in a system, you can’t really expect them to really know it.

It takes two to three years for players to really get a system. So, I’m expecting them to understand our offense

better and our defense better and understand our mindset better. We’ll see. I think the key this year is going to be getting the newer players to get on board because although we’ve got six returning varsity players, only half of them got significant varsity minutes (last season).”

One of those newcomers is Kamryn Jackson, who should help take share some of the ball-handling load from Bell and allow the senior to contribute in other areas, as well.

WORTH NOTING: In a region that features not only the defending state runnerup (Archer) and another Final Four team (Parkview), plus teams like Dacula and Brookwood that feature bigtime college prospects like Faustine Aifuwe and N’Dea Jones respectively, nothing comes easy. However, Tate is optimistic the Generals can compete for one of the region’s four spots in the state tournament, which would earn the program’s first postseason berth since 2009.

“You can’t take a game off,” Tate said of Region 8-AAAAAA. “It really comes down to executing your strategy. When you’re looking at the teams that are fighting (No.) three through nine, it could be anybody’s night any given day.”

SANTA IS COMING!

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appearance, last season was historic for the best overall record in school history (28-4), including a program-

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24 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015

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south gwinnett

COMETS REGION 8-AAAAAA

BOYS COACH: Jamal Basit 2014-15 RECORD: 15-10 RETURNING REGULARS: Xavier Johnson, 6-4, Sr. OTHERS TO WATCH: Gimal Evans, 6-0, Jr. Michah May, Sr. Josh Matthews, Sr. OUTLOOK: South Gwinnett could potentially have 11 new players on its roster this season after losing seven seniors from last year’s team. Xavier Johnson is one of three seniors on the team, but the lone player with any varsity experience.

“We’re in an interesting time,” head coach Jamal Basit said. “We’re trying to incorporate a lot of new players and try to do some different things that we haven’t traditionally done. It should be a little learning curve with our new personnel.”

Last season Johnson averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Junior Gimal Evans also entered the Comets’ rotation late in the season last year and averaged 1.3 points per game.

Seniors Michah May and Josh Matthews played junior varsity last season and will be on the varsity squad this season.

Basit said the returners had a pretty good summer and hopefully the new guys will

2015-16 SCHEDULE

s South Gwinnett’s Alexis Lewis be able to help mesh in.

“Hopefully a winning style,” he said when asked what style of play this year’s team would have. “We’re not subscribing to one specific style.

I think we’re going to have to be versatile enough to adjust to what the situation dictates, what we’re in at that current moment. We just want to get better. That’s the main thing.

We have a lot of work to do.”

WORTH NOTING: The Comets finished 8-8 in Region 8-AAAAAA last season…

South won three of its final

four region games — with wins over Archer, Central and Brookwood — before falling to Berkmar in the region tournament.

FAST FACT: South will play in the Bob Jones High School Classic in Madison, Ala., and the Indian Shootout in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. GIRLS COACH: Kidada Holtzclaw 2014-15 RECORD: 12-14 RETURNING REGULARS: Asheika Alexander, 5-10, Sr. Alexis Lewis, 6-1, Jr.

GO PANTHERS!

Nov. 24 McIntosh (girls) Nov. 23-25 at Bob Jones Classic in Madison, Ala. (boys) Nov. 27, 28 Lou Williams Classic Dec. 1 Parkview Dec. 4 at Berkmar Dec. 5 at North Gwinnett Dec. 8 Dacula Dec. 11 at Shiloh Dec. 12 at Archer Dec. 19 at Shootout at Clarke Central in Athens (girls) Dec. 28-30 at Colquitt County Christmas Tournament in Moultrie (girls) Dec. 28-30 at Indian Shootout in Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge (girls) Jan. 5 at Central Gwinnett Jan. 9 Brookwood Jan. 12 at Grayson Jan. 15 at Parkview Jan. 19 at Dacula Jan. 22 Shiloh Jan. 23 Berkmar Jan. 26 Archer Jan. 29 Central Gwinnett Feb. 2 at Brookwood Feb. 5 Grayson

Xian Lopez, 5-11, Soph.

