About Barrow journal. (Winder, Ga.) 2008-2016 | View Entire Issue (March 2, 2016)
PAGE 2B BARROW JOURNAL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016 The Game Plan The Gold Rush in Golden State M arch is here, the NBA season is nearly at its end, and the Golden State Warriors are nearly 50 games over .500. Yes, you read that right, the Warriors are still on pace to finish with the best regular season record in NBA history. It is quite remarkable, really, that the Warriors have continued in their dominance this season. After their last second, overtime victory over the Thunder this past week end they moved to an astounding 53-5 record. Just to put this into perspective, the Warriors still have 24 games left to play this season and they have already clinched a playoff berth. The Warriors could literally sit out the last 24 games of the season, make the playoffs as a lower seed, and still make the NBA Finals. Let that one sink in for a moment. Now, obviously, they would never do something so foolish. Golden State has made it evident that they have no inter est in slowing down. They are on pace to have the best regular season record in NBA history, and it seems like that’s exactly what’s going to happen. Every time it seems that the Warriors are going to drop a game they find a way to win. Down late in the fourth quarter in Miami? Don’t worry, Stephen Curry will hit a few three-pointers to take the game back. Tie game in overtime with seconds remaining against the Thunder? It’s okay, Curry will just shoot the ball from half court and win the game. Honestly, what we are seeing right now with the Warriors is unlike anything else we have ever seen before. These guys just seem unbeatable. That being said, with 24 games left you can bet they haven’t lost their last game of the season. But at this point I would be shocked if they lost five more games. And even if they did, here is the thing, who cares? Seriously, who cares? Let’s say the Warriors don’t beat the 1995-1996 Chicago Bulls’ record of 72-10 but still finish in first place in the Western Conference, do you really think there is any team in the NBA that can beat the Warriors in a seven-game series? Because its not just beating them once, twice or even three times. There has to be a team who can beat them four times in about a two-week span. And I’m sorry, that just isn’t happening. Sure, there are some other good teams who will give the Warriors some difficul ties in the playoffs and challenge them, but I would be blown away if Golden State wasn’t back in the NBA Finals. The Spurs have also had an incredible season but the Warriors will shoot the lights out against them. The Thunder have two great stars in Durant and Westbrook but their team as a whole can’t compete with Golden State in a seven-game series. Regardless of what record the Warriors finish with this season, there is no rea son they shouldn’t be back in the Finals. Assuming no terrible injuries happen, we should have Curry and the boys defending their title. And who knows, they will likely take on LeBron James and the Cavaliers again. Oh, how interesting that would be! Tyler Rollason is a Winder-Bar row High School and Universi ty of West Georgia graduate. You can e-mail comments about this column to tyrollason @yahoo.com. Snapshots COLUMBUS BOUND The Winder-Barrow High School Lady Bulldogg basketball team, com plete with their newly made Final Four T-Shirts, pose for a picture prior to another trip to Columbus last week. WBHS, which will play for the Georgia High School Association Class AAAAA state championship this Friday in Macon, has gone on a historic state tournament run. After not making the state tournament since the 1993-94 season, this year’s Lady Bulldogg team, coached by Brandon Thomas, has won four state con tests, including a win against Brunswick in the semifinals on Saturday. High School Baseball Knights fall in 2016 season opener By Chris Bridges Journal Sports Editor Bethlehem Christian Academy’s base ball team began a new season with a new head coach Monday afternoon. The Knights (0-1) dropped a 3-2 game to Piedmont Academy on the road in a matchup between two of the most suc cessful programs in the GISA in recent years. It was also the season opener for the Cougars, who are the two-time defending GISA Class AA state champs. Despite the marquee nature of the matchup on paper, both coaches had said they planned to use the game to get sev eral players plenty of game time. BCA’s Tanner Still was the starting pitcher for the Knights working four innings while allowing one earned run, three hits and recording two strikeouts. Caleb Hopkins pitched two innings in relief allowing one run (not earned) with two strikeouts. “Our offense struggled,’’ said first-year BCA head coach Matt Nicks. “Probably Youth Baseball Camp 50 percent of our at-bats were quality plate appearances, which is a good sign. We had good at-bats, we just didn’t get the outcome we wanted. There were a lot of positives in the game. We will go back to work and fix our mistakes.’’ Piedmont’s Brock Carter had a strong performance on the pitcher’s mound recording 12 strikeouts. Like BCA, Pied mont’s offense is still a work in progress early in the season as the Cougars man aged just four hits. “We have a lot of work to do,” said Pied mont coach Daniel Funt. “It was good to get out there and play someone else.” Carter worked five innings for the Cou gars before Michael Edwards closed out the contest. BCA scored its two runs in the top of the sixth before Piedmont answered with what turned out to be the winning run in the bottom half of the inning. Jacob Parker drove in both runs for BCA. Ryan Whiting and Brady Stewart scored the Knight runs. BCA will host Westminster Thursday for its home debut at 4 p.m. Diamond Doggs to host baseball camp, clinic The Winder-Barrow High School Dia mond Doggs will host a youth baseball camp and coaches clinic on Sunday, March 6, from 2-6 p.m. The event, which will take place rain or shine, will be held at the WBHS baseball/ softball complex. Cost is $40 per player or $340 per team. A team can consist of 10-12 players, ages 5-14. Cost includes a snack and camp T-shirt. For more information contact brian.smith@ barrow.kl2.ga.us. Local Stars: Winder-Barrow High School Football THE NEXT LEVEL Winder-Barrow High School senior Andre Jackson (seated, center) made it official on Feb. 24 when he signed to continue his academic and athletic careers at Reinhardt University in Waleska. Jackson has helped reverse the fortunes of Bulldogg football in the past two seasons. The WBHS Class of 2016 now has five football players who will continue competing at the collegiate level. WBHS head football coach Heath Webb said last week was another “huge day” for the program. Jackson was joined at the sign ing by teammates, family members and WBHS officials, including principal Al Darby and athletic director Rob McFerrin. Photos by Jessica Brown MAKING IT OFFICIAL Winder-Barrow High School senior Jamaul Cox (seated, center) has signed to continue his football career at Bluefield College in Virginia. Cox was one of three Bulldoggs to sign on Feb. 24. He is part of a senior class which helped lead WBHS to the state playoffs in consecutive seasons after the program went through a long postseason drought. GREAT SCOTT Winder-Barrow High School senior Jerry Scott (seated, third from left) has signed to continue his football career at University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky. Scott was one of three Bulldoggs to sign on Feb. 24. Scott thanked his coaches at WBHS for helping provide him with a strong work ethic in order to be successful on the gridiron. Barrow County Leisure Services Youth track, adult softball registration continues Registration continues for youth track offered by the Barrow County Leisure Services. This sport is for ages 7-14 of all skill levels. Registration cost is $85. Con tact Sara Call, athletics supervisor, at scall@barrowga.org, or by calling 770-307-3024 for additional information. Adult softball registration is also avail able. Competition is available in Men’s A League, Men’s B League, Coed A League and Coed B League. The registration fee is $470 per team, payable by check or credit card. Teams can register at the Leisure Services Center, 175 2nd St. in Wind er. For more information, please con tact Megan Myers, athletics supervisor by email at mmyers@barrowga.org or 770-307-3024. We’re Moving to Better Serve You! The office of Dr. Stephen Orr will be relocating to the Athens Regional Health System Building at: 340 Exchange Blvd., Suite 120 Bethlehem, GA 30620 Please contact Dr. Orr at 770.307.0661 to schedule your appointment. Visit us online at www.AthensPhysicians.org Athens Regional PHYSICIAN GROUP
