Each week, A.B. is highlighting his top performer of the week during the Thursday Night Huddle!
We will recognize an outstanding athlete for their performance. These athletes showed remarkable skill and dedication, pushing themselves to their limits and achieving great success. Their efforts inspired the entire team and provided an example for aspiring young athletes to follow. We are proud to honor these local athletes with AB’s performance of the week award.
A.B.’s Top Performer of the Week is brought to you by Culpepper Ace.
Week of September 18, 2023: Jevon Edwards
Jevon Edwards – Junior Running Back – South Aiken High School
Edwards missed the first few games of the season, due to injury, and his Thoroughbreds struggled to an 0-5 mark, but the talented back was finally at full strength last Friday and had quite a performance. He carried the ball 35 times for 206 yards and 3 TDs as South Aiken picked up its first win of the year 41-30 over #6 Clinton. He is already over 3,000 career yards despite being an underclassman after bursting onto the scene in 2021 with 1,071 yards and 11 TDs on just 135 carries. His numbers soared last season, as he carried the ball 214 times for 1,702 yards and 23 TDs. He is already has 3 D-I Offers including East Carolina and Old Dominion and that number should rise this summer.
Week of September 11, 2023: Amare Clark - Football
Amare Clark – Senior Quarterback -Grovetown High School
Clark was sensational on Friday Night, accounting for 7 Total Touchdowns as Grovetown knocked of Jefferson Co. 63-43. He threw for 182 yards and 5 touchdown and rushed for 108 yards and 2 more scores. As if that wasn’t enough, he also intercepted a pass on defense. The 63 points is a school record for Grovetown helped the Warriors improve to 2-2 on the season. The open Region play this Friday as they host arch-rival Evans.
Week of September 4, 2023: Corey Tillman - Football
Corey Tillman – Quarterback – North Augusta High School
Last week North Augusta QB Corey Tillman turned in a fabulous performance for the Yellow Jackets. He went 12 of 13 passing for 155 yards and rushed for 149 yards and another TD as North Augusta surprised #7 Greenwood 49-40. The 5’10’ Junior Dual-threat QB has been consistently good in each game this season & North Augusta sitting at 3-1 on the season
Week of August 28, 2023: Jack Rhodes - Football
Jack Rhodes – Sophomore Wide Receiver – Aquinas High School
Jack Rhodes turned in quite a game on Friday Night. He caught 11 passes for 198 yards and 3 TDs as Aquinas picked up a big win over a solid Savannah Country Day Squad. Not bad, considering Wide Receiver is Rhodes’s 2nd Position. The talented Sophomore also plays QB and last year showed his metal as a freshman when Starting QB Jim Franklin was injured. He was called on as a freshman to lead a possible playoff team. Well, he did not disappoint. Rhodes was 118 of 168 passing (70.2%) for 1,273 yards and 9 TDs in just 5 games as the starter.
With Aquinas graduating All-Area WR Kevin Douglas, Rhodes has been called on to play receiver and he has become Jim Franklin’s go-to target. Again, Rhodes is only a Sophomore and has a big future…no matter what position he plays.
Week of August 21, 2023: Jayden Eason - Football
Jayden Eason – Defensive Lineman – Silver Bluff High School
Eason on a Recruiting Trip to Charleston Southern .
Last Week’s winner, Traevon Dunbar, turned in an even bigger performance this week with over 300 yards rushing and 2 Touchdowns as he led Midland Valley to a huge win over Strom Thurmond. He could have easily been a back-to-back winner. However, Silver Bluff Senior Defensive Tackle Jayden Eason edged him out with a game for the ages. Last season, as a Junior at North Augusta, Eason had a solid season. He was an All-Area Performer as he tallied 66 tackles, 8 Tackles for loss and 4 QB Sacks.
Well, his numbers from Friday Night’s blowout win over Socastee HS (Myrtle Beach) were so good, for most players would consider it a solid SEASON. Socastee beat Silver Bluff last year 21-0, but this time around the Bulldogs were dominant, as they posted a 46-0 victory. For the game, Eason had 14 Tackles, 10 Tackles for Loss and 2 QB Sacks. That is not a misprint…10 TACKLES FOR LOSS…IN ONE GAME. The 6’0” 280 lb beast is getting looks from several small schools and if he continues to post these type numbers that list will certainly grow.
