AJC > Sports > Highschools > Blog > Archives > 2008 > March > 11 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTake 10: Best 2008 State Tournament Basketball Championship Week Moments
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Well, Championship Week is over. Those of you who made it to Gwinnett Arena or Macon Coliseum (maybe both, for the particularly ambitious) saw some great games and 10 champions crowned. And at Take Ten, we still haven’t stopped talking about it all. So we thought we’d take the chance to reflect on the best moments from the week, the ones we will remember when we’re telling people about it years from now. These aren’t ranked.
10. Carrollton shows class
After losing a tough championship game to Kendrick 79-67, Carrollton’s girls were called to claim their runner-up award. Afterward, the team stayed on the court and applauded the Cherokees as they held up their championship trophy.
9. Pearce jumps out of the building
In the second half Wednesday, Turner County’s Tray Pearce drove down the middle of the lane and appeared to get his elbow up to the rim while leaping toward the basket. He nearly jumped completely over a Wilkinson County defender before clanging the ball off the back iron. The crowd didn’t stop buzzing for close to 5 minutes.
8. Wesleyan girls welcome boys to the court
After winning their state title, Wesleyan’s girls lined up with the school’s cheerleaders to cheer the boys on as they ran onto the court. It was a good display of the camaraderie between the two teams, both of which won championships.
7. A senior bows out
With 2 minutes left in a season-ending 89-65 semifinal loss to Wesleyan, Savannah Christian coach Toy Byrd pulled senior Kaila Parham out of the game. As she walked to the bench for the final time in her career, the Raider fans gave her a standing ovation, and she gave Byrd a long hug before sitting down.
6. Smith gives encouragement
After beating East Laurens for the state title, Wesleyan star Tanner Smith walked over to the Falcons bench and spoke to each player on the opposing team. It appeared to be more than just saying “Good game,” as he went down the line.
5. Wheeler vs. Norcross
Just seeing this game start was a big moment because it was so heavily anticipated. This was an incredible showcase for basketball in the Atlanta area. You’d be hard-pressed to go anywhere in the country and find a game between two high school teams from the same metro area with a deeper talent pool on the floor than this one. The fact that it was also a great game was just icing.
4. Williams refuses to lose
It’s a little longer than a moment, but Stephenson’s Jylisa Williams scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter to lift her team from an eight-point deficit to win her first state title should be mentioned. Her teams had lost in the semifinals for three consecutive years, and she made sure she made this opportunity count.
3. Hicks finally lets up
Kendrick coach Sterling Hicks coached furiously for four quarters in the title game, yelling, never giving in even though his team was mostly in control during the final period. But with 7 seconds left, you could finally see that he allowed himself to smile, and his girls won the championship.
2. It was Destiny, almost
When Randolph-Clay’s Destiny Mitchell snuck inside and hit a layup as the buzzer sounded in the semifinals against Paideia, it completed a six-point comeback in the final 28 seconds and sent the game to overtime. The Lions regrouped and won in the extra session, but it was tough to forget Mitchell being swarmed after the big basket.
1. Thompkins celebrates
After Wesleyan won its title the team rushed the floor, but Howard Thompkins wasn’t immediately with them. The senior stood by himself on the court for a moment, his hands raised toward the roof and his eyes closed in emotional celebration of the victory.
Go on. Take Ten. What will you always remember from Championship Week? What were the moments that caught your eye, even if it didn’t involve your team? We’d love to hear about it.
Permalink | Comments (29) | Categories: Take Ten
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Devil Lover
March 11, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
There were several: * The athleticism of the Stephenson girls which finally won out over Mill Creek girls who had been highly ranked and a good team all year. * The grit and determination of Fayette County boys against the much bigger and higly ranked Columbia team but to no avail. * The dominant play of Norcross boys against a highly talented Savannah team * And the grit and determination of Norcross the underdog and undersized,against Wheeler, was able to persevere through all of the ups and down to hold on to a three point victory against a great team and organization.
