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Johnsonville having great season in boys hoops

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Johnsonville – For Johnsonville coach Harris Avant, the 2011-12 basketball season has been one to remember. And the coach hopes the memories include a region title and an extended playoff run.

Johnsonville is having one of its best seasons ever in boys basketball, heading into the final three games of the regular season with a chance to win the region 8-A title. That’s a pretty big deal considering region eight is home to a pair of the top class A programs in the state – Hemingway and Carver’s Bay.

Heading into a January 31 game against Creek Bridge, the Flashes were 7-2 in region play and 14-5 overall. Carver’s Bay was 6-2 and Hemingway was 6-3. Johnsonville has split with Hemingway, lost to Carver’s Bay, and plays Carver’s Bay on February 3rd.

“We’re in the hunt and its certainly nice to be able to say that around here,” says Avant, who is in his 15th season at the school. “We’re in better shape in terms of having a chance to win this region than we’ve been in a long time. Our players have done a great job and they have had a great season. I hope we can finish it off right.”

Johnsonville’s biggest win of the season was the win over their arch-rivals, Hemingway. It was Johnsonville’s first win over Hemingway in nearly 20 seasons and Avant’s first win against the perennial state powerhouses.

“Obviously that was a huge win for our program and it gave our kids a lot of confidence that we could compete with the best teams in the state,” said Avant.

Avant says this year’s team is a continuation of the success of last year when Johnsonville won 13 games. He feels this year’s team is stronger and faster but the biggest difference may be its toughness.

“I would have to say that I think our best asset is our toughness,” said the coach. “Nine of our 11 players were on the football team and they have a tough, hard-nosed mentality about them. They play hard and they are a scrappy bunch.

“I think our speed and quickness is a big asset as well. Every player on this team can run and move and do a lot of athletic things. We have better depth than we’ve ever had and better ball-handling. The thing I like about this team is that all 11 guys can contribute in some way and we play them all.”

Leading the team is fourth-year starting point guard Erion Black, who averages 15.2 points per game while anchoring the team on the defensive end of the floor as well.

Junior Corday Wilson is the starting two guard and a third-year varsity player while senior Chris Hicks is also a third-year varsity player.

Rounding out the starting five are senior Aaron Mack and sophomore Arkelious Williams.

Seeing time off the bench are seniors Savon Edwards and Antron Davis, juniors Shawn Lawrence, Tately Anderson and Robert Black, and sophomore Tushai Edwards.

 

 

stakes.
    "We don't have to say much about it in terms of getting our kids fired up to play," said the coach. "We do have to maintain focus and really concentrate on executing and playing well. We have to treat it like the next game on the schedule."
    Lineberger says Hemingway presents many challenges for his team.
    "They're really good and they probably have the best athletes in the region," he said. "They have tremendous quickness and speed on both sides of the ball. They always seem to have speed but this might be the fastest team they've ever had."
    The Flashes are coming off a bye week, which they needed badly as several players were nursing injuries and fighting the flu in recent weeks.
    Johnsonville hopes to control the football offensively with a balanced running attack. Kendrick Williams has rushed for 875 yards and seven touchdowns while Jazz Burgess has gained 559 yards and scored five times.
    Anchoring the offensive line are Matt Kelly, Brandon Carter and Tyler Watts.
    Defensively, the senior leader is linebacker Adam Baxley, who leads the team with 55 tackles and five sacks. Jess Rhames also has five sacks. James Allen Howell has three interceptions, while Williams and Wes McCutcheon each have two picks this season.

 

Flashes seek to rebound from tough loss

By David Shelton
Consulting Managing Editor
    Johnsonville - A bruised, battered and ill Johnsonville High football team faces a crucial region contest this week as they battle Green Sea-Floyds.
    The Flashes are trying to bounce back from last week's 28-26 loss to Lake View that would have put the Flashes in first-place all alone. Johnsonville head coach Lewis Lineberger says his team must dig deep to get through this week.
    "We're battling the sickness pretty bad right now and we're doing the best we can do," said Lineberger from his home on Tuesday as he attempted to get well himself. "We have to keep going and bounce back. We have to dig deep and find a way to compete on Friday night. It's probably the most important game of the year.
    "Green Sea-Floyds is the type team that gives people trouble. They have speed and they run the wing-t and we have a lot to prepare for."
    Lineberger says his team must also get ready mentally, bouncing back from a disappointing loss. The Flashes dropped to 4-2 on the season with the loss to Lake View. The game was delayed several times due to lightening and did not finish until after midnight.
    Johnsonville scored late in the game and appeared to tie the game on a two-point conversion run but the officials ruled the runner down before the ball reached the endzone.
    "It was a tough call to go against us," said Lineberger. "Our kids played their hearts out. Both teams did. We had four or five kids out sick but the one's that could play gave it all they had. It's frustrating to play so hard and come up just a little short but that's football. We have to bounce back."
    Running backs Jazz Burgess and Kendrick Williams led the way offensively last week. Williams rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and Burgess added 104 yards and two scores.
    Offensive linemen Matt Kelly, Daniel Lowrimore and Brandon Carter posted winning grades up front. Zach Cannon had two receptions for 44 yards.
    Defensively, the Flashes were without leading tackler Adam Baxley, but Lineberger praised the play of Burgess in the secondary, Taylor Strickland and James Allen Howell.