AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2007 > January > 16
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
GAC lays claim to crown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There were a few smiles, a few emphatic hand slaps, but that was it. Greater Atlanta Christian had exacted a measure of satisfaction Tuesday night, knocking off three-time champion Wesleyan in its sparkling new gym.
But for a team with much higher aspirations, the 64-58 victory amounted to a nice start toward the ultimate destination.
Brilliantly and excitedly coached by Mike Mitchell, the Spartans have more than enough to get where Wesleyan resides. There is a wonderful blend of senior leadership and underclassmen energy. There is a nice mix of outstanding athleticism and commendable fundamentals. And, of course, there is motivation.
GAC fell on March 9 of last year to Wesleyan in the championship game, giving the Wolves their third title in succession and fourth in five years. The Spartans took it hard, but returned this season more resolute than ever.
And it showed Tuesday. There was a desperation in their effort, yet a calm, too. They led by one at halftime, eight after three quarters and six with 1:54 to go.
They got there with contributions from myriad players, including senior guard Bria Smith, freshman Briana Jordan (daughter of Braves outfielder Brian Jordan), senior Cree Nix, freshman Chaney Means, junior Mollie Mitchell and seniors D’Nay Daniels, Kiara Swanier and Julio Stephens.
They also got there with Mitchell as equal parts motivator, tactician and disciplinarian. He was fiery in his huddles, keeping his team’s concentration in place. He understood he held an advantage in speed and used it to his team’s advantage with a suffocating full-court press that turned the game.
And he demanded his players function the right way. When Smith blew an opportunity on a fastbreak with an unnecessary behind-the-back pass, Mitchell yanked her from the game. He did the same to Jordan, who tried to force a play when there was nothing there.
On the other side was Wesleyan, the model program. Jan Azar is at the top of her profession, and she has a wealth of youthful talent with which to work. “We teach them when they are young,” Azar said. “Almost all of our girls have grown up in our program.”
She means that literally. Since Wesleyan goes from elementary through high school, Azar has been able to instill the Wesleyan way to players from every grade from fifth on up.
“It helps so much because our younger players want to emulate our older players,” she said. “So, the girls are buying into the system long before they get to varsity.”
This year’s group, while younger than most recent Wesleyan teams, remains a championship threat. Anne Marie Armstrong, a gangly junior who is a smooth scorer and creator, averages 21 a game. Bubbling with talent, Armstrong grew three inches from last year, making her even more of a threat.
Sarah Delk is back, as is feisty Kelly Hall and the efficient Michelle Pope. Also, there is 5-foot-11 Carter Johnson, a junior who missed the last two years because of injury. First a torn ACL in her knee sidelined her, and then a torn ligament in her foot.
Most significantly, Azar has 10 freshmen (four on varsity) who represent “the best to ever come through Wesleyan.”
And so, while GAC earned a confidence-boosting victory, what was we saw Tuesday night very well could be the prelude to another meeting — on the last night of the season.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Art of shooting is lost
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s a truth: I could step onto a basketball court right now, at 45, and shoot better than most of the players in high school today. Really. And there’s something really wrong with that.
The culture of crossover dribbling and dunking over someone continues to sully a game in which the object is to put the ball into the basket. The pure shooters of the basketball are quite difficult to locate, far more scarce than in the last decade.
There is a Chris Allen of Meadowcreek here and a Lance Storrs of Columbia there, reliable outside shooters. And surely there are others around the state. But not a lot.
The perimeter marksmen have fallen by the wayside, about the same time baggy shorts came in vogue.
Coaches want athletic kids who can get up and down the court and who can finish on the break. Up-tempo ball creates the opportunity for easier baskets, which is great because making an open jump shot seems to get more and more difficult.
Coaches also work on shooting a lot in practice. It’s just that making the crowd scream with a crossover or dunk is far more appealing today than it was in years past.
This mindset is not ruining the game; high school basketball is wonderful. But the obsession with pleasing the crowd is not helping the game, either.
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
GSWA Basketball Poll: Jan. 15
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Monday night Wilkinson County gave a glance of why it was voted the top team in Class A with a dominating, payback performance against No. 4 Whitefield Academy. The Warriors, with three Div. I signees, looked as if they were ready to take on any team in any class. Speaking of payback, Meadowcreek got some against Beach Saturday in another thriller. Beach thrashed the Mustangs 72-46 last month, but lost 61-58 on its trip to Norcross. Wesleyan was expected to struggle, but new coach Skip Matherly has the Wolves in contention for the Region 6-AA title.
Who’s hot, who’s not - you tell us. Submit your comments below.
Georgia Sportswriters Association Basketball Poll
Number in parenthesis is first place votes
Girls
Class AAAAA
1: Collins Hill (9)
2: Stephenson
3: South Gwinnett
4: Campbell
5: Mill Creek
6: Berkmar
7: Warner Robins
8: Etowah
9: Marietta
10: Redan
Others receiving votes: McEachern, Douglass, Beach, Camden County, Brookwood.
Class AAAA
1: St. Pius (7)
2: Greenbrier (1)
3: Marist (1)
4: Northside-Warner Robins
5: Westside-Macon
6: Clarke Central
7: Mays
8: Jones County
9: Dalton
10: Cherokee
Others receiving votes: Westlake, Jonesboro, North Clayton, Southwest DeKalb, Salem and Glynn Academy.
Class AAA
1: Kendrick (8)
2: Southwest-Macon (1)
3: Carrollton
4: Hephzibah
5: East Hall
6: Worth County
7: Hardaway
8: Franklin County
9: West Laurens
10: Westminster
Others receiving votes: Sandy Creek, Northeast-Macon, Southside, Monroe Area, Mary Persons, Pickens County, Liberty County.
