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ENI/Gary Harmon
Warner Robins players battle near the basket during practice at the school Wednesday.
Demons 'young'; for girls
focus is on key returners
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
Several spectators at
Warner Robins High School
girls basketball games last
season probably wanted to
see what was going to happen
inside the post. After all, the
Demonettes had 6-3 Kittery
Maine and her fellow Division
I signee Cherie White there
to create huge mismatches in
shooting and rebounding.
Wits' Graham Inks letter to Vlrilnia Tech
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
By no means is Kristen Graham selling
herself short when it comes to goals in col
lege softball. She wants to go to the Women’s
College World Series and she wants to be an
All-American pitcher.
For now, Graham is ready to be a Division
I student-athlete for Virginia Tech. She will
be the first Warner Robins High fast-pitch
player to reach the NCAA’s highest level.
“It’s still all sinking in,” said Graham after
she signed those official players Wednesday to
join the Hokies in Blacksburg, Va., next fall.
“It’s always been a dream. You never really
Lady Bear Williams headed to South Carolina
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
From Day 1 on the high school basketball
courts, it could be said that Tonia Williams
was destined for the major floors of the col
lege game.
The University of South Carolina took
the most notice of Williams’ talents, and
the Houston County High standout formally
accepted the offer by signing her letter-of
intent at the Bears Den on Thursday.
Williams, at 6-1, is a post player in high
school but is projected to move to point guard
in college. Last year, she averaged 20 points
and 14 rebounds per game, earned All-State
Demonette Billings signs with Georgia Southwestern State
By MATTHEW BROWN
Journal Sports Writer
Tiandra Billings endured one tough per
sonal transition going from one high school to
another. She expects going from high school
to college to be a much smoother change.
Billings, who started her prep basketball
career at Perry High School but then trans
ferred to Warner Robins High School last
year, will attend Georgia Southwestern State
University next year on a college basket
ball scholarship. She signed those papers
Wednesday during what is an early signing
period for collegiate hoops.
“I love the whole atmosphere,” said Billings
Preview ‘OB
Those days are gone
because those players are get
ting those D-I careers going
at Liberty University and
Eastern Kentucky respective
ly. Warner Robins girls coach
Tom Mobley knows this, but
he also knows the focus will
soon shift to the backcourt,
think it could happen, and then you realize
it did happen and you have to wait for it to
sink in.”
Graham’s journey to this point in her
life began at the age of 9, the age when she
pitched a softball for the first time. She said
her -first “dream” in athletics was to play
college basketball, but quickly realized how
much she was becoming attached to softball.
“I still played basketball during the win
ter,” said Graham. “But softball was my true
lovq.
“I’ve played all over the country: New
Jersey, Colorado, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
See GRAHAM, page iB
honors for Class AAAAA. In the state playoffs
against Stephenson High last season at Ft.
Valley State University (a 63-55 loss), she was
on fire shooting the basketball to the tune of
37 points.
Williams’ game, though, includes much
more, including pushing the basketball down
the court after a rebound and beating most of
the other players to the goal.
“Tonia handles the ball well enough to
play the point guard and can score from
anywhere on the floor,” South Carolina head
women’s coach Susan Walvius said on game
cocksonline.com. The coach also said on the
See WILLIAMS, page iB
about the Americus campus. “I like their
nursing school. I’m going to major in nursing.
The coach and I got along real, real well.”
She also recognized that Georgia
Southwestern is still in a rebuilding stage
overall from NAIA to NCAA Division II and
the Peach Belt Conference. But, this school
has one of the biggest athletic facilities at this
level, something that impressed her as well.
Before heading to college, Billings will com
plete her high school career as a Demonette
senior. She joined a Warner Robins team
last year already stocked in Division I tal
ent, including one of her life-long friends
See BILLINGS, page 2B
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where more special things
may happen deep into 2008.
“We lost a lot of points, a
lot of rebounds,” said Mobley.
“But we have a lot return
ing. You start with Symone
Wilkerson, who will basically
be a fourth-year starter at
point guard. She’s going to
be expected to score a bit
more. She’s led us in assists
the last three years, but
See FOCUS, page ioB
8 • t-
By DON MONCRIEF
Journal Managing Editor
It was another solid
year for volleyball in
Houston County. With the
Lady Bears leading the
way - 37-13, back-to-back
County Championships,
11-0 against county oppo
nents (junior varsity also
undefeated locally), regu
lar season Area champions
(at 9-0) and more - local
teams continued to raise
the bar. And that despite
the fact three - Warner
Robins, Northside and
Perry - had new coaches.
