Southeast Georgia January 2018 Edition by ITG Next Magazine

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER 8th Annual SEGA Football Awards Banquet

LEAPS AND BOUNDS

Kenny Hill, Pierce County High School

Leading the Charge

GAME SOUTHEAST GEORGIA

$4.00 / Issue

IN THE

January 2018

AJ PINKNEY & SHONDELL VICKERS

In The Game | 1

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In 8 12

e u s s I s i h tT

Leading the Charge

AJ Pinkney/Shondell Vickers, Ware County High School

Looking to Repeat

Also

Brandon Orum, Camden County High School

Gators Cool in the Pool

The Lebron Aspect

Bears Represented in GACA All-Star Game

A Night to Remember

Leaps and Bounds

Born to Coach

Ricardo Laster, Needwood Middle School

8th Annual SEGA Football Awards Banquet

Kenny Hill, Pierce County High School

Ware County

Pierce County

20 23

The Streak Is Over Bacon County

Jackets Represent in Blitz Border Bowl

WayneCounty

Kala Hobbs, Wayne County High School

In The Game | 5

FROM THE PUBLISHER

12`

TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS!

The cold weather has descended on Southeast Georgia, and high school sports have moved indoors. In gyms all over SEGA, basketballs are bouncing off the hardwoods and grapplers are using their best moves to try and gain the advantage on the mat. Basketball is in full region mode right now with several teams looking to make a big push for state playoff runs. Coach Mandy Lingenfelter has her Lady Gators ranked in the Top 10 and, as I write this, are on an 18-game winning streak. Coach Chris Turner has his band of Pirates right back in position to make yet another state title run after playing for two and winning one in the last three years. I’d like to give a big shoutout to SEGA wrestling as we took two State Duals titles for the 201718 season: one by perennial powerhouse 7A Camden County winning their third straight and one by newcomer 6A Richmond Hill. They did a great job of hoisting the trophy in duals, and now it’s on to Traditionals. Keep up with all the action in the pages of In the Game as basketball and wrestling wrap up their seasons and we launch into spring sports. Ware County has a long tradition of producing great basketball talent. Two fine examples of that talent are Shondell Vickers and A.J. Pinkney. Both seniors lead their respective squads in scoring and in leadership on the court. Vickers is part of the exclusive 1000-point club, and Pinkney has posted several 40-plus point games this season. The Lady Gators are poised to make a deep run in the state playoffs with Vickers leading the way. The boys team faces a tougher task as

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they’ve struggled with victories this season, but if they can somehow make the playoffs, you never know what might happen with a prolific scorer like Pinkney. When we think of wrestling with think of strength, brute force, imposing your will on your opponent. These are all true, but tons of strategy goes into each match. It never hurts to be stronger than your opponent, but it really helps if you’re smarter. Meet our Academic-Athlete, Camden County senior Brandon Orum. The 2017 120-pound state champion used strategy to win his state title. Known as a technical wrestler, Orum was able to beat his opponent for the championship after losing to him earlier in the season. See kids, it’s always a good decision to pay attention in class. You’ve heard the saying, “She was born to do this.” Sometimes that is true beyond a shadow of a doubt. Meet Wayne County’s girls basketball coach Kala Hobbs. Hobbs is the daughter of legendary coach Jimmy Hires and grew up around basketball. It rubbed off on her as she took the Lady Jackets to the Final Four in just her second season as head coach for the program. Sometimes being in the shadows of a legend can be daunting, but I think Kala has stepped out of the shadows and into a spotlight of her own. If your nickname was “Garbage Man,” you might think that was a negative, but not for Pierce County’s Kenny Hill. That nickname was given to him because he’s always cleaning up a mess, according to coach Shan Garner. The 6’3” power forward is a big part of the Bears’ success in just their second year under Garner. Hill is almost averaging double digits in rebounds per game this season as

the Bears’ win totals continue to mount up after only winning four games the year prior to Garner’s arrival. This team could be a threat in the 3A playoffs. Coaches want their team leaders to lead by example. Don’t tell your teammates what they should be doing – show them. Needwood Middle School has a great team leader in Ricardo Laster. He practices hard, leads by example, and is first to arrive and last to leave. That’s what you want in a leader. Laster dreams of one day playing in the NBA. It all starts with a good high school career under coach Chis Turner at Brunswick High. Follow that with a solid college career, and who knows? We could hear his name called on draft day in the future. We hope you enjoy reading In the Game as much as we enjoy producing and publishing it. We are always open to suggestions as well as story ideas or ways you think we can improve our magazine. Please visit our website at www.itgnext.com and Facebook at www.facebook.com/itgnext.com Follow us on Twitter @SEGAInTheGame and on Instagram at inthegamesega. You can now keep up with all the scores across SEGA and the state with our new partner App Scorestream. Download the scorestream app at Google Play or the Appstore today. Keep a look out out for some exciting news coming soon on new Online Programing via our Online Radio Station. While you’re online, don’t forget to nominate a deserving student-athlete or coach for one of our feature articles. You’ll be glad you did.