Week of August 14, 2023: Traevon Dunbar - Football
Traevon Dunbar – Senior RB Midland Valley High School
Traevon started his Senior Season off with a bang last Friday Night. He rambled for 267 yards on 26 carries and scored a pair of 2nd half Touchdowns that broke a 21-21 tie and carried Midland Valley to a 35-21 Victory.
Dunbar rushed for 863 yards and 16 Touchdowns in just 6 games (Due to Covid) his freshman season. Then, he exploded for 1,908 yards and 28 TDs on just 212 carries as a Sophomore. Last season he was limited to 5 games due to a torn ACL, but still managed 587 yards and 6 TDs on just 56 rush attempts. That gave him over 3,300 yards and 50 Touchdowns on the ground in just 23 Varsity Games entering this season.
The 5’10” 190 lb. Standout is a 3-Star Recruit according to 24/7 Recruiting and is ranked as the #10 player in South Carolina. He currently has more than a dozen Division I offers, including Penn St., Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan State, and Boston College.
Week of July 31, 2023: Tyler Wallace - Football
Tyler Wallace – Junior- Evans High School Football
Photo Courtesy of CM Photography
When it comes to football, in most cases, the Skill Position Players get all of the attention. Well, the tide may be turning slightly because the CSRA has boasted several quality Special Teams Players in recent years. One such player that deserves some recognition is Evans Junior Kicker Tyler Wallace.
Wallace took over the starting kicking and punting duties from Evans last season. And, while he is definitely a solid punter, his kicking ability is arguably the best in the State. Last season he was 22 of 24 on PATs and 3 of 5 on Field Goals for the Knights. He has been even batter on the Summer Camp Circuit. He recently attended the prestigious Kohl’s Professional Football Kicking Camp and came away as one of the most highly ranked kickers in the United States. He was dubbed a 5-Star Kicker and Ranked #6 in the Nation and #2 in the State at his Position. The good news kept coming for Wallace as his also recently garnered his 1st Division I Offer from North Alabama.
Week of July 24, 2023: Drew Stevens - Football
Drew Stevens – North Augusta / Iowa Football
Former North Augusta Standout Drew Stevens received some huge news this week. Stevens is a rising Sophomore at Iowa and has emerged as one of the top kickers in America. As a freshman he set an Iowa School Record with 16 made field goals on 18 attempts. He was also a perfect 24 of 24 on PATs and boomed 31 of 55 kickoffs for touchbacks. His impressive season certainly turned some heads as he was named to the Lou Groza Award Watchlist this week. The Lou Groza Award is given annually to the Nation’s Top Kicker and is announced live on ESPN in December during the College Football Awards Show. Good Luck to Drew this season with the Hawkeyes.
Week of July 17, 2023: Terrance Smith - Football
Terrance Smith – Quarterback – South Aiken High School
Terrence Smith had a solid Sophomore season in 2021 and certainly turned some heads with his speed, but 2022 he absolutely burst on the scene. The dynamic athlete from South Aiken was putting up video game numbers week after week. He finished the season with an astounding 2,083 yards and 28 TDs Rushing on just 173 carries. That’s an eye-popping 12 yards per carry (also 189 yards per game). Lexington found out about Smith’s game-breaking speed early in the season, when Smith carved them up for 416 yards and 6 TDs on 27 carries in a wild 63-56 loss.
He also went 72/117 passing for 921 yards and 5 TDs with only 1 interception. Couple his incredible season with a Summer filled with sub 4.4 Forty Yard Dashes at various camps and events around the country, and colleges started to clamor for Smith’s services. Last week he selected The University of Connecticut from over a dozen offers. The selection shows that he is not just fast, but very smart as well. You see, Upon is coached by Jim Mora Jr., a former NFL Head Coach with the Falcons and Seahawks. He also produced 30 NFL Draft Picks in his 10 years as Head Coach at UCLA (the most in the Pac12 during that time). So, for a kid whose ultimate goal is to play in the NFL, choosing UConn makes perfect sense.
It should be a lot of fun watching Terrence Smith and The Thoroughbreds this season.
