Newspaper Page Text
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