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

Contributors

Publisher Shawn Smoak Editor Mark Dykes Graphics Mandy Douthit Cover Photography Jennifer Carter Johnson Feature Photography Jennifer Carter Johnson Michael Brinson Jeffrey Griffith Feature Writers Rob Asbell John DuPont W. John Wood Copy Editors Anna Limoges Alex Dunn Advertising/Marketing Shawn Smoak shawn@itgsportsnetwork.com Mark Dykes mark@itgsportsnetwork.com Website Manager Mandy Douthit SEGA Prep Sports P.O. Box 2960 Waycross, Ga. | 31502 Corporate Office: Dykes Media Group LLC P.O. Box 812 Valdosta, Ga. | 31603 In the Game is published monthly (excluding July). The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in part or in full without consent from the publisher. Dykes Media Group, LLC 2017 makes no representation or warranty of any kind for accuracy of content. All advertisements are assumed by the publisher to be correct. Copyright 2015 Dykes Publishing Group, LLC. All rights reserved. ISSN 1945-1458.

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Leading the Charge Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Basketball has long been a point of pride at Ware County High School, and this past season has been no exception, though the boys and girls teams have been at opposite ends of the spectrum. Coach Mandy Lingenfelter’s Lady Gators stood at 9-3 the first week of January, while Coach Tre Hill’s Gators checked in at 1-8. However, the Lady Gators and Gators have each had a prominent senior on the floor, despite their disparate results. Senior Shondell Vickers, a 5’11” center/forward, recently joined the 1,000-point club in career scoring, becoming just the third player to do so under Lingenfelter. A.J. Pinkney, a 6’0” point guard, averaged 27 points per game through the first six contests this season, along with 6.0 rebound and 2.5 steals per game. Here’s a closer look at this pair of extraordinary WCHS senior hoopsters.

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THE GOSPEL TRUTH:

DON’T SLOW YOUR ROLE:

Shondell Vickers

“We have been itching for a leader on the floor, and Shondell has really been that leader,” Lingenfelter said. “She has been the vocal leader, constantly telling people what to do on the floor. And she is one of our top players in assists, always ready to give up the ball. She has a great knack for the game, and that’s why she is our captain. ... Shondell’s passion is to play at Mercer. I’m excited that she is going to go big time, and she has the tools to do it. ... She is very mature and generous — almost too generous because sometimes she want sto give the ball up when she needs to keep it.” “I am mainly a leader and scorer,” Vickers said. “I’ve been the leading scorer since sophomore year. My job is to contribute rebounding-wise and pointwise every game.”

AWARDS:

As a sophomore, Vickers was accorded All-Region (Second Team) honors. Her junior year brought All-State honors as well as All-Region (First Team) accolades. She also participated in last year’s junior/senior all-star game, for which she was named MVP.

HIGHLIGHT REEL: Vick-

ers had scored 933 career points going into her senior campaign after netting respective yearly totals of 198 (freshman), 386 (sophomore), and 349 (junior). Vickers has led the Lady Gators in scoring the past two seasons and averaged 15.2 points per game through the first 11 games this season, including a high of 26 versus then-undefeated Swainsboro on Dec. 22. When Vickers netted her 1,000th career point this past December, she became the third player to do so for Lingenfelter, joining former Lady Gator Nene Howard and current WCHS assistant coach Jaquayla Berry, who accomplished the feat at Coffee. “When I scored my 1,000th point of my career,

it was in the fifth game,” Vickers said. “We played at Coffee, and I had 17 points, but I celebrated it at home later against Charlton County. I scored a layup, and Coach L called the timeout, and we celebrated. She gave me a basketball trophy that said 1,000 points, a t-shirt, and some other things.”

ACADEMICS: Dually enrolled

in college since 10th grade, Vickers has 12 classes under her belt and is nearly a college sophomore already. A National Honor Society member, she scored 20 on the ACT. She carries a GPA just below 3.9 and plans to major in biology.

MEET HER BESTIE: “Waynisha

Coleman has been my bestie since ninth grade,” Vickers said. “We both play the same position, so I know where she wants the ball and how. Off the court we are best friends, so it is easy to play with her.”

COLLEGE

PLANS: Vickers verbally committed to play at Florida Southwestern State College (Ft. Myers), a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association, choosing the Buccaneers from a field of around half a dozen suitors. She can transfer to another program after the first year and has designs on eventually attending Mercer.

“I liked them because of the academics and coaching staff,” Vickers said of FSW. “Their coaches — the way they talk is academics first and basketball second. That’s my philosophy, so I felt that was the right school to go to.”

INSPIRATION: The inner circle

for Vickers includes her mother, DeShonda Vickers, and grandmother, Tonya Wilson, as well as her travel coach, Kimberly Atwater. She also dedicates every game to the collective memory of her father, Anthony Dell Vickers; former classmate Kysheem Hill; and Cassandra Wesley.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

“Two years ago, we stopped at some place to eat,” Lingenfelter said. “We were waiting on our food, and this older lady was eating on her own. Shondell didn’t know her, but spent time speaking with this elderly lady. Shondell said, ‘Coach L, you know how I love my grandma.’ That really showed me her heart. It showed a lot for her to take that type of time with a stranger like she was the only person in the world.”

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A.J. Pinkney

COLLEGE PLANS: Pinkney’s mother is spearheading his recruitment process and has already had conversations with Georgia State University and Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is scheduled to take the SAT and ACT in the spring.