Jasmine Williams, 5-11, Soph.

Emani Walker, 5-6, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Dominique Jackson, 6-2, Jr.

OUTLOOK: South Gwinnett took some lumps last season as it enacted a bit of a youth movement. Three freshmen and two sophomores played big minutes for the Comets in the loaded Region 8-AAAAAA. Those freshman — Xian Lopez, Jasmine Williams and Emani Walker — are now sophomores slated to be in the South rotation for the second straight season. Head coach Kidada Holtzclaw thinks last season’s lessons will play big dividends.

“I think it benefited a lot,” she said. “They all really saw some significant minutes as freshmen. I think it really acclimated them for what’s to come. What I’m going to be expecting from them this season.”

South will also get a boost as senior Asheika Alexander will return after tearing her ACL last season. Prior to the injury Alexander had averaged 20 points per game for South in the Choctaw Christmas tournament in Niceville, Fla., where the Comets finished third. Junior Dominique Jackson will look to play a larger role this season to help give South an inside presence along with 6-foot-1 Alexis Lewis.

“She really had a good

summer,” Holtzclaw said of Jackson. “She can run like a gazelle. Still kind of learning the game, but I’m looking for some good things from her as well.”

Like most of the roster, Jackson is young and athletic.

Which is why South will look to run up and down the floor this season.

“Up-tempo,” Holtzclaw said their style. “We want to press. We want to get after it.

We want to push the ball and still run our choreographed motion on offense, but we want to get up and down.”

WORTH NOTING: South will open the season at home against McIntosh, which made the state playoffs in Class AAAAA last season … South will also play in the Shootout at Clarke Central, the Colquitt County Christmas Tournament and the Gwinnett County Challenge.

FAST FACT: In the Choctaw Christmas tournament last season, South beat Niceville (Fla.), which reached the second round of the Class AAAAAAA tournament in Florida, Landry-Walker (La.), a state playoff team in Louisiana’s Class AAAA, and lost in overtime by four points to LeFlore (Ala.), which made the Elite Eight in Alabama’s Class AAAAAA state tournament.

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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2015 • 25

wesleyan

WOLVES REGION 6-AA

BOYS COACH: Ryan Hodges 2014-15 RECORD: 11-14 RETURNING REGULARS: Jason Morrison, 6-4, Sr. Jack Greer, 5-11, Sr. Jalen Hodges, 5-11, Sr. Cedric Lynch, 6-2, Sr. Banks Ramsey, 6-5, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Christian McLean, 6-2, Soph.

Grant Frerking, 6-5, Jr. Harrison Cook, 6-0, Jr. Jordan Argilagos, 6-0, Sr. Nick Eversbusch, 6-0, Jr. Sean McDonough, 6-3, Jr. Cullen Davis, 6-5, Jr. OUTLOOK: Wesleyan improved greatly over the latter half of the 2014-15 season, making a push for the state playoffs that fell just short. It took powerful Greater Atlanta Christian to overtime twice, including a 64-61 loss in a Region 6-AA Tournament elimination game. “I think we’re definitely trending upward,” Wesleyan boys coach Ryan Hodges said. “I feel good about this group of guys.

We’ve got a lot of experience coming back. Most of our point production and rebounding production is coming back.

We’ve got a lot of minutes coming back.” The returning players include leading scorer (9.7) and rebounder (5.9) Jason Morrison, as well as senior guards Jack Greer and Jalen Hodges. Banks

basketball players on the varsity roster also play football at Wesleyan, meaning a deep playoff run by the football team could leave the hoops team shorthanded in the early stages of the season.

s Wesleyan’s Cairo Booker Ramsey, the quarterback on the Wolves’ football team, also is coming off an impressive freshman season.

