2010-11: Winter yielded championships on hardwood, mats

The colder months of winter actually proved red hot for a number of prep sports programs, as area teams won three state championships during the 2010-11 season.

The pattern of success that proved familiar in the fall certainly remained in place for Buford athletics during the winter, as the Wolves claimed their third straight girls basketball crown, finished second in boys basketball and saw wrestler Chip Ness claim an individual state championship.

Meanwhile, the gold standard for success in northeast Georgia -- Jefferson High wrestling -- added its 24th and 25th crowns in Dragons history, winning the Class AA duals and traditional titles. Two Jefferson grapplers, Cain Finch and Forrest Przybysz, also netted individual crowns.

The duo was joined on top of the medal podium at the GHSA traditional championships by a number of area competitors, including Commerce's Chance McClure, Jackson County's Austin McDonald, Lumpkin County's Travis Burton and White County's Caleb Morris.

The winter sports season kicked off with a traditional fixture in north Georgia, as the East Hall boys and girls basketball teams each laid claim to the Lanierland Tournament title.

The early success was a sign of things to come for the Vikings, who also won Region 8-AA -- defeating Rabun County in the title game -- and stormed into the Class AA quarterfinals for the first time since 2008 before falling to eventual state champions Greater Atlanta Christian, 65-52 in Dalton. East Hall was led by a senior trio of Dre Perry, Kymon Woods and Sterling Bailey, along with explosive junior guard Joshua Hampton. The Vikings standouts were part of an impressive group of talented players that helped make this one of the most memorable years on the hardwood in north Georgia.

Certainly West Hall and Franklin County had plenty of star power of their own, and the Spartans and Lions battled for supremacy in Region 8-AAA for much of the season, with Franklin edging West Hall in a 49-48 thriller in the region championship finale. Shunquez Stephens, Dre Pou, Jarquise Young and William Stroup each played key roles in helping West Hall to a second place finish in 8-AAA and a third straight Class AAA Sweet 16 appearance -- where the Spartans fell to eventual state champ Columbia after giving the Eagles their closest contest of the Class AAA tournament. Meanwhile, Franklin County, led by five senior starters, including standout Keshaun Mayfield, earned the program's first-ever Final Four berth.

Meanwhile, in Class AAAA, the Flowery Branch girls bounced back from a slow start to put together one of the most astounding postseason runs in the state. The Lady Falcons ended the regular season 7-18 -- many of those losses in close battles -- but won three straight region tournament contests to finish second in 8-AAAA and clinch a state playoff spot in the program's first year in Class AAAA. With players like Tavia Sykes and Marissa Ivey -- and no seniors -- the Lady Falcons put down an impressive marker for the future.

Few were surprised by the Buford girls basketball team's success this season. The Lady Wolves featured two standout performers in Andraya Carter and Kaela Davis (both signed to the University of Tennessee) and a number of strong role players, including MacKenzie Darrah, who scored a season-high 18 points in the state championship game to help knock off arch-rival Greater Atlanta Christian and become the 13th girls program in GHSA history to win three straight crowns. The Lady Wolves dominated with defense in 2010-11, allowing just 30 points per game over the entire season en route to a 29-3 record. Buford also knocked out Region 8-AA champion Rabun County, which put together a third straight impressive year only to be halted in the state quarterfinal round by the Lady Wolves -- for the third straight year.

While the Lady Wolves' success came as no surprise, the Buford boys team did create a few shocks during the winter, storming to its first Final Four berth since 2006 and eventually finishing as Class AA runner-up in coach Allen Whitehart's first campaign in charge. Led by T.J. Shipes, Alex Flagler, Kyle Kellam and Zac Lynn, Buford found its feet in 2010-11 after posting a losing record in the previous three seasons. Perhaps the watershed moment came in the Class AA quarterfinals, when Flagler sank a near half-court 3-pointer to upset South Atlanta.

Meanwhile, the Towns County girls basketball team also impressed in 2010-11, winning Region 8-A and reaching the Class A Sweet 16 before falling to eventual state runner-up Pace Academy in Hiawassee.

In other basketball news, longtime Gainesville girls hoops coach Manson Hill announced he was retiring after four state championships, 10 region titles and 15 state playoff appearances. Hill's teams won crowns in 1994, 2001, '03 and '04.

As already stated, area wrestlers had an impressive season on the mats, with several championships won. The season also saw strong team performances from Lumpkin County and Banks County in the Class AAA and Class AA duals tournaments, respectively. The Indians finished in the top eight in Class AAA, while the Leopards posted a No. 4 finish.

The season ended, as each has since 2001, with Jefferson claiming a traditional title. The Dragons also earned their 10th straight duals crown.

The shifting regions through the state meant a number of changes to the top of each wrestling area -- Jefferson aside -- and White County and Lumpkin County took their turns battling with Oconee County for possession of the top spot in 8-AAA.

Also during the winter of 2010-11, area swimmers continued their push toward the top of the sport, as competitors from North Hall (Paul Powers and Sydney Pereira), Flowery Branch (Zack Miller-Hogg) and Gainesville (Andy Doan) each reached the finals of the GHSA championship meet in Atlanta. The sport continues to grow in north Georgia both in numbers and in the strength of competition.


Winter 2010-11 state champions:

Basketball
Buford girls, Class AA

Wrestling
Team:
Jefferson, Traditional and Duals, Class AA

Individual:
Chip Ness, 152 pounds, Buford, Class AA

Chance McClure, 189, Commerce, Class A

Austin McDonald, 215, Jackson County, Class AA

Cain Finch, 145, Jefferson, Class AA

Forrest Przybysz, 171, Jefferson, Class AA

Travis Burton, 215, Lumpkin County, Class AAA

Caleb Morris, 130, White County, Class AAA


TEAM CHAMPIONS FOR AREA REGIONS:

Basketball
Boys
8-A