THE GOSPEL TRUTH: “A.J. has taken some great strides from his sophomore year to his senior year,” Hill said. “He is the only guy that has really played; we have a few guys that are seniors that have only played JV. His role has changed every year. As a sophomore, it was defensive because he was quick on the ball, and as a junior it was as a scorer. He has had a couple of games this year where he has scored 30 points, but teams are keying on him, and he has had to help coach some people up to help take some of the load off.” DON’T SLOW YOUR ROLE: “I’ve always been a leader,” Pinkney said. “But sometimes if we’re playing in a game, they’ll (teammates) get rattled, so I’ll pull them to the side and tell them to keep working hard. ‘It will be alright,' I’ll say.” Hill said: “As a sophomore, we had eight seniors on that team, and they pushed A.J. He didn’t understand, so he pushed back. Now as a senior he is the leader.”

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AWARDS: In middle school, Pinkney won awards for both math and English, though he described himself as just an

“average student” now. He was on the football team at Ware County Middle School that won the Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference title. HIGHLIGHT REEL: “We were playing Coffee in Douglas this year and had gotten down by 16 points going into the fourth quarter,” Pinkney said. “My teammates had their heads down, and I told them to keep their heads up. I scored 29 points in the game (33 overall). We still lost by three, but everybody felt better about it.” ACADEMICS: Spring semester will include Pinkney’s second AP math class. However, his favorite subject is English, a skill set he hopes to parlay into an eventual second career. “I will probably major in communications because I’m good at communicating with people,” he said. “I’d like to be a sportscaster because if I don’t make it in sports, then I’ll still be around it.” LIKE JORDAN & PIPPEN: “My best friend is R.J. Merritt,” Pinkney said. “He’s not afraid to tell me when I’m doing something wrong and vice versa. The other guys feel like since I’m the leader they are afraid to tell me, so

INSPIRATION: “Kysheem Hill, my best friend, died two years ago,” Pinkney said. “We had been close since the first grade. Kysheem was always a bright person, never gloomy, never mad, just somebody who loved to see everyone happy. So, I try to use what he had because he had a way of touching everybody. He was fearless.” “I want to thank my mom, Clarice White; and my dad, Allen Pinkney Sr.; as well as Coach Hill; Coach James Medlock; and Coach Harris,” the senior said. THE REST OF THE STORY: “A couple of years ago, A.J. rebelled against working in the weight room,” Hill said. “Now he is the hardest worker we have. If the gym door is open, he’s going in to work out. He is now just an all-around good person, a ‘yes sir, no sir’ young man. He has really matured, and now the coaches rave about him in the weight room.” Off the hardwood, Pinkney likes to read and cook. He plays drums at Assembly of Worship Ministries. He has also helped clean up Garlington Heights. Other time is spent with his dad crabbing and fishing. Now Pinkney is adding another activity to his repertoire. “I plan on playing baseball this year,” he said. “It was really my favorite sport before middle school. I was a football and baseball guy, but I had surgery, so I sat out that football season, and basketball seemed more promising after that.”

“I’ve been the leading scorer since sophomore year. My job is to contribute reboundingwise and point-wise every game.” — Shondell Vickers

“But sometimes if we’re playing in a game, they’ll (teammates) get rattled, so I'll pull them to the side and tell them to keep working hard. ‘It will be alright,' I'’ll say.” — A.J. Pinkney In The Game | 11

Looking to Repeat Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson

Brandon Orum has grown accustomed to standing atop the podium. Whether it is for wrestling or for academics, he always rises to the occasion. A senior wrestler at Camden County High School in Kingsland, he has been on Wildcats teams who have won the past four state Duals championships, not to mention his own individual state championship in the 2017 Traditionals, which has been the epitome of Orum’s young wrestling career. “Last year at state against Paul Watkins — it was the state finals,” Orum said. The two grapplers had met earlier in the season with North For-

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syth’s Watkins winning their first match. In the championship, however, when it really counted, Orum wouldn’t give up. Wrestling in the Class 7A finals at 120 pounds at the GHSA Traditional Wrestling State Tournament last February, Orum was able to claim a 7-3 decision over his rival. A strong technical wrestler, Orum works the mat like it is his own personal arena. His favorite move is the high crotch takedown, an aggressive technique in which the wrestler attacks the opponent’s upper leg to put him on the mat. But it is the “mano a mano” aspect of wrestling that interests Orum on the mat. “(I like) the challenge

of determining who's the better wrestler between just me and my opponent,” he said. As a senior and defending state Traditionals champ, he has become a leader on the Wildcat’s wrestling team this season, helping to guide his younger teammates in the mindset of winning. Last year, Camden had seven state champions in the 14 weight classes, claiming the state team title in the process. Winning has become a tradition at Camden, and Orum has been a big part of that success the past four years. When he is not on the mat working on technique, he is studying for classes. The son of Ben Orum and Kasey David-

son, he has taken Advanced Placement courses to give him a 4.37 GPA through his senior year and a high rank in his senior class. Orum hopes to earn a scholarship for wrestling to a four-year college next year, but if that does not happen, he plans on attending the University of Georgia in the fall. His favorite class at Camden is oceanography, and he is a member of the senior Beta club. He would like to major in accounting in college. Orum started wrestling his freshman year in high school and has spent the last four seasons on the mat. “I work hard,” he said. He likes wrestling because it offers a dichoto-