Week of July 10, 2023: Luca Perriello - Baseball
Luca Perriello – Baseball – Augusta Christian
Luca Perriello is a name that has been talked about since his Middle School Days. His natural ability and talent level was way beyond his years. Some players that blossom early fizzle out, and never achieve many of the future success that is predicted for them. Well, with Perriello this does not appear to be the case. He has continued to standout at every level. He was a key reason Augusta Christian was able to capture a State Championship this season. He was sensational defensively behind the plate and had a breakout year as a hitter. He has been a long-time Virginia Tech Commit and has also had a big summer. He was outstanding at a Perfect Game Event in Texas in June, homering twice while arguably being the top defensive catcher at the entire event. This week Perriello was invited to the prestigious Future Stars Main Event in September. This event features a who’s who of the top baseball prospects in America, so Perriello will have a chance to showcase his talent for Big League Scouts.
Congrats, Luca!
Week of June 26, 2023: Chase Dollander - Baseball
Chase Dollander – Greenbrier / Tennessee
This week Chase Dollander’s Boyhood Dream became a reality. The 6’2” Righthander was selected in the 1st Round of the Major League Baseball Draft. The Colorado Rockies nabbed Dollander with the 9th Overall Pick, making him one of the highest draft picks in CSRA History. Dollander lost his Senior Season of High School Ball at Greenbrier due to Covid, but was still able to earn a Division I Scholarship to Georgia Southern. After a solid Freshman year in Statesboro, Dollander transferred to Tennessee where he quickly emerged as one of the premier pitchers in the country. As a Sophomore he started 14 games for the Vols, going 10-0 with 108 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 79 Innings of work. He also posted a 2.39 ERA on his way to being named The Sec Pitcher of the Year and a 1st Team All-American. This season, Dollander went 7-6 with an era of 4.75 with 120 strikeouts and 30 walks in 89 innings of work. However, pro scouts were not scared away. They were still enamored with his 98 MPH Fastball and professional build.
Congrats to Chase Dollander!
Week of June 26, 2023: DJ Shine - Augusta Christian Basketball
DJ Shine – Basketball – Augusta Christian
D.J. Shine has been enjoying a tremendous Summer thus far. He has picked up a trio of scholarship offers and his stellar play has also garnered him attention from several well respected Basketball Recruiting Services. Shine, a 6’1” Guard, helped guide Augusta Christian to Back-To-Back SCISA State Titles the last two seasons. This season, as a Junior, he was simply incredible. He averaged 23.7 points per contest to lead the CSRA. He also pulled down 4.5 rebounds and dished out 2.9 assists per contest. He has helped the Lions post a record of 51-10 over the last two campaigns. Mercer, Western Carolina and Queens university have all recently offered the crafty scoring machine, and there should be plenty more offers to come, as Shine was recently ranked as a Top 150 Player in the Nation by Hoop Seen and Rivals. He plays Travel Ball for The Upward Stars and is currently in Rock Hill, South Carolina for the Adidas 3SSB Championships.
Shine’s biggest news however, is bittersweet. He has decided to Transfer to Brewster Academy for his final Prep Season. Brewster is an exclusive Boarding School in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire that has produced dozens of Division I College Players and a handful of players who have made it to the NBA. While Shine will be sorely missed, the move makes sense for someone in his position. He will definitely be seen by more college scouts in his new setting.
Week of June 19-25, 2023: Spencer Schwellenbach - Augusta GreenJackets
Spencer Schwellenbach – Augusta GreenJackets
Photo courtesy of the Augusta GreenJackets
Schwellenbach is a Righthanded Pitcher in the Atlanta Braves Farm System and he is enjoying a terrific season. The former Nebraska Star was recently selected to participate in The Sirius XM Futures Game, MLB All-Star Weekend in Seattle. He was the lone Braves Farmhand selected to participate in this prestigious event. While at Nebraska he was the John Olerud 2-Way National Player of the Year after going 3-1 on the mound with 10 Saves and a sizzling 0.57 ERA. He also hit .284 with 6 Homers and 40 RBI.
This season he is 3-2 with an ERA of 2.76 and a WHIP of 1.16.
Week of June 12-18, 2023: Nick Sandlin - Cleveland Guardians
Nick Sandlin – Baseball – Cleveland Guardians (MLB)
GOODYEAR, ARIZONA – MARCH 22: Nick Sandlin #52 of the Cleveland Guardians poses during Photo Day at Goodyear Ballpark on March 22, 2022 in Goodyear, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
Usually we select High School Performers for this weekly award, but former Greenbrier Star Nick Sandlin has been on quite the tear and his play warranted some recognition. The 5’10” Righthander continues to be a reliable bullpen option for Cleveland. He went from not even being in Greenbrier’s Rotation as a Junior to putting together one of the finest two year runs of any Pitcher in CSRA History. From there he went to Southern Miss and became one of the Top Pitchers in all on College Baseball. He went 20-2 over his final two seasons and as a Junior He was 10-0, he led the Nation with an incredible 1.06 ERA and was 2nd in the Nation with 144 Strikeouts in 102.1 Innings of work with only 18 Walks.
