Closer Look: Washington County's Allisha Gray

WACO's Allisha Gray

A Washington County Golden Hawks fan posted this link on our Facebook wall.  Allisha Gray, Washington County's junior leader, is one of the nation's best basketball players.  The list of Gray's accomplishments is long.  But the linked article from ESPN High School Hoops does a good job of summarizing Gray's on and off court success.  And the Augusta Basketball Report also provides a video (below) for readers who want to see the many things Gray does well on the basketball court.

We will be providing live video and scoring updates throughout the Golden Hawks semifinal game against North Hall tomorrow (Friday) at 4 P.M.

Interview: WACO Coach Sug Parker

Washington County
2011 State Champions

The Washington County Golden Hawks will face the Columbia Eagles in Saturday's Class AAA state championship game.  Washington County has the opportunity to complete its second straight undefeated season and repeat as state champions.  The Augusta Basketball Report spoke to Washington County coach Sug Parker about the challenge that he and his team face that basketball coaches and players at all levels would love to confront: focusing on improving and executing after going nearly two seasons without a defeat.  Parker also discusses the importance of defense, conditioning, and hard work in building an elite program.  Enjoy the discussion and the highlight clips from the Golden Hawks' state tournament third round victory.  And visit augustabasketball.com for live updates, highlights, and commentary during Saturday's state tournament game at 7 P.M.

Congratulations to Lady Patriots from a Peer

It is always great to see students and fans support their school's team.  Frank Booker, Westside's junior guard and one of our area's very best basketball players, made the trip to Macon, Georgia, along with so many students and fans, to see the Westside Lady Patriots compete in the semifinals of the Class AAA state tournament.  Westside's season may have ended tonight, but the community is proud of the job the team has done.  And after the initial disappointment, the players will fondly remember this experience for a long time.  Congratulations to the Westside girls team.  See what Booker and other devoted fans have to say about their beloved Lady Patriots.

Westside's Junior Guard Frank Booker

"We will be back here next year!"

A very proud Westside Student Section

Laney Boys Advance to Final Four

We conclude the Final Four video release with the highlights of the Laney boys team's victory over Morgan County.  These guys are playing hard, playing smart, and playing together!

Westside Girls Advance to Final Four

Watch the highlights from the Westside Lady Patriots' win over Hepzibah in Saturday's Elite Eight round.

Laney Girls Comeback Win

Check out the highlights from the Laney girls come-from-behind Elite Eight victory over Morgan County!

Final Four Week: WACO-Monroe Highlights

The Augusta Basketball Report initiated coverage of girls basketball teams from the greater Augusta, Georgia, area with Saturday's state tournament elite eight round.  In addition to the Laney and Aquinas boys games, we provided live updates, real time highlights, and pre and post game commentary as a part of Saturday's "Live Blog" (see section at top of page for access to Saturday's Live Blog).

Tonight we share the highlights from the Washington County Golden Hawks' third round victory over the Monroe Tornadoes.  Coach Sug Parker's team is the defending Class AAA state champions, and the team has won 62 consecutive games, losing none during the past two seasons.  6' junior Allisha Gray scored 32 points during the victory.  And she got help from her capable teammates, as the Golden Hawks played an impressive overall game.

Over the next 24 hours, we will publish the highlight videos and game summaries for all of the girls games from Saturday, including the Westside Patriots' win over the Hepzibah Rebels and Laney's comeback win over Morgan County.  Because all three highlight videos will be ready to share, Tuesday night will likely be "Ladies Night" on the Augusta Basketball Report's website and Twitter account (@AugBball).  So spread the word to all of the area's girls basketball fans!

And the area's boys basketball fans need not worry.  We will also be publishing the videos of the Aquinas and Laney boys games during the next 24-48 hours.  So get ready for a big week.  Final Four Week!

Final Four Week: Laney Preview (Boys and Girls)

#WildcatNation Final Four Week Preview

The Laney Wildcats' boys and girls teams compete Thursday in the state tournament Class AA semifinals at the Macon Centerplex in Macon, Georgia.  The girls team is making its fourth consecutive trip to the tournament's Final Four round, while the boys team is competing in the final weekend for the third straight season.  It is easy to understand why Wildcat Nation is so proud of, and so excited about, Laney basketball.  Enjoy Augusta Basketball Report's Final Four Week preview video (above).  We also provide some interesting, and impressive, facts about one of the greater Augusta, Georgia, area's premiere basketball institutions.

Girls:

Class AA State Tournament Semifinals

Laney Wildcats (29-1) vs Lovett Lions (26-5)

Time: 4 P.M.

Place: Macon Centerplex; Macon, GA

Key Facts

2011-12 record:  29-1; Undefeated in region play.  Region 3-AA Champions

2010-2011 record:  29-2; Lost in State Tournament Semifinals

2009-2010 record:  26-4; Lost in State Tournament Semifinals

Boys:

Class AA State Tournament Semifinals

Laney Wildcats (29-1) vs Jordan Red Jackets (27-3)

Time: 5:30 P.M.

Place: Macon Centerplex; Macon, GA

Key Facts

2011-12 record:  26-4; Undefeated in region play.  Region 3-AA Champions

2010-2011 record:  29-2; Lost in State Tournament Semifinals

2009-2010 record:  29-3; Lost in State Tournament Semifinals

Final Four Week

Tonight we kick off "Final Four Week" by releasing the highlight videos from Saturday's greater Augusta, Georgia, area Elite 8 state tournament round winners:  the Laney girls and boys teams and the  Washington County girls and Westside girls teams.


We are also holding a T Shirt giveaway on our Twitter (@AugBball) and Facebook (Facebook.com/augbball).  The giveaway rules are simple: at approximately 7:30 P.M. on those pages, we will direct supporters of the teams competing in this weekend's Final Four on Facebook and Twitter to comment (Facebook) or "retweet" (Twitter) that they want a shirt, giving their size and their favorite team's name.  We will have the following shirts for the following teams:

Laney boys and girls supporters - #WildcatNation T's
Washington County - #WACOGrayOut
Westside - #WestsideStudentSection

Closer Look: Whitefield's Lorenzo Carter

We will soon publish stories about the greater Augusta, Georgia, area's fine teams who were eliminated before this weekend's Final Four state tournament round, including the Aquinas Fighting Irish and the Westside Patriots.

Aquinas faced a particularly difficult task in its Elite Eight loss to Class A's #2 ranked Whitefield Academy.  In addition to future University of Georgia Bulldog Kenny Gaines, Whitefield features 6'7" sophomore forward Lorenzo Carter.  Carter, the subject of this edition of "Closer Look" was first brought to our attention by "On the Radar Hoops" director Shun Williams.  Williams is one of the most informative basketball people around, and his website (ontheradarhoops.com), his Facebook page, and his Twitter account (@OntheRadarHoops) are all worthy of being bookmarked by basketball players and fans.

Georgia is loaded with impressive sophomores and the Augusta area is the home base for one of the country's premiere 16 and under (consisting of players from the class of 2014) AAU spring and summer basketball teams, the Georgia Stampede.  Michael Scott, Ahmed Hill, and Jakeenan Grant, all of whom have been featured in Augusta Basketball Report highlights and stories all play for the Stampede, which is coached by Augusta basketball veterans Michael Stokes and Matt Scott.

The Augusta Basketball Report and On the Radar Hoops are planning a more in depth look at the impressive class of 2014, including some of these greater Augusta, Georgia, area players.  The video above features Whitefield's Lorenzo Carter, whose Wolfpack will face Athens Christian Saturday at 12:45 in the Class A state tournament championship game.