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my in the arena. improved enough to make an “It’s both an individual and a impact on this year’s Traditionals. team sport,” Orum said. “I feel very confident going into it, and I think I can repeat,” With January’s victory in the state duals, Camden accomOrum said. plished the “four-peat,” winning So far this season he has a the past four record of 34-3 state wrestling and hopes to add to the win championships. This season total. Orum was the Wildcats one of seven downed West wrestlers who Forsyth 63-12, won state titles — Brandon Orum Hillgrove 63-7, for the Wildcats and Collins Hill 56-12 in the prelast year, four of whom returned liminaries as the No. 1 seed. In to the 2018 Camden team inthe finals, Camden had to face cluding Orum and juniors NichoArcher High School and got a las Krug, Tyler Crew, and Raydan dominating 47-13 win for the Wilder. 7-A title. While he has enjoyed suc“My first big match was in cess on the mat and in the classthe state duals finals against Arroom, Orum has not let it go to cher," Orum said. "It was in the his head. He continues to work state finals for team, which was a hard in both areas and gives first for me, which made it a big credit to the ones who have match.” helped him get to where he is He went 3-0 with two techs now. and a decision to help his team “My parents because they claim the duals trophy. both inspire and motivate me to Last season, Orum won do my best in all aspects of life,” the state AAAAAAA title in the he said. 120-pound weight class. This season, he is in the 126-pound weight class and believes he has

“It’s both an individual and a team sport.”

In The Game | 15

WARE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL GATORS COOL IN THE POOL Written by: Evan Smoak | Photography courtesy of Ware County High School

The winter sports season is in full effect at Ware County High School. While most of the athletes are hitting the hardwood or the mats for basketball and wrestling, a small number are waking up before dawn and heading to the pool for swimming. The swim team at Ware County is small and young, with 11 out of their 14 swimmers being sophomores. The swim teams are coached by Michael Youngblood, Bill Giedl, and Patricia Roberson. So far this season, the swim team has competed twice at Butler-Mason YMCA in Thomasville, twice at Chatham County Aquatic Center in Savannah, and once at Camden County High School. The boys swim team is the larger of the two teams, holding 10 members. The team consists of junior Spencer Hoyt; sophomores Caleb Crawford, Joe Roberson, Brantley Good, Mac Johnson, Hunter Hooks, Luke Corbett, and Evan Smoak; and freshmen Paul Ryan Crawford and Jesse Simmons.

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Hoyt has already made state cuts in two events: 100-yard breaststroke and 200 IM. Also, the 200 medley relay team consisting of Hoyt, Hooks, Paul Ryan Crawford, and Johnson are less than two seconds away from state cut times as of Jan. 4. The boys have two top three team finishes at meets. The girls swim team is the smaller of the two teams, as it only holds four members. The team consists of all sophomores: Kaylah Youngblood, Laura McCarthy, Imani Johnson, and Casey Brennan. Youngblood, a strong swimmer, is less than half a second from state cut times in the 100 breaststroke as Jan. 4. All swimmers have dropped significant times in all of their events this season and will have five more opportunities in 2018 to make state cut times. The state swim championships will be held on Feb. 1 and 3 in 2018, and we would like to see some Gators swimmers there.

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PIERCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

BEARS REPRESENTED IN GACA ALL-STAR GAME

Written by: Jaron Raulerson

Avery Jernigan, a current sophomore at Pierce County High School, was selected to play in the 2018 GACA North/South All-Star game. The game has been running since 1938, making it the oldest running high school All-Star game. This was the first year the game expanded to allow high school sophomores to play. With only 240 players across the state invited to participate, it’s a true honor to be selected. Six teams are comprised of 40 players each (40 South sophomores, 40 North sophomores, 40 South juniors, etc.). The teams had three practices together on Dec. 26 and 27 and played the game at Freedom Field in Warner Robins on Dec. 28. Avery Jernigan plays left tackle for the Pierce County Bears, but was asked to move inside to play center for the South All-Stars. Coach Seth Boyett took Avery out and worked with him on his snapping to prepare him for the game. The instruction paid off with no bad snaps in the entire game. This was an awesome opportunity for Avery and for Pierce County. Brandon Jernigan — Avery’s father and the athletic director at Pierce County — was very pleased with how the coaching staff helped prepare Avery for the game. “We’re very thankful for the chance that Avery had to represent our community and our football program,” he said. “We’d like to thank Coach Strickland and his entire staff for the work and support they put into each of the young men and women, that they put into all the student-athletes, at Pierce County High School.”