By Devil Lover
March 11, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
Today in high school basketball during the introduction of the opponent’s players, the assistant coach normally greets the player as their name is called. Not Doug Lipscomb of wheeler who is one of the few coaches who has not delegated this to one of his assistants. Matter of fact, he not only greeted each Norcross player before the final game with a handshake but he also embraced each one. What a first class coach this guy must be.
By Derrick Mahone
March 11, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this
Carrollton girls when they all went onto the court to accept their trophy and then staying to applaud for Kendrick.
Brandon Boykin and his two dunks on miss shots. What an athlete and a very nice young man off the court.
Al-Farouq Amuni’s 3-point shot that give Norcross the lead for good in its win over Wheeler.
Jylisa Williams finally walking off the floor of the Gwinnett Arena with a championship trophy in her hands.
Stephenson students sticking around and joining the Norcross students in pregame chants.
Tanner Smith refusing to let his team lose after Howard Thompkins went down with a game-ending second quarter injury.
By Ernest
March 11, 2008 9:58 PM | Link to this
It was a GREAT weekend of HS basketball in the state of Georgia! I’m sorry to see it end yet looking forward to some of the seniors continue their fine play at the next level.
I’d heard about Noel Johnson and came away impressed once I saw him on the court at Gwinnett Arena. With players like he and Mfon Udofi of Miller Grove coming back, we should have many returning players to provide competitive basketball next season.
Congratulations again to the Lady Panthers of SWD, Queens of AAAA!
By oldskool06
March 11, 2008 10:16 PM | Link to this
Derrick MaHone The Shame Award. For not covering the inner city school of Atlanta. The only news paper in the USA that does not cover all the school in their city. Cobb, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Clayton, etc… covers the schools in their area. The night Douglass won the Region Championship, Derrick and the Atlanta J. had a half page about Berkmar and Wesley coming in second. One of the most exciting game of the year Douglass vs Savannah. Once again he writes about all the other schools in Metro Atl. The other County and City paper cover their local team with nice spread. Not just the top teams but all the teams. The city of Atlanta need their own beat writer. Atlanta J. Can we get one. No love for the Atl. The kids stop reading or looking for articles about their school during basketball season. Derrick Mahone and the beat writer for Atlanta J. Shame on You!
By oldskool06
March 11, 2008 10:23 PM | Link to this
Derrick all u talked about was outside. Man forget about it. We need to talk with the News Paper in Cobb and Gwinnett about covering our Kids Next season.
By james
March 11, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
WHAT A GREAT JOB THAT THE GLENN HILL TEAM, DID IN THE STATE TOURNMENT. WE KNEW THAT THEY WOULD BE TOUGH OUT FOR ANY TEAM THAT THEY WOULD PLAY, GO KING OF THE HILL. 3AAA champs. god job by the coaching staff.
By TCC ROCKS
March 12, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
How about Thomas County Central boy’s team Derrick? They won the region championship for the 1st time in school history! They beat a good Ware team in the 1st round in a good game, then in the 2nd round they were in a back and forth game with Fayette County! Fayette pulled it out in the last few seconds and they went all the way to the championship game. Thanks TCC for incredible season!
By Christian
March 12, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this
I just want to congradulate FCHS for doing what they have never done before, sending boys AND girls to the championship game. Both teams played with heart, but just couldnt pull it out. Congradulations tigers, it was a GREAT season. And i will never forget Boykins two put back electrifying dunks. And as for the girls, next year should be great, considering that the JV girls stepping up have been 32-0 since entering FCHS. lets go tigers.
By KL
March 12, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
The incredibly classy half-time interviews with the headmasters of Paideia and Wesleyan schools during the Girls AA final; as well as other administrators & coaches who made sure that ACADEMICS were given the same emphasis as the athletic achievements. Let’s remember that these are STUDENTS first and athletes second. Cheers to all those seniors who will graduate on-time from their schools while also participating in a demanding sport like basketball.
By C
March 12, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this
I absolutely enjoyed watching Tanner Smith lead his team to victory! What a classy player…and a wonderful team. Best of luck to all…hope you are doing better, Howard Thompkins.
By fanman
March 12, 2008 10:06 AM | Link to this
Jeff….Randolph-Clay girls lost to Paideia, not Lovett.
