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DEL.ICIO.USClass A champs truly worthy of title
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Macon — Maybe we all should have gotten a map and figured out exactly where Wilkinson County is and then taken the drive 20 minutes south of here, along state Route 57.
It would have been worth the excursion.
There you will find the Class A boys champions, a team worthy of all the kudos sure to be bestowed upon it in its small community — almost all of whom were loudly present for the Warriors’ thrilling 79-75 overtime victory over equally deserving Whitefield Academy on Saturday.
In a game that featured so much, this was evident: There is not a team that plays harder or more aggressively than Wilkinson County. It is a program filled with tough, athletic and quick players who never lose sight of the mission — get the ball.
One play symbolizes what coach Aaron Geter Jr. has instilled in his team, and it just so happened to have secured the title. Wilkinson pulled all its players off the foul line as LaQuinten Jones stepped up for two free throws with :09 left.
Jones made the first, putting the Warriors up 78-75. His second shot rimmed out, but Jones beat four Whitfield players to the ball to collect the rebound.
Three seconds later, he made one more foul shot, and that was enough to touch off a thunderous roar from the Wilkinson County supporters.
Their screams were as much joy as they were relief. They witnessed a classic, a game that will be recalled by anyone present (or who watched on GPB), as it having more plot turns than an entire season of “Desperate Housewives.”
So many superlative efforts stood out, including that of 6-foot-9 Martavious Adams (headed to Oklahoma State), who had 24 points despite serious foul-shooting troubles. In fact, the Warriors missed six straight free throws in the last 28 seconds of regulation.
But they continued to get to the line because of their size advantage and effort. Senario Hillman, who has signed with Alabama, plays basketball as if he’s driving in NASCAR. His speed is astounding and eclipsed only by his leaping ability.
Guard Gary Johnson and 6-8 Dontrell Taylor were among the other Warriors players who provided energy and might that proved decisive.
Whitefield should not be disappointed in its effort, only the results. Coach Tyrone Johnson has constructed a program at Whitefield Academy that has staying power.
Anyone who thought the Wolfpack would fall off with star Tim Morris’ graduation four years ago — or the subsequent transfers of Kevin Anderson and Cameron Heyward — you know differently.
Johnson’s team is laced with talented sophomores, who had to overcome a few questionable referee calls (to be kind). Down 68-61 in the fourth, they battled back behind Brandon Reed (29 points) and two foul shots by senior Junard Hartley to get to overtime.
Hartley and Kelvin McConnell, one of the best perimeter shooters in Georgia, were the only seniors on a squad that has a chance to play on the last night of the season for a few years to come, with Reed, Colin Reddick, Addison Davids, Trey Miller, Charlie Reddick and Kris Redding, among others, all 10th-graders.
Still, this loss hurts. Whitefield has been in the title game three of the past four years, only to accept the consolation trophy each time.
Saturday was a day for Wilkinson County, a champion worth a visit.
Permalink | Comments (16) | Post your comment | Categories: Curtis Bunn
Comments
By richard
March 10, 2007 9:41 PM | Link to this
come om CB, all those players are a another example of illegal recruits. Wilkinson is un-deserveing of a state title. Adams, Hillman, are both AAU b-ball recruits. Jones who was one of the Savannah region top player’s at Bradwell HS got inelgible last year. The next thing you know he’s playing for Wilkinson located across the state. By the way Bradwell’s coach is not a happy camper. I’m telling you CB we need to stop praising these coaches because they are not running respectable programs. Wilkinson’s coach has a connection with an AAU coach that get’s him players like Adams, Hillman, and Jones. To the Wilkinson coach and Norcross coach you are turning high school b-ball into a bad business. You are making it hard for hardworking honest coaches. You are making it hard for area kids who has to take a back seat to these illegal recruits.
It’s just a matter of time before your dirt is exsposed, and GHSA cracks down on these transfers and illegal recruitment.
So congrat’s on your championship’s your hard work, running a foul program has paid off.