PCHS WRESTLING TEAM TRAVELS UP NORTH Coach Brandon Jernigan’s Bears wrestling team went up to North Georgia and placed fourth at the Viking Clash in Gainesville on Dec. 19. The Christmas Clash featured schools from across Georgia, including Pierce County, Cartersville, Mary Persons, North Oconee, Habersham Central, Gainesville, Union County, and host East Hall. Todd Carter (126 pounds) and Nic Blasko (220 pounds) were individual tournament champions. Bill Fuqua (160 pounds) and Isaac Simpson (195 pounds) were individual runners-up. Layton Jones (106 pounds), Alex Lucas (120 pounds), and John Cameron Jordan (170 pounds) all placed third as individuals to cap off a successful day at the first annual Viking Christmas Clash. The team then traveled up to Pigeon Forge to wrestle in the Smoky Mountain Duals. Pierce County attends the competition every year to catch a glimpse at the premier teams. This year’s field was filled with highly ranked teams from seven states, included Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, and North Carolina. Cleveland, Tennessee, defeated Jefferson, Georgia, 36-33 in the finals of the two-day tournament in Tennessee to end their streak of eight straight SMD Tournament championships. Jefferson has also won 17 straight dual/traditional state championships in Georgia. The team loves traveling up north to Gainesville and Pigeon Forge each year. “We go up there to have a great team bonding experience and to see top level programs,” Jernigan said. “We ride a lot of go karts and catch some shows. It’s a trip I look forward to attending every year.”

BACON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

THE STREAK IS OVER

Written by: Rob Asbell On a cool November Friday night in Alma, futility was finished off, the thrill of victory returned, and the streak came to an end. For the first time in nearly four years, the Bacon County Lady Raiders basketball team was victorious with a 24-23 defeat over the Screven County Lady Gamecocks. According to maxpreps.com, the Lady Raiders were 0-69 since their last win on Jan. 21, 2014, and 1-81 over the past four seasons. During the

past three seasons, Bacon has gone 0-63. The team’s last victory was 1,396 days ago — three years, nine months, and 27 days. It has been a while, but now the seniors will be able to hold their heads high knowing they will graduate with at least one victory under their belts. Although she was not the coach for the team’s last victory, Bacon girls basketball coach Veronica Wilson has heard a great deal about the game and the struggles the Lady

| Photography by: Debra Tanner

Raiders have endured since then. The game against Screven came down to a final jumper with 14 seconds left to play. The Lady Gamecocks threw a strong defense at Bacon. “They had some tough players and a phenomenal coach,” Wilson said. The two teams battled back and forth, and Bacon saw three of its starters foul out. Finally, Precious Gatson hit the game winner to put the Lady Raiders up by a point. “(If not for) FeFe

Greene setting a great screen, Malayka Burkes posting big on the blocks, Bailey Martin coming around and being a great shooter, and Sunshine Batton throwing in a great pass, then we would not have gotten a great opportunity to make a shot at the end of the game,” Wilson said. When the game was over, the ladies celebrated as they had won as a team. They had tears in their eyes, and the crowd at Bacon went wild. Since she became

head coach two years ago, Wilson has seen marked advancements in how the ladies are playing collectively as a team. “We are seeing great improvements, even from last year to this year,” she said. This year’s edition of the Lady Raiders basketball team has grit and determination, which is credited as the reason the team has improved. “I have a great set of returning girls and a fantastic set of new players that are working day in and day out,” Wilson said. Each player brings something to the table to add to the team’s collective skill set. Wilson hopes the attitude will help turn the program around. “I think this win means a lot for my girls and the community ,but we are not the team for settling,” she said. “So even though we have a great feeling about this win, we want more, and I know my girls are not going to be satisfied with just one win.”

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WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL JACKETS REPRESENT IN BLITZ BORDER BOWL Written by: Rob Asbell | Photos courtesy of Missi Fountain

Five Wayne County senior football players got one last opportunity to showcase their talents in the inaugural Blitz Border Bowl held at Pooler Stadium outside of Savannah. The all-star football game pitted seniors from the Coastal Empire of Georgia against the Low Country of South

Carolina. Coaches selected the 40 best players from throughout their respective areas to play in the game. Five Yellow Jacket seniors were chosen to play for the Georgia team. Representing Wayne County on the offensive line were offensive tackle Spence Pearce and center Sam Fountain;

on the defensive side were defensive back Thomar Smith and outside linebackers Lamonte Trent and Zach Fuller. “They all had a great game and played really well; they had a fun time,” said Wayne County head football coach Ken Cribb, who ran the

offense for the Georgia team coached by Richmond Hill’s Matt LeZotte. In December, Cribb was named Southeast Georgia Coach of the Year by In the Game. With only a few days to practice, the rainy, cold weather of early January played a role in the teams’ preparation. “A little weather canceled one of our practices, so we didn't have as much time together as we would have liked,” Cribb said. Fans huddled under blankets to watch in the wintry weather. The teams looked like they were in mid-season form in a defensive battle on a cold day that saw just one touchdown scored. Trent had a big stop on a Low Country receiver in the backfield that made all of

the highlight reels. When it was over, the Georgia team took home the trophy with a 15-3 win. “It gave them another chance to be noticed by colleges and one more highlight on their recruiting film,” Cribb said of the game. “We had a lot of fun, and I know the players enjoyed it.” For many of the players, it was the last game of their high school careers. The Blitz Border Bowl was sponsored by Savannah’s WSAV Channel 3 and the Savannah Morning News with proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House. Sponsors hope to see the game become an annual tradition for both players and fans. “The game has a great future, and I would like to see it grow,” Cribb said.