Devil Lover, perhaps Doug Lipscomb was embracing those guys and telling them they each have a spot at Wheeler next year if they want it?
By Ken
March 12, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
Top 6 State Playoff Moments
6.Dunwoody Upset by Carver Columbus. 5. Fayette County Reaches Its First State Finals behind 29 points from Noel Johnson 4. Wheeler defeats McEachern. Phil Taylor hits a big 3-pointer to give Wheeler the victory. McEachern lead by 11 points with 4 minutes left. 3. Columbia Defeats Fayette for 2nd title in three years. 2. Stephenson Girls Win First State Title in Five Years 1. Norcross Defeats Wheeler to Capture third Straight State Title. One of the best game i’ve seen in a long time. Lispcomb should have called timeout to get a better last shot.
By What an ding dong?
March 12, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
9 moment….. A MISSED DUNK Holy crap I can do that and I’m 84 years old. What a moment, the boy can jump but he still can’t make it from one inch. STOP THE PRESSES!!!!!By fed up
March 12, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
Brandon Boykin’s missed dunk will haunt him for the rest of his life…. that was such a turning point in the game! FCHS came so close.
By Jeff Haws
March 12, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this
What an-
It wasn’t about the missed dunk. It was about how high he got up and then the crowd’s reaction. This is all about exciting moments, not necessarily great plays. That one definitely qualified.
fanman-
Thanks for pointing that out. I watched so much basketball last week that I think my brain is fried. But it was a lot of fun.
By Devil Lover
March 12, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this
Hey Jeff…when will the Ga Sportwriters’poll update be out?
By Class
March 12, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
First of all, I would like to say that I am awed at the amount of respect Norcross supporters have shown towards Wheeler after beating Wheeler. Very classy.
To Devil Lover:
Coach Lipscomb is one of the classiest coaches around. He’s respectful of all players including his, he’s very personable and will talk to anybody.
I’m biased, but the most exciting play of the state tournament was Phil Taylor’s game winning 3-pointer vs. MCeachern not only because it was with 4 seconds left, but because of the way it went down. It rattled in and then out, then came back down rattled around some more, hit the backboard and finally went down.
By Derrick Mahone
March 12, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this
The final GSWA Poll and blog should be posting sometime soon.
By Basketball Fan
March 12, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
To Derrick:
How good is Norcross Men’s basketball team next season? Muhammad, Denzail Jones and Zach Lamb will all be back, but they will not have a dominant big man.
Wheeler will be great next year with both Stewart and Howell back.
Which other teams who will be great next season for 5A men’s basketball?
By Triangle and two
March 12, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
Unfortunately, every time I think of Kendrick and Coach Hicks is how many times the score has been “run up.”
Is it necessary to beat teams 75-13, 100-11, 91-17, 91-23, or 98-30? That’s just this year.
Kendrick’s/Hicks’ historical low was what they did to the inaugural season of Northside (Columbus) a few years ago. The scores were 86-2, 122-10, and 131-5.
I just have problems with congratulating them with a state title.
I have no rooting interest in the Columbus area, but am awaiting karma to return the favor. Trust me Coach, the good side of 113-6 isn’t pleasant enough to neutralize the pain of 21-76 (or worse).
By A hancock central bulldog
March 15, 2008 12:41 AM | Link to this
All This Hoopla About These Metro Atlanta Teams. They go to camp and have all the luxuries of a well financed and backed athelectic dept. and alumni, but try to win a championship on just raw talent, yeah! thats right. Thats Why I’m Proud of the HANCOCK CENTRAL BULLDOGS WHOM WAS NOT CONSIDERED AS LEGIT, TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP(THEY ARE THE CLASS A CHAMPIONS). derrick mchone even said they would lose to wilkinson county. GET IT RIGHT NEXT TIME DERRICK. AS A MATTER OF FACT THEY WILL BE HARD PRESSED NOT TO REPEAT AS CHAMPIONS NEXT YEAR. BUT, ALL THIS WITHOUT THE BIG CITY APPROVAL,GLITZ,GLAMOUR,SUPPORT,FINANCES,CAMPS ETC. BUT JUST RAW TALENT. I THINK THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN 5A NORCROSS A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY. SO, MR. MAHONE AND ALL THE ATL. BIG BOSS HOGS BE PREPARED TO SEE ANOTHER STANDOUT SEASON FROM THIS TEAM. (GO SPARTA) THE TIME IS NOW YOURS.
