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DEL.ICIO.USAvondale girls rise to meet AA challenge
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It all seemed to be set up for another Avondale girls championship.
The entire Class AAA championship team from last season was returning, including senior star Angelica Mealing. And then the Blue Devils moved down to Class AA.
Coach Marcus Searcy listened to all the talk and dismissed it. Searcy understood that moving down a classification meant his team would have to get through Class AA three-time champion Wesleyan and title-game participant GAC, which is ranked No. 1 in the state.
Further, Avondale has gone virtually all season with two freshmen in the backcourt, replacing two injured seniors. No, it has not been easy at all, but Searcy still has his team at 21-3 going into tonight’s region tournament game against GAC.
“It’s been a fun and challenging year,” Searcy said Thursday. “I think all coaches would like the challenge of coaching without two major cogs. But then there are some nights when you’d like them there. Your team is looking at you, and you have to think of something to do at the drop of a dime.”
Searcy has dropped dimes admirably this season. With guard Shaday Woolcock (leg hairline fracture) and forward Charvez Holmes (torn ACL, meniscus) out, Searcy changed the way Avondale plays. The Blue Devils press less frequently and have become more efficient in the half court. Mealing continues to shine, but much of her assistance has come from sources who were not around during Avondale’s championship run last year.
Ninth-graders Alisha Andrews and Mecca Frost could not have more opposite games, and yet, together, they have helped the Blue Devils remain one of the state’s best.
Having seen Andrews’ brilliance as a seventh-grader, I can vouch that she is a spectacular little dynamo, a 5-foot-2 point guard who (you read it here first) will be the state’s best player as a senior — if not before then. She’s quick, fast, can shoot and has a high basketball IQ.
“She’s a freshman in grade classification only,” Searcy said. “She’s beyond her years. She’s been a huge bonus for us. It’s scary how good she is.”
Then there is Frost, who is the sister of former Stephenson guard Nafeesha Frost and daughter of AAU-coaching parents, Olin and Chantay Frost. She is a left-handed guard who plays much slower than Andrews, but has been a steadying force.
“We lost 17 points and six steals [provided by Woolcock] from a senior,” Searcy said. “Mecca hasn’t replaced her there, but she’s played solidly and been a calming influence.”
Of course, Searcy also has Nicole Stroud, the 6-foot-3 star senior who has signed with Georgia. There are also senior Cassandra Russell and a set of tenacious junior twins, Janae and Renee Thomas, who bring effort and productivity.
All that, and there remains a considerable challenge for Avondale to even get to the championship game in the lower classification.
“If people did their research,” Searcy noted, “they would know that Wesleyan has won four of the last five championships in AA. And the year they didn’t win, GAC did — and GAC was in the championship game last season.
“Five teams in the region last year won 20-plus games. So when we went down to AA, I didn’t celebrate. I was like, ‘My goodness.’ … But we’re going to give it a go.”
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Comments
By Victoria Wins
February 9, 2007 09:43 AM | Link to this
I think that Alisha Andrews might be the best player in the state a lot earlier than her senior year. The series between Avondale and GAC is going to be a classic. The freshman have been a pleasant surprise this year, for both teams.. But there is no question, if Avondale’s had the two missing seniors this year, it wouldn’t be much of a game. Loseing that senior experince in big ganes hurts, but the good thing is that the freshman are geeting that experince early as well.Good luck to both teams tonight!
By KSShake
February 9, 2007 05:06 PM | Link to this
Thank you C. Bunn for giving some to the high school coverage once and a while. Covering the situation with Avondale’s girls team. The folks that are really in “the know” about “all” high school sports know these things. Alisha is an exceptional talent indeedand she’s already one of the best guards in the state, period. I’ve known her since she was 10 or 11 cause wrecked havoc on Atlanta City league for years. But without question Avondale would nearly head and shoulders above the other contenders in AA if Shaday and Charvez were playing and healthy. Quiet as it’s kept Jelly hasn’t been 100% either. But the freshmen have been great. And I mentioned Alisha “Show-n-Tell” Andrews in my blog acouple of days ago when the had the article about the top freshmen in “Gwinnett”. I just felt it wouldn’t be fair to mention Gwinnett fresmen in an article and not mention Alisha, or Khallidah Miller at Douglass, or Kendra Long at Mays, when they’ve been doing as much or more especially in the case of Alisha. What she did at the Peach State in December against tough instate and out of state competition was incredible.
By FanMan
February 9, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Who won the game between the two tonight?
By F-Ball Rehab
February 12, 2007 09:12 AM | Link to this
Thanks for shining the spotlight on the Blue Devils, being an older school in a less affluent area, they hold their own amongst the talent level in this classification, which is the best in the state. I think this class move was the perfect challenge for a team that has played together since 8th grade where after going undefeated, you knew they were destined for greatness. Testing yourself against the best reveals more about who you are than dominating weaker foes. The return of the Avondale seniors along with the depth created by their absence, will make for a interesting playoff run. Not to mention the defensive prowess of Nicole Stroud, in the middle, who showed in the closing moments of the state championship game last year when the game was still in limbo that she could and would seize the moment with the game on the line. Lets take the STATE again LADY BLUE DEVILS!!!!
By KSShake
February 12, 2007 04:19 PM | Link to this
FanMan, I guess you thought you were beig funny or arrogant and sarcastic when you were refering to the game Avondale and GAC played Friday night. You know nothing about Avondale’s team to beat your chest over beating them without Shaday Woolcock AND Charvez Holmes. O how I’d love to see a game between the two with BOTH at FULL strength. Anyone that KNOWS girls basketball in the metro area and the state of Georgia knows that Avondale is a good team with Double A and Meeca but their an exceptional team with their senior Ga Tech signee and their senior,lunch pail toting, dirty work doing, hardnosed “Enforcer” Holmes. You’ve obviously never seen Avondale’s team at full throttle, fully manned. I, on the other hand, have seen BOTH teams (yes, I’ve seen GAC on more than one occassion) they’re a good team (I follow ALL ,yes ALL good teams), especially girls basketball (it’s my year round sport of passion, with football being a close second, probabaly tied with boy’s basketball). And in all honesty, GAC will should be the favorite to win AA. I just can’t wait for the tournament to get going. AAAA and AAA girls tournaments are going to be hyped as well. Lotta good teams. Especially in the south in AAA, there are a lot of GOOD teams to be reckoned with.
By Laydee
February 15, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Too bad Judean Hanks is not in Gwinnett County because it would be nice to see her and Alisha battle like they did when they were 10. What a sight to see. You have to mention Judean Hanks from St. Francis as one of the top freshman guards in the state of Georgia. Don’t let the school fool you. These young ladies should be mentioned in the same breath as top freshman guards in the state of Georgia; Alisha, Judean, Khallidah and Kendra.
By FanMan
February 15, 2007 12:56 PM | Link to this
KSShake, I was not trying to be sarcastic at all…I asked that question the night of the game and before I ever found a score. I know that Avondale is not playing full strength, and they would be even scarier with everyone. Good luck throughout the tourney!
By LOve-Lace
February 22, 2007 05:02 PM | Link to this
mecca frost is off the chain we play aau together and we have alot of fun she is cool and plays very well. so all i got to say is the Blue Devils are going to win