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DEL.ICIO.USComets won’t back down in girls final
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No one knows, for sure, which Gwinnett girls’ team will wear the big crown tonight. OK, who am I kidding? Collins Hill will add to its trophy haul — and its lore — with another state title.
Nevertheless, the Eagles will have to take the Class AAAAA championship because the spunky South Gwinnett bunch surely won’t give it to them. Just ask the Stephenson Jaguars.
There’s not a tougher squad than Stephenson, whose championship pedigree is bred on gritty defense and unrelenting board crashing. Yet, in their 62-47 semifinal win Thursday (stoked by 19-of-30 fourth-quarter free-throw shooting), the Comets matched Stephenson, chest to chest, floor burn to floor burn.
“They fought hard, and we fought,” South coach Mike Allison said. “We just had to keep clawing, keep clawing. We played with a lot of guts.”
That the Comets did. Led by smooth point guard Alex Winchell (21 points), brawny forward Antionette Howard (18) and plucky wing Gia Lockett (13), they hustled like there would be no tomorrow.
Now, though, tomorrow is here. And the next mission for South Gwinnett (28-4) is taking down the best girls’ team in the land.
“We’re going to try,” Allison said. “Hey, we’re here; you never know. Anything can happen. We’re in the game [and] maybe things will go our way.
We got our hands full, no doubt it.”
“Everybody expected Collins Hill to be [in the title game]. We expected to be there. I hope we just don’t get embarrassed.”
Slim chance of that happening.
Yes, Collins Hill is not only very, very good, but they also play very, very hard. The Eagles (30-1) burst into the semifinal having won three state tournament games by an average of 51 points.
Still, South won’t back down.
“I mean, they’re really good,” Lockett said. “We’re going to have to play a lot better than we did today. But I think we can do it. Nobody really talks about us. We just do our thing.”
If only the Comets had caught the Eagles on the right night. Like, for instance, Thursday evening.
In a rematch of last year’s title game, Redan pushed Collins Hill, staying in the hunt for three-plus quarters. But just like a year ago, Collins Hill had Maya Moore, and the Raiders didn’t.
“The whole game, we looked for somebody to just show initiative and take it upon themselves if that’s what it took,” coach Tracey Tipton said. “That’s part of Maya’s competitive nature. She just doesn’t want to lose.”
Moore scored 12 of her 29 points in the final period and Collins Hill prevailed 62-45. The Eagles, though, were far from satisfied.
“They’re competitors,” coach Tipton said. “[And] if it doesn’t bother you when you don’t play well, you might not get any better. … People expect us every night to just come out and blow people away in the first quarter. “It would be nice, but we’re human.”
Which, of course, is music to South Gwinnett’s ears.
Permalink | Comments (19) | Categories: J.C. Clemons
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By Comets Teacher
March 3, 2006 08:01 AM | Link to this
Win, lose, or draw - the Lady Comets are champions! They are smart, funny, articulate, intelligent young ladies; and I’m proud to know them!
By South_Alum
March 3, 2006 09:54 AM | Link to this
GO COMETS!!! I am a South Gwinnett alumni and we moved out of state 3 years ago. We drove back to watch the boys win state and we are driving back tonight to watch the girls win. Take it to them Ladies! You can do it!
By Proud Pop
March 3, 2006 10:00 AM | Link to this
Be careful what you wish for South Gwinnett. I hear you bballfan saying that they have been looking forward to the challenge of facing Goliath but there’s no slingshots or stones that will be able to help them tonight. I’ve actually had the pleasure for the last 5 years to watch the basketball maturation process of South Gwinnett’s nucleus of Alex, Emily , Antionette and Mandi because all of them at one time or another has played AAU ball with Taylor Dalrymple who plays for Collins Hill. Believe me when I say I know what those girls can and cannot do on the basketball court I’ve watch them play just about every game they’ve played in the last few years. That being said the Collins Hill’s Lady Eagles are too fast for them. The smooth point guard Alex whose shot is deadly as they come has a hard time shooting with someone in her face and that will happen all night the way the Eagles play defense.The x-factor in tonight’s game and I’ve been saying it every AAU season for the past 5 years is Emily. She can cause some problems with her ability to score but can she match the speed of what’s about to come at her. I’ll agree with what everyone is saying about SG’s pride and heart I know these girls personally and I have enjoyed watching them win some big games, but this Collins Hill team is one that makes a basketball junkie like myself say wow. I’m happy for the girls of SG and to the parents of the young ladies I know congrats, but I think this mountain is too big to climb tonight. Prediction Collins Hill by 20.