Class AA
1: Avondale (6)
2: Greater Atlanta Christian (2)
3: Randolph-Clay (1)
4: Wesleyan
5: Laney
6: McIntosh County Academy
7: Screven County
8: Model
9: Paideia
10: Rutland
Others receiving votes: Dodge County, Armuchee, Early County
Class A
1: Landmark Christian (9)
2: Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy
3: Hancock Central
4: Calhoun County
5: Calvary Day
6: Bowdon
7: Hebron Christian
8: Hawkinsville
9: Savannah Country Day
10: Towns County
Others receiving votes: St. Francis, Gordon Lee, Telfair County, Seminole County, Jefferson, Trion.
Boys
Class AAAAA
1: Norcross (9)
2: Peachtree Ridge
3: Beach and Wheeler (tie)
5: Meadowcreek
6: McEachern
7: Milton
8: Tri-Cities
9: Chattahoochee
10: Johnson-Savannah
Others receiving votes: Camden County, South Cobb, Marietta, South Forsyth, Centennial, Coffee.
Class AAAA
1: Columbia (7)
2: Tucker (2)
3: Cherokee
4: Cedar Shoals
5: Stone Mountain
6: Stockbridge
7: Riverdale and Lithia Springs (tie)
9: North Clayton
10: Pebblebrook
Others receiving votes: Westlake, Ware County, Jonesboro.
Class AAA
1: Dunwoody (8)
2: East Hall (1)
3: Carver-Columbus
4: Jordan
5: Northside-Columbus
6: South Atlanta
7: Monroe-Albany and Hart County (tie)
9: Southside
10: Central-Macon
Others receiving votes: Washington County, Franklin County, Shaw, Burke County, Washington County, Gainesville, Westover, Perry.
Class AA
1: Thomasville (9)
2: Buford
3: Decatur
4: Darlington
5: Randolph-Clay
6: Coosa
7: Manchester
8: Tattnall County
9: Swainsboro
10: Wesleyan
Others receiving votes: Josey, Dublin, Lovett, Union County, Dodge County.
Class A
1: Wilkinson County (9)
2: Southwest Atlanta Christian
3: Calvary Day
4: Whitefield Academy and Turner County (tie)
6: Wilcox County
7: Hancock Central
8: Providence Christian
9: Taylor County and Jefferson
Others receiving votes: W.D. Mohammed, Tallulah Falls, Trion, Our Lady of Mercy.
Note: This list compiled by Derrick Mahone each week from GSWA voting results
With many of the ranked teams meeting this week, there is bound to be a big shakeup in next week’s rankings. What’s your take on this week’s poll? Who is being overlooked? Who shouldn’t be here at all? Who’s got game? Who’s got lame? Hoops talk starts now.
Permalink | Comments (41) | Post your comment | Categories: Basketball rankings
Pop Quiz: From HS to NBA
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There have been 85 former Georgia high school basketball players to play in the NBA. Of those, a surprisingly high number - 30 - were first-round picks. Three were No. 1 overall picks. Test your knowledge of former Georgia high school hoops stars with this quick quiz.
1: Which Georgia high school has the most alumni in the NBA?
a: Cedar Grove
b: Douglass
c: Marietta
d: Southwest Macon
e: Washington
2: Which Georgia high school player was not selected in the first round?
a: Kelvin Cato, Lithonia
b: Alec Kessler, Roswell
c: Brook Steppe, North Springs
d: Sedale Threatt, Therrell
e: Charlie Ward, Central Thomasville
3: Which Georgia high school alumnus has averaged the most points for his career?
a: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Wheeler
b: Dale Ellis, Marietta
c: Walt Frazier, Howard
d: Jeff Malone, Southwest Macon
e: Norm Nixon, Southwest Macon
4: Which of these former Georgia high school players never played in an NBA All-Star Game?
a: Willie Anderson, East Atlanta
b: Dale Davis, Stephens County
c: Mike Mitchell, Price
d: Chris Morris, Douglass
e: Tree Rollins, Crisp County
5: Dwight Howard of SW Atlanta Christian in 2004 and Kwame Brown of Brunswick Academy in 2001 were Georgia high school players who were selected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. Who is the only other former Georgia high school player to be selected with the first pick in the NBA draft?
a: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Wheeler
b: Pervis Ellison, Savannah
c: Walt Frazier, Howard
d: Elmore Smith, Ballard-Hudson
e: Al Wood, Jones County
Answers
1: D — Southwest Macon, with six. No other school has more than three. Southwest’s NBA alumni are Jeff Malone, Ivano Newbill, Norm Nixon, Myles Patrick, Chris Robinson and Sharone Wright. Douglass has three (Harold Ellis, Jarvis Hayes and Chris Morris). So does Washington (Lanard Copeland, Jabari Smith and Spencer Elmore).
2: D — Sedale Threatt, Therrell. Threatt played 14 seasons in the NBA after being picked as the last player in the last round (sixth) in 1983. I know, you picked Brook Steppe. Who knew?
3: A — Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Wheeler. The former Hawks center, now with the Warriors, is averaging 19.1 points for his career. Jeff Malone averaged 19.0 points, and Walt Frazier averaged 18.9. Most surprising might be Mays alum Gerald Wilkins’ 13.0. Not bad, little brother.
4: A, D, E — Anderson, Morris and Rollins never played in an All-Star Game. Mike Mitchell did for the Cavaliers in 1981. Dale Davis made it with the Pacers in 2000.
5: B — Pervis Ellison, Savannah. “Never Nervous” went to the Sacramento Kings in 1989. Abdur-Rahim went No. 3, Frazier No. 5, Smith No. 3 and Wood No. 4.
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment | Categories: History Lesson