Individually, that made
for some tough decisions
in regard to picking an All-
Houston County team.
To say competition for
the top spots was a chal
lenge is an understate
ment. In fact, in the end
only one point - or less
- separated those from
the first and those from
the second team.
The future for this sport
around here no doubt
looks very, very good.
All-Houston County
volleyball
Coach ot the Year
H Tony Jones, Houston County
Player of the Year
H Morgan Hollars, Houston
County
First team
PI Devon Preston, Houston
County
PI Catherine Goodman, Houston
County
* Leah Justin, Houston County
it Adrienne Pate, Houston
County
IS Catherine Causey, Warner
Robins
it Deanna LeShoure, Warner
Robins
it Aletrius Booker, Warner
Robins
I! Josie Toliver, Northside ,
* Bryionna Floyd, Northside
It Karrisa Lewis, Northside
A Leighann Fall, Perry
Second team
A Sarah Rizer, Houston County
* Athina Smick, Houston County
* Dhwani Patel, Houston County
* Brittany Zuniga, Houston
County
* Kate Hotchkiss, Warner
Robins
* Deanna Drain, Warner Robins
Carly Weber, Northside
Player of the Year
Morgan Hollars
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Setter
Impact: Recorded 102 aces
(second on the team), 24 kilts,
835 assists (team leader) and
10 blocks. For her career, she
had 341 aces (current career
record holder and sixth all-time
for the state, 100 Kills, 2,614
assists (team record and sixth all
time for the state) and 50 blocks.
Leadership, knowledge, experi
ence, work ethic, drive and deter
mination were just some of the
things she brought to the table,
said Head Coach Tony Jones.
Other: Was a team co-captain
and named to the 2-AAAAA All
Area First Team for 2007. She was
also the 2006 Houston County
Player of the Year, 2006 Middle
Georgia Player of the Year, 2006
Area 2-AAAAA All-Area Team,
2006 HCHS MVP, 2005 HCHS
MVP, University of Florida Team
Camp Conference MVP, 2005
HHJ All-County First Team, 2004
Team Co-Best Offensive Player.
Coach's Corner: “Morgan is
the first player to start and play
on varsity all four years here at
Houston County! She has been
the leader of this team throughout
that time. In volleyball the setter
is the ‘quarterback’ on the floor.
Morgan's leadership has been
a major reason for our success
over the past four years. As a
coach, I relied heavily on Morgan
and I am going to miss her.”
First team
Devon Preston
Grade: Junior
School: Houston County
Position: Outside hitter
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2007 ♦
Impact: Recorded 149 aces
(team leader and fifth and ninth
all-time season total aces), 136
kills, 21 blocks, 16 assists and
had 22 digs.
“Devon has lead the team
in aces for the last two years,”
Jones said. “But this year she
really came on as a hitter. She
tripled the amount of kills she had
from her sophomore year and
she has truly become a threat
as hitter, server and in the back
row.”
Other: Ranked nine all-time in
Georgia in 2007 for season total
aces, fifth all-time in the state in
2006 for total aces(l62), ninth all
time in Georgia in 2007 for season
aces/game (1.49) and seventh
all-time in the state in 2006 for
season aces/game (1.51). Was
also named to the 2007 Area
2-AAAAA Second Team, was a
2006 HHJ All-County First Team
member, named to the 2006 All-
Middle Georgia First Team and
the 2005 HHJ All-County Second
Team.
Coach’s Corner: “Devon’s com
mitment and stature on the floor
and off the floor has grown so
much this year! It is fun to watch
the opponents as Devon hits
when she is on because you
see fear in their eyes because of
the power and the placement of
her hits. Next year will really be
fun! One word describes Devon's
desire to play and what she tries
to do on the f100r... Dominate!"
Catherine Goodman
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Middle hitter
Impact: In limited play (60
games) she recorded 45 aces,
112 kills, 16 digs, 13 assists and
33.5 blocks. In her career she
had: 138 aces, 218 kills, 50 digs,
52 assists and 82.5 blocks.
“Attitude, size, strength and
determination to win," were sev
eral of the area she excelled,
Jones said.
Other: Was team co-captain.
Was named to the 2006 Area
2-AAAAA All-Area Team and the
2006 HHJ All-County First Team.
Coach's Comer: “Even though
Cat’s season was ended by an
injury prematurely, she helped
to lead the team to a 9-0 regular
season in the Area, back-to-back
County Championships and 11-0
against county opponents. The
true measure of Cat’s significance
was what she did after her injury.
She still came to practice, trav
eled to every match and became
a valuable member of the coach
ing staff. Cat found ways to con
tinue to be a captain and leader
even though she could not play!
