Knights look to make history against Elbert County

By By Jeff Hart

Posted 6:12AM on Friday, February 27, 2004

OAKWOOD - In 1978 the Johnson boys basketball team, under the direction of Billy Ellis, advanced to the second round of the state tournament. And not until Saturday night's thrilling 72-70 double overtime win over LaGrange had the Knights been back. Now, the Knights will try to do something they've never done: win a second round game. Johnson (16-13) will play Elbert County in the second round of the Class AAA tournament Friday night at Mt. Zion High School in Jonesboro. Johnson coach Jeff Steele said the way the regular season went, he wasn't sure they would even get to this point. "This team has been through a lot this year. I felt we had the talent but we couldn't get a break for a while. We were optimistic going into the year and then things started happening ," he said. Cardy McKenzie was ruled academically ineligible. Leader Marqise Wright, considered one of the top players in the county, tore up his ankle six games into the season leaving a corps of young and/or inexperienced players to pick up the pieces. But the adage that "Winning cures all ills" has been evident around the Johnson locker room this week. "The guys have been very business-like this week. And they're walking around with a little more confidence about them," Steele said. "We've had trouble the last few years winning games like (Saturday night's). But we found a way to beat Gainesville in the region tournament and I think that was a big confidence boost for us going into the LaGrange game." The Knights were down big in the third quarter and stormed back to take the lead, only to see LaGrange send the game into the overtime periods with miracle shots. Wright, in his first game back from his injury, scored 19 of his 24 points in the second half and overtime periods to send the Knights into the second round. Steele hopes he doesn't have to rely on Wright, who battled cramps in the fourth quarter and overtimes, so heavily against Elbert. "I don't know if he'll start against Elbert or not. I'd like to limit his minutes since he's not completely back in shape yet. But if we need him, I'm sure he'll be able to come through for us," Steele said. Tyler Sanders' status is uncertain, however. Sanders suffered a mild concussion after colliding heads with a LaGrange player. Steele said he should play but Sanders did not practice Tuesday because of his condition. Steele said Sam Greavu, the 6-foot-10 senior center, had a coming out this year after Wright went down. Greavu's pinnacle moment came when he scored a school-record 50 points in a win over Flowery Branch. He broke the single-season school record in blocks this year with 82 so far. "We needed Sam to step up for us and he did. He showed this year what kind of player he can be. We wouldn't have gotten here without him," Steele said. Yet, despite the season's troubles, the Knights are right where they were hoping to be. One more win and they arguably could lay claim as the best Johnson team of all time. "If we can beat Elbert, I think maybe you could say that. But what excites me is that we finally have all the pieces together, and we're understanding how to win under pressure. With Marqise back, there's no telling what this team can do from here on out," Steele said. "All I know is that I would'n't mind getting to play East Hall again." The two teams could meet again this year: in the state finals. "That would be fine with me," Steele said.