WORTH NOTING: The Wolves increased their win total last season after posting five wins in 2013-14, racking up most of their 2014-15

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victories after the calendar year switched to 2015. “After Dec. 31 last year, we improved greatly,” Hodges said. … Greer has committed to Washington College (Md.) …

Wesleyan won state championships in 2008 and 2010.

FAST FACT: Eight of the 14

GIRLS COACH: Jan Azar 2014-15 RECORD: 25-7 RETURNING REGULARS: Cairo Booker, 5-6, Sr. Natalie Armstrong, 6-3, Jr. Amaya Register, 5-4, Soph.

OTHERS TO WATCH: Mikayla Coombs, 5-10, Jr. Jameson Kavel, 5-8, Jr. Sutton West, 5-11, Soph.

Bailey Edwards, 5-9, Jr. Sarah Adams, 5-8, Jr. Sydney Millikan, 5-5, Jr. Katie Stipe, 5-9, Jr. Capri Frazier, 5-9, Jr. OUTLOOK: After a one-year absence, the Wolves became state champions again last season, returning to a familiar place. The title was their 10th in 12 years and their 11th in a 14-season span. The chances of a repeat improved greatly with the return of heavily recruited junior Mikayla Coombs, who missed all except the first game of last season with a knee injury. Coombs averaged 11.8 points as a freshman and is ranked as one of the nation’s top 25 juniors. Guard Cairo Booker is the team’s only

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senior. She averaged 11.3 points, 3.9 assists and 3.6 steals last season. “I’m close with the junior class so it’s not too bad,” Booker said. “I feel like I’m playing the same leadership role as last year and maybe a little bit sophomore year.” Natalie Armstrong also figures to play a key role again on the interior — she averaged 8.6 points and 7.4 rebounds last season. The graduation losses included Elon recruit Nikki McDonald (16.5 ppg), Rhodes recruit Danielle Summers and Lauren Frerking, now on Georgia Tech’s volleyball team.

WORTH NOTING: Last year’s state championship game victory over Holy Innocents’ was particularly satisfying because Wesleyan entered as the underdog. It had lost to previously unbeaten Holy Innocents’ three times during the season but won when it mattered most, 45-31. … The Wolves’ 11 state titles are the most by a girls basketball program in state history. … Booker, also a standout in track, has committed to the Wofford women’s basketball program.

FAST FACT: Before losing to Kendrick in the 2014 state finals, Wesleyan had won a remarkable 34 consecutive state-tournament games and a state record-tying six straight titles.

2015-16 SCHEDULE Nov. 20 at Riverside Military (boys) Nov. 21 141 Preview at Norcross (boys) Nov. 21, 23-24 Wesleyan Turkey Tip-Off (girls) Dec. 1 Tucker (girls) Dec. 4 Hapeville Charter Dec. 5 Riverside Military (boys) Dec. 8 at KIPP Atlanta Dec. 11 Woodward Academy (girls) Dec. 12 BEST Academy (boys) Dec. 12 Mill Creek (girls) Dec. 17-22: Nike Tournament of Champions (girls) Dec. 18 at Providence (boys) Dec. 19 Pinecrest (boys) Dec. 22 Tattnall Square (boys) Dec. 28-30 at Wells Fargo Classic, Asheville, N.C. (boys) Jan. 2 Gwinnett County Challenge at Archer (boys) Jan. 5 at GAC Jan. 8 at Lovett Jan. 9 at Holy Innocents’ Jan. 12 Pace Academy Jan. 15 at Hapeville Charter Jan. 16 Loganville at Archer (girls) Jan. 19 KIPP Atlanta Jan. 22 at BEST Academy (boys) Jan. 23 Fellowship Christian Jan. 26 GAC Jan. 29 Lovett Jan. 30 Buford (girls) Feb. 2 Holy Innocents’ Feb. 5 at Pace Academy

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