Westside Defeats Burke County in Quarterfinals

During the past several weeks, the Westside Patriots are playing as well as, if not better than, any team in the greater Augusta, Georgia, area.  Guards Frank Booker and Ronald Campbell are shooting, and playing, at an extremely high level.  And teammates play their roles increasingly well.  One thing on which we at the Augusta Basketball Report have come to rely is that when Westside is playing, Augusta's basketball fans are in for an exciting thirty-two minutes.  See for yourself by watching the highlights of the Patriots' 64-50 quarterfinals win over the Burke County Bears.

Burke County Advances to Quarterfinals

The Burke County Bears advance to the region 3-AAA tournament quarterfinals after beating the Harlem Bulldogs 70-64 Monday.  The Bears will face the top seed from sub region 3B-AAA, the Westside Patriots.

Burke County benefited from a balanced attack on offense and a trapping defense against Harlem.  But Harlem's guards kept the Bulldogs in the game.  Freshman Reggie Reid was effective despite being double teamed much of the night.  After Burke County's 11 point first half lead was erased by the end of the third quarter, the Bears made key shots late en route to the opening round victory.

Enjoy the highlights from the game.  The Bears are a very good team, especially for a four seed.  But Augusta's basketball fans have to be excited about the future for Harlem's freshman point guard...

Game of the Night: Burke County at Washington County

In Friday's Augusta Basketball Report "Game of the Night," the Washington County Golden Hawks defeated the Burke County Bears in Sandersville, Georgia, 52-44.  The win improves the Golden Hawks record to 20-0 overall, and 9-0 in sub region 3A-AAA play.  Burke County falls to 14-5 overall, 4-5 in region play.

The Golden Hawks rushed out to a 15-6 first quarter lead during senior night, as senior Juwan Burden and freshman A.J. Gray made shots early.  Washington County coach Carlos Hope's strategy of playing 12-13 players also paid dividends early as fresh bodies swarmed Burke County's guards, causing turnovers and disrupting the Bears' offense.

But Burke County eventually joined the defensive battle, holding Washington County to 37 points in the final three quarters.  The Bears also scored effectively inside and converted timely transition baskets.

But Juwan Burden's overall floor game was the ultimate difference.  The 6'5" senior created shots for himself and teammates at key moments during the second half, showing the ability to score going to the basket and in the medium range.

Watch the highlights above to see what makes Washington County the team to beat in region 3-AAA play heading into the post season.

Washington County Aims to Preserve Perfect Record

Washington County's Carlos Hope talks like a coach who is fond of the people with whom he works.  He describes Golden Hawks 6'5" captain and leading scorer, senior Juwan Burden, as "the kind of kid who you would be proud to have as a son."  He gives credit for his team's phenomenal defensive performance this season (opponents have yet to record 50 points in a game against the Golden Hawks) to assistant coach, and "defensive coordinator," Tyrone Dean.  And he describes Burke County head coach Purvis Dukes, whom he will face Friday in Augusta Basketball Report's "Game of the Night," as "a kind of big brother," crediting much of what he knows about coaching to the experience he gained assisting Dukes at Burke County during the 2004-2005 season.