By Buck
March 3, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
COLLINS HILL BY 20????? Come on Pops. Nobody wins a championship game by 20, espically two teams like the two we are going to see tonight. Its going to be a battle to the end, and unfortunatly i cannot make a prediction on who i think will win. But know that I am rooting for the South girls to pull it out. Do what you gotta do ladies.
**No matter who looses, both teams need to be throughly congratulated on fantastic season. You both have done Gwinnett proud.
By bballfan
March 3, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
The mountain might be “too big to climb�, but the Lady Comets will give it a try. I hope Proud Pop’s prediction of a 20 point Collins Hill victory dosen’t come true, but even if it does, the South girls have shown a lot of grit, determination and class throughout the season, and win or lose, they deserve a lot of credit. I have watched Collins Hill and am truely amazed at their talent. I am looking forward to the game between the two best teams in the State. Both teams are winners on and off the court. Congratulations to South Gwinnett and Collins Hill. You make everyone proud
By Southfan2
March 3, 2006 04:06 PM | Link to this
Good luck South Gwinnett.. your a fantastic team and i hope that youll come out with a win
By Topcat
March 3, 2006 06:31 PM | Link to this
There ought to be a fine for the obvious bad officiating in the South Gwinnett vs Stephenson game. Thirty free throw attempts in a quarter?, give me a break, it is a shame when officiating decides a high school game. Where did these officials come from?
By Steve
March 3, 2006 08:56 PM | Link to this
I agree that Collins Hill will most likely win, but South impressed me every time I saw the Comets play. Howard and Winchell are a formidable combination, and the team is deep off the bench.
Collins Hill speaks for itself. I’m just glad that I can watch it as one who has no dog in the fight.
That said, I still think that South ‘gainst the Hill will be ugly. Collins Hill in a walk. Brutal, but inevitable.
By flyingfleet
March 4, 2006 08:50 PM | Link to this
Although Collins Hill did not win by 20, I am happy that they did win. And yes, it is possible to win a state championship by that much. When we won the first two years, it was by 19 and 16. So don’t say never. Anyway…good season to both South Gwinnett and Collins Hill. I am happy that girl’s basketball is at such a high caliber of play in Gwinnett.
By go south
March 5, 2006 12:53 AM | Link to this
collins hill beat teams during their season by an average of 51 points. south lost by 10 to the number 2 or 3 (depending on where you see it) team in the NATION. that is freakin amazing. plus south loses one player that plays and that is gia. the rest of the starters are juniors and will be back next year. collins hill loses 3 starters. now tell me…. who will be state champions next year? thats right. SOUTH GWINNETT will. they deserve a lot of credit.
By Steve
March 5, 2006 01:45 AM | Link to this
Hey, Go South,
Let’s let the uniforms dry out before we talk about next year, okay? South played well, but not enough to top CH. Congratulations to both teams for an incredible season.
It wasn’t ugly, of that I am glad. Collins Hill is a bona-fide dynasty. The Comets may have returning stars, but there are Eaglets waiting to fly next year, too.
Ought to be fun.
By bballfan
March 5, 2006 07:28 AM | Link to this
I said in an earlier post concerning Wheeler, not to crown yourselves champions until after the game. The same applies for South Gwinnett. March, 2007 is a long ways away. However, I am sure that the Lady Comets will set returning to the championship game as their goal. The loss of Gia Lockett will hurt, but there are some players who can step in to fill her shoes. They have some talent on the bench. That being said, I know the Lady Comets were disapointed in the outcome of the game, but just to be there was an honor. I think the outcome of the game (10 points difference) was do in no small part to South’s defense. Also, Collins Hill’s defense kept South’s fast break offense from scoring like they were used to. Maya Moore was phenominal. I think she is the best high school player in the nation. Both teams deserve credit for outstanding seasons. Hopefully, next year will bring the same success for both teams.
By gwinnettrules
March 5, 2006 09:29 AM | Link to this
CH will be dominant again. I don’t think anybody is able to contain Maya Moore.
as for SG. they have the potential to be in the state championship again next year. As a spectator, it looked to me as if winchell and clarke were trying to win the game themselves. as long as the two egos there dont clash they should be alright. losing lockett will hurt, SG’s bench wasn’t that deep, they played 7 all year. They will need to get the ball in to howard more and not worry about shooting so many threes.
that being said… look for CH to 3peat next year, as they have maya moore and are bound to get a handful of transfers.