He was a 2nd Round Pick by the, then, Cleveland Indians and quickly worked his way through their Farm System and, in 2021, became a key member of the Big League Club’s Bullpen.
This season started a little slow for Sandlin, but he was lights out in the month of May, making 8 appearances, allowing just 1 hit and not a single run for the entire month. He also struck out 8 batters in 8.2 innings while walking just 2. He has only allowed 2 Earned Runs in his last 15 appearances (since May 8th).
Last week he had two relief appearances and allowed just two hits, did not allow a run, while striking out 4 of the 9 batters he faced.
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JUNE 12: Nick Sandlin #52 of the Cleveland Indians eyes a batter at first base in the third inning during their game against the Seattle Mariners at Progressive Field on June 12, 2021 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Week of June 5-11, 2023: Luca Periello - Augusta Christian School Baseball
Luca Periello – Catcher – Augusta Christian Baseball
Photo Courtesy of Augusta Christian Schools
Fresh off helping Augusta Christian win a Baseball State Championship, Star Catcher, Luca Periello has continue to turn heads this Spring. Recently at the National Select Perfect Game Championships on Texas Periello hit a Pair of Long 3-Run Homers, while showcasing versatility to play Catcher and almost any other Position Neccassry in the Field. The Virginia Tech Commit also reach 91 MPH while Pitching. Periello is undoubtedly one of the Top Prospects in Georgia for the 2024 Class. His solid play has not gone unnoticed. He has been invited to participate in The New Balance Future Stars Series National Combine July 3-5 in Nashville, Tennessee. There, Periello will have the opportunity to test himself versus the best players in the Nation, in front of College and Pro Scouts from across the Country.
Week of May 22-28, 2023: Jeb Bradford - Augusta Christian School Baseball
Jeb Bradford – Pitcher – Augusta Christian Baseball
Photo Courtesy of Augusta Christian Schools
Hard-Throwing Lefty Jeb Bradford capped off his stellar prep career on the Diamond by leading Augusta Christian to the SCISA State Title last week. Bradford, who is Signed to play D-I Baseball at The College of Charleston, was terrific all year, but he may have saved his best stuff for the Rest of Three Championship Series.
Facing Perrenial Power Hammond, Bradford took the mound for Game One and was absolutely dominant. He pitched a complete game and struck out 15 batters as Augusta Christian pulled away late to win 9-3. After losing Game Two 5-3, a decisive 3rd Game was set. However, due to in climate weather causing multiple postponements the Final Game was delayed for several days. While Augusta Christian has several solid pitchers, it certainly did not upset anyone Lions Fan that the delays allowed Bradford to get the call in Game Three.
After giving up 3 Runs in the First Inning, Bradford settled in and not allow another hit in his final 4.2 innings of work before he had to pe pulled after reaching his Pitch Limit. He struck out another 11 batters. That gave him a 2-0 mark with 26 Strikeouts in 12.2 Innings of work. And, more importantly, it gave Augusta Christian a State Title.
Week of May 15-21, 2023: Jimmie Lewis - Harlem Head Baseball Coach
Jimmie Lewis – Harlem Head Baseball Coach
Jimmie Lewis Far Right (Photo Courtesy of Rodney Holder)
Jimmie Lewis took over as the Head Baseball Coach at Harlem prior to the 1979 Season. Tommy Price had already built the Bulldogs into a State Baseball Power, leading them to State titles in 1974 and 1978. So, when Lewis’s first season at the helm started 0-6, there were likely a few folks wondering if Harlem had picked the right man for the Job. Well, Coach Lewis has spent the last 44 years eliminating any doubt that The Bulldogs were in Good Hands. They turned thing around in 1979 to Capture the State Championship. They followed that up with titles in 1981, 82, 83 and 86. He has now compiled 860 career victories, which is good for 3rd Place in Georgia High School History.
The final two of those 860 wins came last Friday in Rome Georgia in the Class AAA State Championship Series, as Harlem swept a solid Ringgold Team 5-3 and 2-1 to clinch the Title and put the finishing touches on an incredible season. Lewis’s Crew finished the campaign 35-1 and outscored their opponents 309-54. Congrats Coach Lewis on a remarkable season.