By trint
March 11, 2007 1:40 AM | Link to this
Richard, I take it that you are from Whitefield b/c you’re talking about illegal recruits. Lets not be a “PLAYA HATER” just take it for what it is those guys(both teams) went out and played their hearts out today. But with all competitive sports there will be one winner and one loser. If you happen to be the loser just take your hat off to the winner and work harder to get back to the big game next year. I drove 2 hours from Savannah to see this game and if the next game is that exciting I will will drive 10 hours to see it. Whitefield played hard and they are very talented and I can assure you they will be in this position again next year but they are mostly sophomores and Wilco had senior but wait………This is Wilkinson county and Wilco is for real. You’re talking about illegal players well this is the 3rd state title in six years. So just take it like a man and say “we’ll get’em next time”. WILKINSON COUNTY WARRIORS GHSA CLASS A CHAMPIONS. See ya next year Richard.
By RAE
March 11, 2007 8:55 AM | Link to this
Richard, You can’t always blame the coaches for the transfers coming in to their program. If my child is a good student athlete, as a parent, I want what’s best for my child. If it means me uprooting my family to move into a school district where my child will receive a top notch education and coaching, I don’t see anything wrong with that as long as everything is done according to GHSA rules. Stop whining and accept the fact that student athletes have a right to transfer as long as everything is done accorging to the rules and regulations put forth by the GHSA.
By david
March 11, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this
richard, you don’t know anything because hillman which is the state’s best player was born and raised in wilkinson county and adams is from a neighboring county and decided to transfer with his family so he could have a great coach! so richard find something else to do besides hate on kids and situations that you evidently know nothing about!!! CONGRADS!!!!! WICO-WARRIORS!!!
By wolfie
March 11, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this
Both schools should be happy, that game was a classic.
By kush
March 11, 2007 6:20 PM | Link to this
It is a known fact in Middle Georgia that Wilkinson County recruits. They have heavily recruited players from schools like Dublin, East Laurens, West Laurens, Bleckley, Johnson, Twiggs, Emanuall and Washington county. The deal is that Wilkinson county has nothing to offer other than a baskeytball gym. It is a dead one horse town with nothing. Athletes in this area know better than go to WILCO and play basketball and not get an education. WILCO is nothing to be proud about and yes…WILCO does recruit and only a fool thinks different. Yes, the GHSA is full of fools or they are being paid off!!!!!
By 99 Wilco grad
March 11, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
I graduated from Wilco in ‘99 and I simply wanted to let it be known that the ‘99, ‘00, and ‘01 State Championship teams were composed of players born and raised in Wilkinson County. Just recently has there been an influx, if you will, of players transfering from other school districts.
From what I’m aware of, only 4 players have transferred to the school in the last five years. But I don’t think that you can assume recruiting or anything illegal is taking place.
Is it a stretch to assume that those players simply wanted to be apart of a elite basketball program and get greater exposure which may not be available where they were. If I had the talent, I would definitely take those factors into consideration.
By 99 Wilco grad
March 11, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
correction ‘99, 00’ and 02’ State Championships were composed of players raised in Wilkinson Co.
By trint
March 12, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this
Kush, lets not hate, players are transferring all over the country just to be able to get exposure. Transferring is within GHSA regulations. 99 Wilco GRAD you’re right, the three previous titles were captured with home grown Wilkinson county talent. I bet if you poll many of the big schools especially the Atlanta schools you would see many of them have transfer students. Its only the losers who complain, but if they were on the winning end nothing would be said. GO BLUE STORM. WILCO WARRIORS 2007 GHSA STATE A CHAMPIONS. DEAL WITH IT. SEE YA NEXT YEAR…………
By kenneth
March 12, 2007 9:40 PM | Link to this
I am the father of a Whitefield student. I have no problem with transferring students. My problem was with the officiating in the game, particularly in the final 2 minutes of regulations. But, don’t cry for Whitefield, they will be back. Congrats Wilco.
By Duval County, FL
March 12, 2007 10:32 PM | Link to this
I drove 4 hours to see my nephew Laquenten “DJ” Jones and Co. play an AWESOME game. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Richard, yes DJ, Rell, Crews and Dontrell all played on the same AAU team(Go Celtics)and have for a few years. Trust me, I’ve traveled far and wide to see them play. They are ALL seniors and play outstanding. Why wouldn’t they want to end their high school career on a good note TOGETHER? STATE CHAMPS baby, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Furthermore, DJ’s parents are the ONLY people that knows what’s best for DJ. So STOP HATIN’ and be sure to wear your shades when looking at the CHAMPIONSHIP RING!!!
