Those who played the game - and well - try to lead Wilkinson County, Baldwin, and Warner Robins to titles (and Wilkinson County-Charlton County and Baldwin-Griffin scouting reports)
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The three Central Georgia teams playing this week have one thing in common, other than extending their seasons to the end.
Each is led by an alum of the school.
Xavier Whipple, Kizzi Walker, and Stephanie White each wore the uniform they see in front of them in practice and games.
Whipple is the only one, though, who can boast of a championship trophy. Two, in fact. He was part of the run the launched Wilkinson County into a state power, helping the Warriors to titles in 1999 and 2000 as part of a career that included All-State and Middle Georgia player of the year honors.
The 40-year-old went on to play in 98 games in four seasons at LSU, starting 39. He’s hoping to break the Warriors dry run – no titles since 2018 and bring the program’s 11th trophy to the county.
He had been on the Warriors’ staff for several years and part of Wilkinson County’s latest championships, taking over for Aaron Geter after the 2017-18 season.
Walker graduated from Baldwin in 1996, as Kizzi Trawick, and went on to a Hall of Fame career at Georgia Southwestern, earning Naismith small-college Player of the year honors.
The Bravettes caught some fire after her days in Milledgeville were done, Baldwin reaching the semifinals in 1999 and finals in 2000, the lsat time the team reached the season finale.
Baldwin won three straight titles from 1986-1988. The Bravettes have rolled since she took over, going 27-4, 21-7, 19-9, 14-1, and 26-3 leading to this year’s 24-8.
Warner Robins is making its first appearance in the final since 1996, when it lost 70-38 to Sequoyah. White, who went by her middle name Cherie back in her high school and college days, got as far as the Sweet 16 as a junior in 2005 when she played for Tom Mobley.
After graduating with the program’s scoring record of 1,376 points and assorted region and state honors, she started for three years at Eastern Kentucky, and has coached only near home ever since, at Huntington Middle, Central, and then Houston County.
She succeeded Tracy Fendley in 2018, and has led Warner Robins to three straight 20-win seasons and consecutive 25-win marks.
🏀🏀🏀Wednesday’s Central Georgia matchups🏀🏀🏀
3 p.m., Class A/Division II Boys: Wilkinson County, 24-6, vs. Charlton County, 29-2
One team has 10 state title trophies and is a regular visitor to the Sweet 16, and another is making its first trip to the championship game after its first trip to the Final Four.
Charlton County is the latter, a team that isn’t far removed from one-win seasons from 2014-16,was 1-22 in 2015-16, and is enjoying its second winning season - as per incomplete info provided to MaxPreps by coaching staffs – in about a decade.
The Indians, who dismissed Wilkinson County rival and 2020 A Public champ Hancock Central 68-45 in the quarters, dumped private-school power and defending A Private champ Geenforest 50-49 in a semi.
Jarvis Wright, whose buzzer-beating 3 beat Greenforest, leads Charlton County with 20.2 points.
Wilkinson County pulled away from Macon County wit ha big second half in an 85-63 semifinal win in Valdosta, after a four-point win over Portal. The Warriors won four playoff games by an average of 25.3 points.
Region 5 player of the year Justin Stanley leads the Warriors, who lost 52-49 to eventual champ Drew Charter in a Class A Public quarterfinal last year.
If Charlton County’s nerves lead to a poor start, Wilkinson County might come close to its playoff average in margin of victory. But if the Indians can handle the stage, it should be a four-quarter game.
5 p.m. Class AAAA Girls: Baldwin, 24-8, vs. Griffin, 26-4
This game might not be overly pretty or loaded with big runs, since the teams know each other pretty well, having played three times.
Griffin has won two of the three matchups: 53-52 on Jan. 1 and 51-48 on Feb. 17, with Baldwin winning 62-45 on Jan. 27. The Bears won the region tournament over Baldwin in that 51-48 game.
Region player of the year Madison Ruff, an experienced junior, leads Baldwin, with 13.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. Sophomore and coach’s daughter Janaye Walker gets a double-double, with 12.5 points and 12 rebounds.
Kassidy Neal is another 6-0 sophomore post, good for 12.9 points and 5.7 rebounds.
This is a young Baldwin team on paper, with only senior, but it is more than tested, this year and for awhile.
Griffin is seeking its first state title.
The Bears are led by Aaliyah Duranham, a 5-9 power forward good for 16.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.6 steals, as well as the title of region defensive player of the year. Zy Thompson adds 15.6 points and 5.3 rebounds and Leah Turner 12.6 points, 5.5 rebounds.
The paint will be the location of plenty of action, so foul trouble for the posts will be worth watching. Still, whoever comes up with the most efficient guard play is likely to hold the trophy.