Harlem’s Top Performers This Season:
- Trystan McCladdie (Sr. SS / Clemson Signee): Hit .485 with 3 HR, 6 Doubles, 5 Triples, 27 Walks, and 33 Stolen Bases. He was also 5-0 on the mound.
- Will Holder (Sophomore Pitcher/1B): Went 11-0 with a sizzling 0.75 ERA and 85 Strikeouts versus just 9 Walks in 65 innings. He also led the team with 32 RBI, hit .386, and had 9 Doubles
- Tyler Simmons (Jr. OF / USC-Aiken Commit): Hit .323 with 3 HR, 6 Doubles, 5 Triples, 30 RBI, and 17 Stolen Bases
- Caiden Coile (Jr. Pitcher): Went 11-0 with an ERA of 1.33 along with 53 K’s and 11 Walks in 58 innings of work
- Emery Burnett (Sr. 3B): Hit .340 with 7 Doubles, 31 RBIs and 20 Stolen Bases
- Jeremiah Hamilton (Jr. Utility): Hit .366 with 7 Doubles, 3 Triples and 16 Stolen Bases
- Shane Wheeless (Jr. OF): Hit .319 with 5 Doubles and a Homer. Also, had a huge clutch 2 run single in Game One of the Championship Series.
- Emerson Guy (Jr. Pitcher/1B): Went 3-0 on the mound with 4 Saves and a 2.62 ERA – Also hit .370 with 20 RBI
Harlem also recently garnered recognition as the #33 Ranked Team in the National by The National High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Week of May 8-14, 2023: North Augusta Boys Golf
North Augusta Boys Golf – Class AAAA South Carolina State Champions
The North Augusta Boys Golf Team had One Goal for the 2023 Golf Season…Win a State Title. The lofty goal was warranted after the Yellow Jackets finished as State Runners-up in 2022 and the 2023 Championships would be held on their home course, The River Golf Club. Well, Travis Spears’s squad accomplished the goal this week by absolutely crushing the field in the Class AAAA Championships. Over the Two Day Event, North Augusta finished -15 Under Par as a team to cruise to an astonishing 22-shot win over A.C. Flora, who finished +7 Over. To put their dominant performance in more context, North Augusta’s Arch Rivals from South Aiken finished in 5th place, but they were a staggering 53 shots behind The Yellow Jackets over the 2 Rounds. The cherry on top for North Augusta was the fact that Davis Neal was also able to capture Individual Medalist Honors by defeating Greenville’s Tip Price on the first playoff hole. Neal, who opened with a -2 Under 69, shot a sizzling -6 Under 65 in the final round to force the playoff at -8 Under Par. Luke Johnson of North Augusta finished in 3rd place at -5 under par and Matthew Baxley was -1 under and finished 7th. The Jackets had a solid team one thru five throughout the year. Other Team Members included Jackson Beggs and Andrew Baxley.
Congrats to Coach Travis Spears and The Yellow Jackets!
Week of May 1-7, 2023: Greenbrier Baseball
David Barnes – Head Coach – Greenbrier Baseball
David Barnes, Greenbrier High School Baseball Coach. Photo Courtesy of Greenbrier High School
For the first time since we started honoring a Performer of the Week, we have selected a Coach. This choice was definitely warranted. While Greenbrier has been a Baseball Powerhouse from the minute the school opened it’s doors in 1996-97, there were plenty of doubters for the 2023 squad this pre-season. To be fair, Greenbrier had to overcome several major obstacles. They have been ravaged by players defecting to other schools (including 3 D-I Signees/Commits), they really did not have any superstars, and they also lacked any Aces on their Pitching Staff.
Well, a Star has emerged…Jamie Daly could be The CSRA’s Player of the Year. There may be no Aces on the Pitching Staff, but they are deep and super gutsy bunch. And the entire team has played with a next man up Vibe. They may have lost a few talented players, but the players that remain play the game with a passion and grit that has made their fans fall in love with this bunch. In my opinion, David Barnes deserves a ton of credit for how this bunch has played. He did not complain about losing some talented players, he did not listen to the doubters in the pre-season, instead he went to work…and his team has truly embodied that same mentality.