GO DJ, GO RELL, GO WARRIORS!!!
By Will
March 14, 2007 10:16 AM | Link to this
Just take it easy Richard. Last time I checked, Whitefield was a private school that doesn’t have to abide by district lines. I know for a fact that the Reddick brothers and Reed played middle school ball for McEachern. Miller played for Campbell and their only freshman on the roster played rec ball in Kirkwood (East Atlanta), so who’s really recruiting here. Take a look in the mirror B4 you start pointing fingers.
By KSShake
March 14, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Richard, I sincerely hope you’re not from Whitfield. Because as Will and others have stated and broken down, without ‘recruiting’ you couldn’t field a team that would beat a middle school team. Also, it’s just like someone else said, if Whitfield won you wouldn’t be saying anything. Wilkinson Co has been winning for a while now ( I remember the Whipple boys and those good teams). I’m not sure I’d like the fact that the what Wheeler, Norcross, and some others have been doing has found its way to rural Georgia as well. It would be pretty stupid for somone to transfer to a rural 1A school, with no academic reputation, (but, a reputation for winning basketball) and no real exposure other than the state playoffs. Stop hating on Wilikinson County, especially if your not going to speak as passionately about Norcross and Wheeler doing the same and worse. I don’t like it either way (recruiting). But I don’t like when people try to justify it as if their schoolis offering thekid something better when they really don’t care about the kid the coach is just using the kid to stack his hand and win trophies. Often times these “better” are even less strict about their hired gun going to class and doing well in school. Now in the case of a private school I say it’s an even trade because they’re not cutting corners with the kids in the classroom. But some schools are SO bad academically and don’t prepare kids socially for college or anything and have a proven track record for not getting kids to the next level. Classic example, is South Atlanta with Derrick Favors and how he needs to get out of there and go somewhere, anywhere else for the simple fact South Atlanta has failed as school enough were people can use it as a “recruiting” toll against them to aqire Derrick’s services.
By MiddleGA Man
March 15, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this
I grew up in the middle Georgia area. Their teams beat our and everyone around us on a regular basis. I’m 40 years old now and I can remember since at least when I was in 4th grade how good the teams from Wilkinson were. The coach at the time was Joe Moore. He was at one time the winningest coaches in Georgia. But only since Mr. Jeter has been there have they won state championships. These people are stacking teams like they do around here in Atlanta metro. Get real. Some places need something to rally around. Some places have football this place has basketball. Congrats Warriors.
By smclark
March 17, 2007 8:12 AM | Link to this
I went to high school with Dr. Geter. I don’t know of a person with more integrity and love for high shool basketball. As a friend I know he wouldn’t do anything to jerpadize his place or the SCHOOL’S place in GA.High School Basketball history. so I say congrats HOME BOY.You are living your dream.Conitnue to mold those young men as you are doing. Perhaps some of us should tear a page from Dr. Geter’s book and become MOTAVATOR’S instead of HATERS.
By TLS/Wilco c/o 2011
March 24, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
I am in the 8th grade and I attend Wilco Middle. I have to say congratulations to our high school boy’s basketball team. They have worked hard and some of them it has taken 4 yrs-every since they started high school. But the thing about recruiting. WELL WE DON’T. Senario Hillman who is my cousin has stayed at Wilco for as long as I can remember. Also my other cousin Gary Johnson has been here forever. They are not recruits which was stated by Richard(Wilco’s dear hater.)I am also close to LaQuenten “Dj” Jones & friends to Dontrell Taylor and Martavious “Cruz” Adams. Yes they have recently transferred to Wilco and are graduating this year. But I must say these great athlete’s parents moved them here for a reason. TO BETTER THEIR LIVES. Most of our seniors have basketball scholarships, which means a free ride. That’s all their parents wanted. Dr. Geter who is the principle at Wilco Middle lives & breathes basketball and Wilco’s fans do also. Sod does my graduating class is 2011 and I play basketball myself. But our middle school boys were Super 10 League Champions, so when they get to high school and get a ring remember no recruits. But remember the names Demonzio Stubbs, Vashone Jones, Devontaye Drayton, Tinetta Smith(myself), & Rita Veal all true Wilco players who are now in the 8th grade. Wilco has been blessed with natural talent. It’s in the roots of our land. So don’t hate Richard if you can’t beat the best just join them.