Milton has undoubtedly the most dominant girls lacrosse program in the state of Georgia. For context, the three-time defending champion Lady Eagles have won state titles 13 times over the past 15 seasons. The program’s recent streak of three-straight championships offered a special opportunity for the team’s Class of 2020 seniors to close out their varsity careers with a four-year sweep of state titles. After just four games into the season, however, the undefeated Eagles were denied the opportunity as COVID-19 forced a statewide cancellation of the season.
WSB reporter Alison Mastrangelo, caught up with two of the team’s seniors this week to talk about the disappointment of not being able to compete for another championship.
“It was kind of disbelief, I think on the bus over we were all kind of like ‘oh my gosh this could be our last game together’,” said senior Julia Gibson. “I don’t have any other words but heartbroken,” added senior Sydney Ballew. “I mean; it was completely shattering.”
Ballew is going on to play at the University of Cincinnati next year, but for Gibson, 2020 marks the end of her lacrosse career.
“I’m not playing in college,” Gibson told Mastrangelo. “So that is what made that last game especially hard for me. Knowing that I had been playing since the fourth grade and that was my last game ever and I will never play again.”
Milton was the top ranked team in the state when the season ended in March and had outscored its four opponents (Alpharetta, Lakeside, Walton, Centennial) by an average of 12.8 goals per game.
SHOT CLOCK SHOT DOWN
Earlier this week, the National Federation of High Schools voted against the nationwide implementation of a shot clock for the 2020-21 basketball season. Currently, Georgia is one of the 41 states that does not have a shot clock. In recent years, conversations about the state adding a shot clock have surfaced with many head coaches advocating for it.
The Marietta Daily Journal caught up with area coaches to get their reaction to the NFHS’s vote. McEachern boys head coach Mike Thompson spoke with the MDJ about how a shot clock at the high school level would help prepare players for college where a 35-second shot clock exists.
He also added, “A shot clock won’t affect much because the kids play at a fast pace anyway. When we coach for no shot clock and play slow, the kids don’t enjoy it, and it’s not entertaining.”
Marietta boys head coach Markus Hood also stated that a shot clock could benefit in preparing kids for the next level.
“The game trickles down from professional to college to here, and (a shot clock) prepares kids for the next level.” Hood said. “It makes the game more exciting and, more importantly, it improves player IQ.”
Ultimately, the NFHS made its decision based on the cost that would be needed in order to have a nationwide shot clock implemented—pointing to the fact that each school would need both the technology and the clock operator. Still, there are still conversations being had that suggest scenarios where Georgia High School Basketball could play more games with a shot clock in the near future as coach Hood pointed out with his idea of playing a couple shot clock-approved tournaments during the season.
“The conversation among the committee members explored the pros and cons of enacting the proposal as a rule for all states and likewise for state adoption,” said NFHS official Theresia Wynns said in a release. “The committee will continue to explore the shot clock issue.”
BULLDOG BOUND
Class of 2022 cornerback Marquis Groves-Killebrew announced his commitment to the University of Georgia on Wednesday. The highly-touted cornerback is a four-star prospect that is currently ranked as the No. 64 player in the nation for the Class of 2022 and the No. 8 overall prospect in the state.
Killebrew played for the Grayson Rams this past season, but recently enrolled at Brookwood High School where he plans to play his junior season. Georgia is one of the 33 offers that have already been extended to Killebrew.
DORRIAN’S DEBUT
Eastside hired first-time head coach Dorrian Randolph to lead its boys basketball program on Wednesday. Randolph had been working in the area for the past several years and jumped on the opportunity after serving on cross-town rival Salem’s staff this past season.
“Last year I coached at Salem in the same region as Eastside, so I had a personal, first-hand account of Eastside and the program and the great things they were doing, some of the athletes they have,” Randolph told the Rockdale Newton Citizen. “Once the job came open, it was a no-brainer to apply there.”
Randolph was a dual sport athlete in Florida and eventually earned an opportunity to play college football at Alabama State. He spoke with the Rockdale Newton Citizen about how his football background influences his coaching style.
“I’m a defensive guy,” Randolph said. “Offense is what the game was made on, being able to put the ball in the basket, but it requires more effort on the defensive end. You play hard-nosed defense, aggressive, in your face. I like man-to-man defense. … Offensively, I believe in spacing the floor. I plan to play fast. But I’ve got to get in there, see what we have.”
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