On Monday, they knocked off Cartersville 5-3 in Game Three of their Best-of-Three Quarterfinal Series to clinch a spot in the Class AAAAA Final Four. Getting past Cartersville was huge…the Purple Hurricanes came into the series 31-2 and were one of the favorites to win the state title. Instead Greenbrier rallied after dropping game one of the series to survive and advance. The Pack will be on the road in the State Semifinals on Saturday (Doubleheader Saturday and an “if-Game” Monday).
If, somehow, the Pack can continue to post wins, David Barnes could join his father, Gerald (Westside HS), as a State Championship Winning Coach. And, the Barnes Duo would join Tery and Rodney Holder as Father/Son State Championship Coaches. Tery Holder won 8 State Crowns (5 at Evans and 3 at Greenbrier) and Rodney won a Title at Greenbrier as well in 2007.
Week of April 24-30, 2023: Aquinas Girls Soccer
Aquinas Girls Soccer
Photo Courtesy of WJBF (From left to right: #18 Alex Lochlein, #17 Landry Minton, #5 Liz Elliott, #15 Wynne Brigham, #13 Abbie Theobald, #9 Landry Washington, #11 Emma Kate Noegel)
A year ago, the Aquinas Girls Soccer Team finished the season without a single victory, finishing 0-10. The term “What a Difference a Year Makes” is a massive understatement for the 2023 Lady Irish. Head Coach Sean Brandes’s Squad knocked off Towns Co. 5-2 to finish undefeated and capture the 2023 Class A-II State Championship. The Team posted a 14-0 mark and outscored their opponents 91-8, including an incredible 31-2 point differential in the playoffs. Senior Caroline Jackson led the way with a Hat Trick in the Title Game. Jackson also led the team in scoring on the season with 50 points (21 Goals and 8 assists). Captains Landry Washington (Jr.) and Landry Minton (Sr.) were also key contributors. Washington scored 42 points (15 Goals and 12 assists) and Minton produced 37 points (17 Goals and 3 assists).
Week of April 17-23, 2023: Tyler Simmons
Tyler Simmons – Junior at Harlem High School – Baseball
Picture courtesy of Complete Game
Simmons is a Junior Standout for Jimmie Lewis’s Harlem Bulldogs and he had himself quite an opening round series in the GHSA State Playoffs. Harlem was able to sweep Long Co. 10-4 and 11-1 to advance to the 2nd Round. For the series Simmons went 4 for 6 at the plate with a Home Run, Two Triples, 7 RBIs and walked 3 times, reaching base 7 of 9 trips to the plate. In Game Two alone he went 3 for 3 with a pair of triples and 5 RBI to pace the Bulldogs in their 11-1 series clinching win. The Bulldogs (27-1)advance to play Thomasville (25-8) in the Round of 16. Simmons, although only a Junior, has committed to play at USC-Aiken following his prep career.
Week of April 10-16, 2023: Greenbrier Girl's Soccer
Greenbrier Girl’s Soccer
Greenbrier Sophomore Natalie Heckathorn leads the way for the Unbeaten Lady Pack Squad / Photo Courtesy of Brian Wintrode Photography
The Lady Pack Soccer Team is coming off a great week. They picked up wins in the First Two Rounds of the GHSA Class AAAAA State Tournament. In Round One they crushed Locust Grove 10-0 and in Round Two they topped Decatur 3-1. The wins should come as no surprise as Greenbrier has been dominant all season. They are currently 17-0 and have outscored their opponents by an astonishing 131-3 (I double and triple confirmed this crazy stat). Coaches Calls Dickerson and Wes Kendrick now must prepare the young ladies for an Elite 8 Clash with Northview…winners of 6 Matches in a row, including a 2-1 nail biter over Dalton on Monday.
Greenbrier is lead by Sophomore Natalie Heckathorn who is among the State’s Top Goal Scorers having gotten 34 shots past the goalie this season. She also has 9 assists and tops the team with 77 total points. Senior Ella Cell (18 Goals & 10 Assists), Senior Anna Shae Holmes (16 Goals & 8 Assists), and Sophomore Maddie Glover (10 Goals and 12 Assists) join Heckathorn in providing the Offensive Firepower for The Lady Pack. Also, Goalkeeper Olivia Burden has been sensational, allowing just two goals all season.
Good Luck to Greenbrier in their Clash with Northview on Monday and Congrats on earning “The Culpepper Ace Hardware Performer of the Week” Award.