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In The Game | 23

The Lebron Aspect Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson

Ricardo Laster likes to work on his game. Ninety-minute workouts with his coach over Christmas break were not unusual for the Needwood Middle School eighth-grade basketball player, who would call his coach and ask to get into the gym. “I just practice and practice,” Laster said. Laster is usually the first player to arrive at and the last player to leave the gym. His hard work has taken his game to a new level, a fact attested to by Jessan Gray, the former pro player who is now the head basketball coach at the school north of Brunswick. Although he puts up a lot of points, the 5’10” player has the ball-handling and shooting skills to play almost any spot on the floor: point guard, shooting guard, or power forward. “He has what I like to call the ‘Lebron’ aspect of the game,” said Gray, comparing Laster’s playing style to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Lebron James. “He wants to get everyone else involved before he tries to do anything. He leads by doing, not by talking about it.” Like the NBA superstar, Laster does not have a “slow” setting on his game. He constantly goes and goes hard, unselfishly 24 | itgnext.com

setting up his teammates with passes and assists while still looking for scoring opportunities on his own. He is usually at his best in clutch situations when the game is on the line. “I think about what I have to do to help the team win,” Laster said. In a game this season against undefeated McIntosh Middle School, Laster had just two points at the end of the first quarter while grabbing rebounds and feeding the ball to teammates. He ended the game with 28 points and 18 rebounds.

“That is the type of player that he is,” Gray said. “He can dominate a game very quickly.”

He is strong in transition with the ability to see what is going on around him. He knows what other players are doing and where the ball needs to go, whether he should pass or take the ball to the hoop. He also has a strong half-court game and is willing to do what other players won’t, including fighting for rebounds off of long shots. A hard worker who pushes his teammates to be even better, Laster is an

effective team leader in practice and in games.

“I got an ‘and-1,’” he said. “I made my freethrow and sealed the game for us.” He moved up to the middle school ranks and started scoring big, even as a seventh-grader. His most memorable game came against rival Jane Macon Middle School.

“He’s not much of a yeller,” Gray said. “He’s not going to yell at anybody if they mess up. Whether it is running sprints in the gym or encouraging his teammates during games, Laster is out front showing the way.”

Other teams have to be aware of Laster when they face Needwood or his AAU team, the GIBA Warriors. High school players look forward to playing on the same AAU team because they know he will help them improve their own games. “He’s going to make your other four guys better on the court,” Gray said. Laster started playing basketball when he was just 3 years old and blossomed from there. He played in the recreation leagues before joining the Needwood Warriors in sixth grade, becoming a full-time player in seventh. “I had him last year, and he didn’t complain at all,” Gray said. “It didn’t matter what happened. Instead, he continued to put in time in the gym working on conditioning, ball-handling, shooting, and free throws.” Although he has played for years, his first big game-winning shot did not come until 2015 when he was playing recreation league basketball with the Celtics. Going against a team that included his longtime friend and top player, Omarion Hayes, it came down to a final shot.

“I knew everyone on the team, and we’re all very close, so it was fun and exciting playing against them,” he said. “It was the biggest game of the season, and I left my mark scoring 27 points.”

I just practice and practice.

- Ricardo Laster

Off the court, he is a humble young man who still likes adventure, including zip-lining in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Laster — “Duece” or “Rico” as friends call him — enjoys social studies in school and hopes to study criminal justice in college so that he can become a police investigator. Of course, his ultimate dream is to be a first-round pick in the NBA draft. To get there, he has the backing of his family. “My dad and brothers help me with my game, and my mom and sister support me with the rest of my family,” he said. High level athleticism runs in Laster’s DNA; his uncle is University of Georgia football legend Willie McClendon, and he has cousins who played basketball at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech. Laster plans on playing in high school and said he will be a Brunswick Pirate next season. In The Game | 25

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“He works hard, and that is one of his greatest qualities,” Gray said.

- Ricardo Laster

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In The Game | 27

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

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Casey has 14 years of experience in the financial services business including banking and insurance. A Ware Count native and Ware High graduate, she is happily married to Buster and they have two wonderful children, Savannah and Brody. Casey is a positive, engaging, friendly professional with a desire and the experience to help individuals and families. She offers expertise in Retail Lending, Autos, Boats, ATV’s, Home Equity Lines of Credit, Personal lines of credit, Mortgages, and Credit Cards. She looks forward to serving you. Please call her at 912-809-3573.

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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

Giving Back to the Community Written by: Rob Asbell | Photography by: Shawn Smaok

One of South Georgia’s longest serving and most respected financial institutions has expanded into Ware and Pierce counties with a familiar face at the helm. Southeastern Credit Union opened the doors of its new Ware county location in May to serve the Waycross and Blackshear areas. Well-known for offering financial services in the Valdosta, Tifton, and Nashville areas, Southeastern Credit Union in Waycross will be able to handle everything from business loans, mortgage loans, and home equity lines of credit,to auto loans and Visa credit cards. We will eventually offer savings accounts, checking accounts, certificates, and money markets for both personal and business accounts. Ware-Pierce Area Executive Berry Tanner said his career success took him further and further away from the thing he loved most: interacting with people and helping them with the financial challenges they face. Southeastern’s mission to deliver value while providing legendary service will help him get back to that love of helping people. Tanner is known for his 30 years of banking experience in Waycross and the surrounding area, and with this new oppor-

