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February 17, 2016
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Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 4B
BARROW JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016
High School Football: Bethlehem Christian Academy
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
Bethlehem Christian Academy’s Matthew Kamm was among the Knight
players recognized during a recent team banquet. Kamm was named All-
Region for the 2015 season and will be one of the top defensive players in
the GISA for 2016. Photos by Kara Maxwell
LEADING THE KNIGHTS
Bethlehem Christian Academy’s Brad Toxen was named to the GISA All-
Region football team for 1-AAA for the 2015 season.
KEY PLAYER
Bethlehem Christian Academy’s Brady Stewart was named to the All-
Region football team for the Knights for 2015.
Sports Opinion
Memorable season for Lady Doggs
S o much has taken
place since the last
time the Winder-Barrow
High School girls basket
ball program qualified for
the state tournament.
None of the current
players on the roster were
born at the time. Since the
1993-94 season, WBHS
has seen numerous players
and coaches file through
its ranks. The school itself
has changed classifica
tion (more than once) and
changed regions (multiple
times.)
So when the Lady Bull-
doggs finally broke the
long drought this season
there had to be a feel
ing of relief. The weight
had been lifted from the
program and while none
of the current team mem
bers, of course, have
played during the entire
streak, they certainly have
the right to be proud of
being the group to break
the streak.
Coach Brandon Thomas
deserves credit for what
he has done with the pro
gram. It’s been a gradual
process but the coach had
no doubt the team would
reach the point where
making it to state once
again would happen.
Thomas guides the team
with a steady and calm
presence on the sideline
during games. He doesn’t
yell at his players. He
doesn’t yell at the officials.
In fact, I don’t remember
him ever even getting into
a serious discussion with
referees over a call.
Let’s be clear that hav
ing that approach can’t be
By Chris Bridges
as easy as it looks. There
are times when I watch
the games, supposedly as
a neutral spectator, that
I’ve wanted to yell at the
officials.
Perhaps that’s why
Thomas is so well suited
to be a coach. He worries
about what his team is
doing or not doing rath
er than getting worked up
about this call or that call
by officials.
The Lady Bulldoggs
entered the state tour
nament as a No. 4 seed.
While glad to finally end
the drought, the team cer
tainly would have loved to
have been a higher seed.
It’s tough for No. 4 seeds
at state as they have to
face a region champi
on right out of the gate.
That was the case for the
WBHS team as they had
to play Villa Rica Tuesday
night on the road.
In the 8-AAAAA semi
finals, the Lady Bulldoggs
pushed Flowery Branch to
the limit before falling by
five points to the eventu
al region champion and
second-ranked team in the
state. In that game, two
sequences stood out to me.
The Lady Falcons con
verted two fourth quarter
3-pointers while having
a five-on-four advantage
on the court. During both
plays, WBHS had a play
er hurt on the other end
of the court, yet officials
did not stop play until
after Flowery Branch had
scored. In the end, those
six points were huge as
the Lady Falcons won by
five points.
It was the second time
this season the Lady
Bulldoggs gave Flowery
Branch all it could handle.
And make no mistake, the
Lady Falcons will likely
make a deep run in the
state tournament, entering
it with a 27-1 mark.
There was some natu
ral letdown in Saturday’s
region consolation game
where the Lady Bulldoggs
fell to Gainesville in a bat
tle for the No. 3 seed.
Certainly the outcome was
important but having to
take the court again less
than 24 hours after such
an emotional loss was ask
ing a lot, not to mention
the physical toll the game
with Flowery Branch took.
With the majority of the
roster returning in 2016-
2017 for WBHS, look for
another run at the state
tournament to be in the
works. It’s not guaranteed,
but this year’s team has
set a new standard. Each
player and coach for the
Lady Bulldoggs deserves
credit for that.
Chris Bridges is sports
editor of the Barrow Jour
nal You can reach him at
cbridges @ barrowjournal.
com.
WILDCAT HOOPS
Apalachee High School’s Jabari Hill (second from left) and Kamar Baldwin
(right) were both named to the Region 8-AAAAA basketball team. Baldwin
was also the Region Player of the Year. They are shown with Wildcat
coaches Dan Woschitz and Kevin Morris.
LASTING IMPRESSION
Ian Hentenaar has established himself as one of the top swimmers in the
history of the Winder-Barrow High School program. Hentenaar, shown at
this year’s state meet, will continue competing at the collegiate level.
Photo by Teresa Allen