Week of April 3-9, 2023: Harlem Head Coach Jimmie Lewis
Performer of the Week: Coach Jimmie Lewis, Harlem Bulldogs Baseball
Photo courtesy of WJBF
Harlem is enjoying an amazing baseball season and deserve some publicity. I was considering a couple of their players for our Culpepper Ace Hardware Performer of the Week, but the more I dug into the story, the more I realized it was impossible to pick just one player. Don’t get me wrong Harlem does have a bonafide Star in Shortstop Tryston McCladdie. He is one of the top players in the state and has already committed to play at Clemson. His father, Tony, was an All-Time Great at Evans and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 1996.
However, at Harlem it is hard for any player to outshine Jimmie Lewis, who is one of the greatest coaches in the history of Georgia High School Baseball. Lewis is a Harlem-Lifer…he graduated from Harlem and came back to coach in the Mid-70’s and finally took over the baseball program in 1979. He led that first team to a State Title and has been piling up wins ever since. Last year he topped 800 career wins and he does not appear to be slowing down any time soon.
Over the last week, Harlem has posted a trio of wins. First, they stopped perennial powerhouse, and rival, Greenbrier 7-6. It was Harlem’s third 1-run win over the Wolfpack on the season. Next they topped Thomson 11-1, and followed that up by crushing Salem 16-0.
For the season Harlem is 22-0 overall and 7-0 in Region 4-AAA. Harlem has not just been winning games, they have been dominating, having outscored their opponents this season 211-25. That is not a misprint…211-25! Congratulations to the Bulldogs on this well deserved honor and Good Luck the rest of the season.
Week of March 13-March 19, 2023: Jameson Daly
Jameson “Jamie” Daly – Junior at Greenbrier High School – Baseball
Photo courtesy of Greenbrier High School
Jamie Daly is off to a sensational start to the 2023 Baseball Season. The 6’1”, 180 lb. Junior has helped lead Greenbrier to a 14-2 Record and The Pack have outscored the opposition 133-32. Last Week, Greenbrier opened Region Play with a 3-Game Sweep of Coffee and Daly led the way. He finished the series hitting .500, scored 4 runs, drove 3 in 4 runs and swiped 2 bases. In Game Two of the series, Greenbrier was down 7-6 late in the contest before Daly came through with a 2-Run single to give Greenbrier the victory.
For the season, Daly is hitting .478 with 5 doubles, 2 tries, 2 HR and 18 RBI. Despite missing last summer with an injury, he is still getting looks from Division II Colleges. And thanks to his blazing start, the D-I Programs will not be far behind.
Week of March 6-March 12, 2023: Amauri Tillman
Amauri Tillman – Senior Guard at Westside High School – Basketball
Photo courtesy of Amauri Tillman
Our Performer of the Week was an easy call this week. Amauri Tillman of Westside turned in a performance for the ages and he did it on the biggest stage. With Westside facing off against a very talented Providence Christian Squad for the Class AA State Title, they needed their senior leaders to step up and boy, did Tillman step up. The 6’1” Guard poured in a career high 36 points to help Westside rally from a 50-39 deficit in the 2nd half to prevail in overtime 89-81. The victory gave Westside their 2nd Consecutive State Championship.
For his efforts, Tillman was honored by Georgia Public Broadcasting as the Most Outstanding Player of Championship Week for the entire State. To make it even more impressive, Tillman came into the game averaging just 12.7 points per contest.
Here is a look at some key career numbers:
Points Per Game
Soph. – 13.6
Jr. – 15.0
Sr. – 12.7He also helped lead Westside to a mark of 53-10 over the last 2 Seasons with a pair of State Titles.
Week of February 27-March 5, 2023: Khalon Hudson
Khalon Hudson – Senior at Westside High School – Basketball
Photo Courtesy of Khalon Hudson
Khalon had quite a week for the Patriots. First, he had 19 points and 7 boards in Westside’s Elite 8 blowout victory over South Atlanta. He followed that up with a dominant performance in the State Final 4. His Top Ranked Patriots got past #2 Columbia 55-52 as Khalon scored 14 points and grabbed an astonishing 25 rebounds. For the season he is averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds per game and has helped Westside post a 24-7 record. For his career he has scored over 1,500 points and over the last two seasons he has guided Westside to a 52-10 record. Today (Thursday 3/9) the Patriots face Providence Christian at the Macon Coliseum in the Class AA State Title Game and they try and become Back-To-Back Champions.