By gwinnettrules
March 5, 2006 09:30 AM | Link to this
CH will be dominant again. I don’t think anybody is able to contain Maya Moore.
as for SG. they have the potential to be in the state championship again next year. As a spectator, it looked to me as if winchell and clarke were trying to win the game themselves. as long as the two egos there dont clash they should be alright. losing lockett will hurt, SG’s bench wasn’t that deep, they played 7 all year. They will need to get the ball in to howard more and not worry about shooting so many threes.
that being said… look for CH to 3peat next year, as they have maya moore and are bound to get a handful of transfers.
By bballfan
March 5, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this
I agree partly with gwinnettrules above. However, South does have some talented players that did not see as much playing time as the first 7 players. That was a coach’s decision. I think you will see next year that they will help the team. A point that gwinnettrules brings up is one that I feel should be discussed more. That is the “handful of transfers” that may go to Collins Hill (or for that matter, any other school). I think the GHSA should address that topic and maybe make some changes. While some transfers are actually legitimate, it seems that most within the state in the past few years have been strictly to play at a school that the parents feel will have a good season the next year. There have been instances where the parents have rented houses or apartments in another district strictly for the address and have not been transfered or actually moved. I would like to hear other peoples’ thoughts on that matter. Just my opinion. I believe the Florida High School Association has passed a rule this year that a transfer player (except one from out of state) must sit out from varsity competition for one year before being eligible to play (they could play JV). What do you think?
By gwinnettrules
March 5, 2006 11:06 AM | Link to this
i think that the transfer situation needs to be handled. Look @ CH, Norcross, Wheeler, SG, Stephenson, and Wesleyan. Its not by mistake that these teams were good. When teams are good, it makes good players want to go to that school. It is a pretty unfair situation to the other schools, but until they fix it, they will just have to be SOL.
just a question bballfan, what other players did SG have that didnt get to play that much and aren’t graduating?
By bballfan
March 5, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
To gwinnettrules: I think you are right about the transfer situation. As I said, I think the GHSA needs to at least discuss the situation at one of it’s meetings. As far as other players for South that are coming back that didn’t get much playing time, there is Hewatt, Pierce, Dougherty and Roseberry. Hewatt saw more time than the other three, and I feel she will be able to step in as a starter. I guess we’ll have to wait until next year and see what happens. It was a great season for both teams.
By Kronic
March 5, 2006 01:43 PM | Link to this
Man what a great game though. I was really upset that south lost. we will win the chip next yeatr because CH is losing so many players but it won’t be as sweet B/C Gia lockett won’t be there for it. I was mad that coach allison didn’t play Antionette Howard for the whole game. I really think that woulg have been the diffirence. BUT south also is gaurenteed to get some amazing transfers next year. Both Alex Winchell and Emily Clarke transferred to south Only Lockett and Howard orginally lived in the district. Lockett was productive but it was obvious that the knee she had surgery on that kep her out of souths second round loss to McEarchen last year was bothering her (Howard did not play in that game either). Howard has been a south starer since she was a freshman but due some problems last year she was relegated to the bench…tough. Besides she only played the last half of the season. If she would have started the whole season things would have been diffirent. Regardless I loved the game congratz to both teams. No matter what happens next year all of the players on both teams will be amazing D1 players.
By bballfan
March 5, 2006 08:25 PM | Link to this
To Kronic: It was a good game. I don’t think Collins Hill will be hurting next year even though they are losing 3 starters. Their bench this year could probably be starters for most teams. I have to say again, don’t crown yourself champion until the game is won. I am sure South will set that as their goal for next year, but there is a whole season to play, and a lot of good teams to beat before you get there. As far as who played the whole game, that is the coach’s decision, and I am sure there are good reasons for that decision. It is true that Howard was on the varsity her freshman year, but she was not a starter. I don’t know what would have been different if she had started every game this year. South made it to the final game without her starting. Your school spirit is great and make sure you support your team next year. I know the girls will appreciate it. Remember, it’s just a game. The players are students first and athletes second. One of the best things about the Lady Comets is that eight of the thirteen players on the team are scholar athletes - They have maintained an A (4.0) average since their freshman year.