By oldskool06
March 15, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
Go Sparta Ga. “Hancock Central” From an old Washington Central High School.
By Drew Costley
March 24, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
My memorable moment is not being able to dress up and go to a high school game with my wife and kids but Aau is starting up so that maybe an option t I too was hopeful for Dunwoody TO WIN one good thing came out of this was there Star Singleton coming to the school and getting the recognition as the All American we wish him the best along with the other players. Dunwoody has some work to do and that is to be able to see talent and learn how to coach that talent and coach the squad so that everyone on the bench is tight, just letting them go out on the court and play is not enough, they also can’t afford to loose their Star Grayson, but it is understandable if Grayson decided to leave he needs a special coach who can recognize his gift and work it to the advantage of the player and the squad. He needs a good coach who will be a good fit for his style of plays, there are so many basketball players who are talented to a certain degree but so few are Champions this young man Grayson is the total package he is the Iverson of our days, Quick like lightening and knows his stuff , this is a kids that continues to play even after the season stops for most high schools, I met his AAU coach in Macon and was amazed at how discipline this kids is and how focus to getting the job done. Everyone has nothing but praise for this kid and I bet we have not seen the last of this young man, I predict lots of scholarship and high major schools coming at him this year he is just that Talented.
By Chris
March 24, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this
How about Dunwoody players Singleton, Delwan giving up and handing over the Trophy and getting punk by Craver and Glen Hill, and the nerve of Delwon telling someone that he had two rings already “how selfish was that. “Looser” that is Memortable indeed.
By Chris
March 24, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this
Most shocking was the Sadness and the look of the parent faces of Dunwoody Team when they Lost to Carver-Columbus We all were is disbelief that a Team that had won and overcome so much lost the championship. My most memorable memories I will take away from the lost is the courage of that young man Grayson #12 who fought to keep the team afloat and has we all watch his outstanding performance we all felt his pain but knew that his Courage, his will not to give up and the power to succeed to continue to put points on the board even when other’s gave up was timeless. Grayson deserve the Most valuable player of things to come, his games are Exciting and keeps you wanting more you never know what is about to take place when you see him in action, you just know that it will keep you on the edge, that’s what I and all his fans will miss. Not sure if he’s going to stick around Dunwoody but if he does this kid is Destiny for Greatness.
By fan
March 24, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
It is going to take me a life time to get over Dunwoody’s lost in Macon I am still upset. I hope they dont act a fool when they get to college, The Dunwwody Wild Cat players had the making of a Movie Gone Bad “Staring the All American Clown award, the Drama Queen and the little Engine that could it was Darn Circus. Big Up to Player Grayson, five(5) more minuets on the clock, I believe he would have tie up the game call time out go back to the bench, quench his thirst, energized himself who knows that might have given the Dunwoody coach a little time to make some if any decesion on pulling somone any one off that tired Squad to assist in bringing home a victory, four coaches, trainers and cameras and they lost WHOOOOO the Hell saw this comming.
By black1
March 26, 2008 11:21 PM | Link to this
Fan, I saw it coming. remember I stated this loss in another blog. people jumped all over me for saying that Dunwoody would lose. Truth be told the coach had too much talent. The only one coachable was grayson. Will he leave dunwoody, well he left druid hills. he has one year left. I am looking at sigleton in the Mac game and he sucks like I said. Now dunwoody fans do you believe me? Stop belieing the hype!!! Dunwoody coach can’t coach. No discipline. Remember what happen last year against Druid Hill. Can’t be em, Recruit em. Told you so Dunwoody.
By Oh Yeah
March 29, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
East Hall’s outstanding win over South Atlanta has to be up there at the top somewhere… they were down huge to start the game off and kept fighting, showing some determination and hustle, and ultimately knocked off the No. 13 team in the nation while holding the No. 1 Jr in the nation to 11 pts. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!