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Barrow News-Journal
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Wednesday, january 8, 2020
Phone: 770-867-6397
Fax: 706-621-4115
sthompson@barrownewsjournal.com
Section B
★★★★
Basketball
Winder-Barrow sweeps Apalachee
Photos by Scott Thompson
Winder-Barrow’s Timmy Presley cracks a smile and celebrates with teammate Ahmad Scott after scoring a bas
ket and drawing a foul during the second half of the Bulldoggs’ 73-62 win over Apalachee on Saturday, Jan. 4.
After slow start, WBHS boys pull
away from Wildcats in second half
By Scott Thompson
sthompson@barrownewsjournal.
com
First-year Winder-Barrow
head coach Travis McDan
iel believes that two of the
key factors to his team’s fast
start this season have been
a tougher resilience and the
confidence that it can win
any time it steps on the floor.
That grit was on display
at home Saturday, Jan. 4,
against crosstown rival
Apalachee as the Bull
doggs found themselves
in a 12-point hole after the
first quarter but rallied to tie
the game at the break and
then steadily pulled away in
the second half for a 73-62
victory in a GHSA Region
8-AAAAAA contest.
Senior guard Tyreek Per
kins led the Bulldoggs with
26 points and 7 rebounds,
while junior forward Isaiah
Nelson-Ododa poured in
16 points and finished with
8 rebounds and 3 blocks to
spur the win.
“Credit to Apalachee, they
came out with great energy,
ready to play, and punched
us in the mouth off the jump,
but I was really proud of our
guys for bouncing back,”
said McDaniel, whose team
improved to 11-4 overall
and 1-1 in region play a
night after dropping its re
gion opener 61-53 at fourth-
ranked Lanier. “We talked
at the end of the first quarter
about how to respond, about
it being a four-round match
and that there was a lot of
ball left to play. They threw
the first punch, but I thought
we responded well and were
in control of the game from
that point on.”
Sparked by senior
guard Brayson Hayes" 11
first-quarter points, the
Wildcats (4-10, 0-2 region)
got off to a quick start, us
ing strong defense to create
easy scoring opportunities
in transition. Hayes, who
finished with a team-high
21 points, knocked down a
pair of 3-pointers late in the
opening period to give his
team a 21-9 advantage after
the first eight minutes.
But Winder-Barrow went
on a 12-0 run to start the
second quarter and tied
the game. After Jeremiah
Chance came off the bench
and drilled a couple of
3-pointers to put the Wild
cats back up by six, the
Bulldoggs went on another
run to tie it again at the half.
The rally was capped when
Cam Stillwell stole a pass
and drove down a clear lane
for a layup and a foul with
See Basketball, page 3B
Winder-Barrow’s Isaiah Nelson-Ododa blocks a Jamon-
te Wallace layup attempt during the first half of Satur
day’s game.
Winder-Barrow’s Tyreek Perkins drives the lane for
score with a blocking assist from teammate Isaiah Nel
son-Ododa.
Winder-Barrow coach Travis McDaniel talks to his team in a timeout during the first half Saturday.
Photos by Scott Thompson
Winder-Barrow’s Daisia Stillwell scored a
game-high 25 points to lead the Bulldoggs past
Apalachee 75-41 on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Stillwell, Lady Doggs
cruise past AHS
By Scott Thompson
sthompson@barrownewsj ournal. com
After dropping their region opener at Lanier the
night before, the Winder-Barrow girls’ basketball
team wanted to set the tempo early on in its home
game against Apalachee on Saturday, Jan. 4.
The Bulldoggs did just that, using an aggressive
defense and getting double-figure performances from
three players as they cruised past the Wildcats 75-41
in a GHSA Region 8-AAAAAA contest.
“We wanted to try to speed up the pace of the game
and set the tone and we handled our business tonight.”
Winder-Barrow coach Kimberly Garren said. “The
only problem was we fouled way too much, but over
all we played really well.”
Senior Daisia Stillwell led the Bulldoggs (9-6, 1-1
region) with 25 points in three quarters before exit
ing the game. Sophomore Taniyah Parrish added 16
points, while senior Keirsten Jackson finished with
14.
Winder-Barrow employed a full-court press early
and forced Apalachee (2-15, 0-2) into several turn
overs, which led to a handful of quick buckets. Still
well scored the first six points of the game to spark an
8-0 run and then bookended that with her team's final
six points of the half as the Bulldoggs carried a 37-20
lead into halftime and steadily built on that advantage
throughout the second half.
“She had her best night of the year so far.” Garren
said of Stillwell. “Not only scoring, but she had a lot
of deflections and steals. She's a smart player and that
helps us.”
Parrish, who scored 14 of her 16 after the break,
had a breakout performance on the glass as a fresh
man and has improved her all-around game as a soph
omore, Garren said.
“She's a key for us and is tough to handle,” Garren
said. “She doesn’t even know her full strength and
skill level, yet. She’s improved so much this year and
has a real passion for the game. I can’t keep her out
of the gym. She comes in and gets extra shots before
and after practice and is developing into a leader, even
vocally, which is what you need.”
Apalachee was led by Kesley Knox with 10 points,
while Joanna Gross and Kelly Richardson contribut
ed 8 points apiece.
Both teams were back in region action Tuesday,
Jan. 7, as the Bulldoggs hosted Habersham Central
and the Wildcats hosted Gainesville. Results were not
available at press time.
“We still have a lot to learn,” Garren said of her
team. “But we have depth, which is something we’ve
not had in the past, and I’m excited about that and the
younger kids getting more reps. And the things we’re
messing up on now, we can improve on and fix. So,
it's just about pushing them and looking forward to
them getting better and better each game and meshing
together as a team.
“Because they’re fun to watch when they play their
game together.”
A 10 10 11 10 — 41
W 24 13 22 16 — 75
A: Kesley Knox 10, Joanna Gross 8, Kelly Rich
ardson 8, Kensley Kraus 5, Jasmine Williams 4, J’Nai
Holloway 3, Averie Akin 3.
W: Daisia Stillwell 25, Taniyah Parrish 16. Keirsten
Jackson 14. Torrie Sauls 7. Kiona Lindsay 4, Trinity
Maxey 4, Keonna Hamler 3, Trinity Butler 2.
Winder-Barrow’s Trinity Butler dribbles toward
the basket during the first half of Saturday’s game.