Cat, Thanks!"
Leah Justin
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Impact: Recorded 24 blocks, 72
aces, 34 assists, 27 digs and had
191 kills (team leader and 55
percent increase over last year).
She also had an attack percent
age of .488 (second all-time in
Georgia for a single season). In
her career, she had 40 blocks,
133 aces, 97 assists, 122 digs
and 302 kills.
“Leah became a rock to the
team," said Jones. “She plays
such a balanced game and
makes an impact in any position
on the floor.”
Other: She was named to the
2006 HHJ All-County Second
Team and was a 2005 HHJ All-
County Honorable Mention.
Coach's Corner: “Leah always
helped anyone who needed it!
She always has such a positive
impact. The team and I have
looked to Leah at times of great
stress because of her calmness.
She never seemed to get rattled.
Leah I have one last thing to say
... MOOOOOSE!"’
Adrienne Pate
School: Houston County
Year: Senior
Position: Middle hitter
Impact: Had 52.5 blocks (team
leader), 10 aces, 15 assists, six
digs and 82 kills, and an attack
percentage of .307. In her career,
she had 75.5 blocks, 13 aces, 25
assists, 15 digs and 115 kills.
“Adrienne’s attitude and ingenu
ity (she found ways to hit and tip
around blocks),” were some of
her greatest assets, said Jones.
Coach's Corner: “Adrienne has
come a long way since she first
came out her sophomore year!
She is a successful product of
our JV program. When Adrienne
first came out she was afraid
that the ball was going to hit her.
By the end of her senior year,
people were dodging from the
balls she hit!"
Catherine Causey
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Outside hitter
Impact: Averaged approximately
three kills per game and was
one of the team’s better hitters,
said Head Coach Tracy Fendley.
“She was an excellent server,
and played great defense,” said.
Fendley.
Other: Was a four-year letterman
and team captain in 2006 and
2007. Was selected for the for the
All Area Team in 2006, received
the Scholar Award in 2006, Best
Hitter Award in 2005 and was
an All-Area Honorable Mention
this year.
Coach’s Corner: “In addition to
being a good athlete she is also
a very good student. Catherine
works very hard and has the
drive it takes to be a great ath
lete, and great student. Catherine
was one of leaders on the team
always going out of her way to
do what is best for the team. She
is a great player and a wonderful
asset to have on the team.”
Deanna LeShoure
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Middle
Impact: Averaged approximately
two kills per game and also was
one of the team’s better hitters,
Fendley said.
“She is an excellent blocker and
has great timing,” Fendley said.
Other: Was a four-year letterman
and team captain this year. Was
selected for the All Area Team in
2006, earned Best Hitter Award
the same year and an All Area
Honorable Mention this year.
Coach’s Corner: “Deanna is a
great front row player for us. She
was very aggressive at the net
this year and really stepped her
game up at the Area Tournament.
Deanna is a good athlete, works
hard to get better, and has a
great attitude."
Aletrius Dooker
School: Warner Robins
Year: Senior
Position: Middle hitter
Impact: Averaged two kills and
three blocks a game. “She was
definitely the best blocker on the
team,” and “was a big threat
at the net," said Jones. “She
was a powerful hitter and great
blocker.”
Other: Received the Most
Improved Award in 2006.
Coach’s Corner: “Aletrius has
really improved in the last two
years and has been an absolute
joy to coach. She has a great
attitude and work ethic."
Josie Toliver
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Middle hitter
Impact: Averaged eight kills and
four blocks per game.
“Was our best hitter,” said
Northside Head Volleyball Coach
Jessica White. “(She) rarely came
off the floor during a game.”
Bryionna Floyd
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Middle hitter
Impact: Averaged six kills and
seven blocks per game.
Other: Was a three-year starter
and team captain. Was also on
second team All-Houston County
in ’O6.
Karrisa Lewis
School: Northside
Year: Senior
Position: Setter
Impact: Averaged 10 assists per
game.
“(She was) our number one
setter," White said. “(We) would
not have been as competitive
without her on and off floor lead
ership.”
Other: Was a team captain.
Leighann Fall
School: Perry
Year: Senior
Position: Setter
Impact: "Leighann played vol
leyball only two years, ’ said Perry
Head Volleyball Coach Katherine
Bradley, “but quickly became a
utility player - nothing flashy, just
consistent and versatile.”
When the team’s top setter quit.
Bradley said Leighann assumed
not just that position, “but did
so without prompting," she said.
“She had a calming effect on the
floor, which was
See VOLLEYBALI,,page#
1B