tunity, He is able to return to his roots, having been born and raised in Waycross. Southeastern Credit Union’s newest branch, located on Boulevard Square in Waycross, will help serve Ware and Pierce counties. Southeastern has six other locations in Valdosta, Tifton, and Nashville. Anyone who resides in the Southeastern Credit Union field of membership — which includes;Ben Hill, Berrien, Brooks, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties — can become a member. Businesses in the coverage area may also join. Credit unions are notfor-profit financial institutions that reinvest back into the credit union to offer the best products, services, and rates for members. Account holders own a share of the credit union and elect a board of directors. For Tanner, the best part of working with Southeastern Credit Union is knowing that he will be giving back to the community he has grown to love. “As a credit union, we offer lower rates on loans, higher rates on deposits, and fewer fees than are generally available from banks,” Tanner said. “At Southeastern Credit Union, we are different from most

credit unions because we serve businesses with loans and deposits through a very experienced and successful business services team.” Lower interest rates and fewer fees saved Georgia credit union members more than $184.8 million last year. Now he will be able to balance quality time at home and at work with an organization Tanner calls, “a high-quality financial partner that I trusted could deliver value and provide exceptional service for businesses and individuals and would commit to investing service and money back into my community.” In business since 1953, Southeastern Credit Union now has nearly 30,000 members. The new Waycross location is at 1701-B Boulevard Square and is open Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can call them at (912) 8093572 or go online at http:// www.southeasterncu.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook. At Southeastern Credit Union, their primary focus is serving you. Southeastern Credit Union is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Southeastern Credit Union is an equal housing lender.

We’re proud to introduce Casey Jeffers.

In The Game | 29

A Night to Remember

8th Annual SEGA Football Awards Banquet Written by: Rob Asbell Photography by: Michael Brinson and Jennifer Carter Johnson

It was a night of celebration and remembrance at the Eighth Annual Southeast Georgia In the Game Football Awards Banquet held in mid-December.

Players, coaches, parents, and fans from 19 Southeast Georgia high schools filled the historic Waycross City Auditorium to see trophies presented for each team’s offensive and defensive players of the year as well as sponsored awards for overall outstanding performances. Former Jacksonville Jaguars safety Donovin

Darius was the keynote speaker for the evening which also saw a legendary supporter of the game honored with an award named in his behalf. Darius, who played 10 seasons in the NFL, encouraged the student-athletes to become passionate about what they want in life, no matter what others say. “There are two types of pain: the pain of loss, which can be replaced, and the pain of regret. Never live in regret. Yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is yours. That’s why it’s called the present.” Darius spoke of how he grew up in the crime

and drug infested area of Camden, New Jersey. His mother raised five children by herself, and he was the first to go to college. He accepted a scholarship to Syracuse University and was a firstround NFL draft pick, taken 25th overall, by the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he spent nine seasons. Now, he is a mentor and life coach for NFL rookies, teaching them to handle the benefits and perils of sudden wealth and fame. He spoke of facing Pittsburgh Steelers’ running back Jerome Bettis, who was known as “The Bus.” After a first half of

“You can be the first in your family or on your team to accomplish something. But first, you must make the decision.” the Jaguars being run over by Bettis, Darius heard his teammates making excuses at halftime. It was then that he made the decision to be the one to stop him. “It had to start with me,” he told the crowd of eager young players. In the second half, the 210-pound Darius went head on with “The Bus” and knocked him backwards. ”No one else had knocked him backwards, so I was the first on my team,” he said. “You can

— Donovin Darius

be the first in your family or on your team to accomplish something. But first, you must make the decision.” After Darius spoke, each team’s individual awards and then the marquee awards were presented. The Southeast Georgia In the Game Middle School Player of the Year went to Camden Middle School’s Jamie Felix. The Farah and Farah Forward Progress Award for the most improved player went to A.J. Bell

of Charlton County. The Coastal Pines Technical College Academic Player of the Year went to Glynn Academy’s Hunter Hall. The PrimeSouth Bank Offensive Player of the Year went to Wayne County quarterback Garrett Overholt. The Gibson Animal Clinic Defensive Player of the Year was presented to Ernest Jones IV of Ware County. The Walker Jones Player Spotlight MVP award went to Brunswick’s Jaylen Jackson. The Robbie Roberson Ford Coach of the Year was presented to Wayne County’s Ken Cribb.

“I was surprised,” Cribb admitted after winning the award. But the highlight of the evening came when Clay Thomas of Crossway Realty announced this year’s Humanitarian Award. Rather than presenting the trophy, it was announced that the award would be renamed in honor of the late Kenny McCarthy, who was an avid supporter, both physically and financially, of area athletics. His wife, Pié McCarthy, was on hand to see the award renamed in honor of her late husband.

ly. Darius is a great example of what a football player can Game (SEGA) publisher. “Hearing Dono- become." “I also want to thank vin Darius talk our sponsors who made about his college all of this possible,” and NFL playing Smoak said. “These are members of the local days and relating business community who it to life lessons for provide their time and these student-ath- financial resources to support these programs letes was amaz- every year.” Schools represented ing," Smoak said. "Then he took the included Appling County, Bacon County, Bradwell time to meet with Institute, Brantley County, players individual- Brunswick High, Camden “That really capped off an incredible evening,” said Shawn Smoak, In the

County, Charlton County, Frederica Academy, Glynn Academy, Jeff Davis, Liberty County, Long County, McIntosh County Academy, Pierce County, Richmond Hill, Toombs County, Vidalia, Ware County, and Wayne County. In the Game’s John DuPont was the emcee for the evening as writers Rob Asbell and John Wood hosted the In the Game radio show. The event was also broadcasted live on the internet by Charlton Sports Net. Once again this year the banquet was catered by Jimbo’s BBQ of Homerville.

OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AW WARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFEN

Appling Motors Wheeler Agency Inc Appling Co. | Appling Motors Kubota Coach: Jon Lindsey Off: Tyler Jones | Def: Moses Eason

Bacon Co. | Wheeler Agency Inc. COUNTRY Financial Coach: Kyle Lankford Off: Anthony Madison | Def: K J Brown

Bradwell Institute | Woodmen Life W. John Wood Coach: Ross Couch Off: Kevin Harris | Def: Curvontae Bryant

Brantley Co. | In the Game Sports Network Coach: Mark Walker Off: John Pollard | Def: C J Prescott

Brunswick | Southeast Georgia Health System Coach: Sean Pender Off: Jamarius Stevens | Def: Kam Futch

Camden Co. | Southeast Georgia Health System Coach: Bob Sphire Off: Brooks Bryan | Def: Jeremiah Compton

WARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIV NSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWAR

Charlton Co. | In The Game Coach: Rich McWhorter Off: Aaron Brazeale | Def: Eric Daniels

Fredrica Academy | Southeast Georgia Health System Coach: Brandon Derrick Off: Jaylin Simpson | Def: Harry Veal

Glynn Academy | Southeast Georgia Health System Coach: Rocky Hildalgo Off: Caine Crews | Def: Marvin Dallas

Jeff Davis | In the Game Coach: Lance Helton Off: Alex Sanders | Def: Willie Watters

Liberty Co. | Woodmen Life W. John Wood Coach: Kirk Warner Off: Kris Coleman | Def: Tramel Walthour

Long Co. | Woodmen Life W. John Wood Coach: J.T. Pollock Off: E.J. Crawford | Def: M'Kiyah Floston-Anderson

OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENS

McIntosh Academy | Southeast Georgia Health System Coach: Terel Toomer Off: J.P. Palmer | Def: Payne Drake

Pierce Co. | Bennett, Bennett, and Johnson Insurance Coach: Will Winston (DC) Off: John Jones | Def: Renard Matthews

Richmond Hill | Richmond Hill Touchdown Club Coach: Matt LeZotte Off: Sam James | Def: Nico DeCosta

Toombs Co. | In the Game Coach: Rich Marsh Def: Ervin Mincey | Off: Cody Fuller

Vidalia | In the Game Coach: Lee Chomkis (NP) Off: Derman Simmons | Def: NyShun Bell

Ware Co. | Southeastern Credit Union Coach: Michael Youngblood (DC) Off: Raja Bradley | Def: Tre Cobb

34 | itgnext.com

SIVE AWARD OFFENSIVE AWARD DEFENSIVE AWARD

Shaun Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Quinn Wayne Co. | COUNTRY Financial Shaun O'Quinn Coach: Ken Cribb Off: Ashby Cribb | Def: Zack Fuller

Congratulations JAMIE FELIX In the Game Middle School Player of the Year

Jamie Felix Camden Co. Middle School

Evan Smoak In the Game

Congratulations HUNTER HALL Coastal Pines Technical College Academic-Athlete of the Year

Hunter Hall Glynn Academy

Dr. Glen Deibert President of Coastal Pines Technical College

Congratulations ERNEST JONES Gibson Animal Clinic Defensive Player of the Year

Ernest Jones Ware Co. High School

Dr. Rusty Gibson Owner of Gibson Animal Clinic

Congratulations GARRETT OVERHOLT Primesouth Bank Offensive Player of the Year

Garrett Overholt Wayne Co. High School

Cliff Knowlton Commercial Loan Officer Primesouth Bank

Congratulations JALEN JACKSON Walker Jones Player Spotlight MVP Award

Jalen Jackson Brunswick High School

Keith Ambrose Fixed Operations Director for Walker Jones

Congratulations KEN CRIBB Robbie Roberson Ford Coach Of the Year

Ken Cribb Wayne Co. High School

Robbie Roberson Owner of Robbie Roberson Ford

Congratulations A.J. BELL Farah and Farah Forward Progress Award

A.J. Bell Charlton County High School

Congratulations KENNY MCCARTHY Humanitarian Award

PiĂŠ McCarthy Kenny's Wife

Clay Thomas Owner of Crossway Realty

Leaps Bounds

Written by: John DuPont Photography by: Jennifer Carter Johnson

Over the past two seasons, Pierce County High School’s boys team has arguably been among the most improved basketball squads in the state. PCHS posted nine wins during the 2016-17 hoops campaign, their first under head coach Shan Garner, doubling the victory total (four) of the prior season. Subsequently, PCHS was on the verge of hitting double-digit win figures halfway through the 2017-18 season, with a 9-3 mark at the start of January. According to Garner, one of the players that best demonstrates the latest upswing in Bearville is senior Kenny Hill. A 6’3” forward, Hill’s productivity clip at Christmas break included 7.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. That’s up from averages of 3.1 per category a season ago. “We call him the Garbage Man because he’s always cleaning up a mess,” Garner said. “Kenny is a good weak side rebounder, a leaper