Westside boys, Josey girls holding the torch for Augusta basketball
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - The GHSA Basketball State Championships are this week, and two teams from Augusta are making the trip to Macon.
The Westside Boys and the Josey Girls have a proud history of success, and they’re both looking to bring home new hardware.
The idea of a three-peat is seldom seen or even talked about in sports, because finding a way to win three consecutive championships is beyond difficult to do.
The Westside Patriots are heading back to the state title game or the third year in a row, with an opportunity to pull off a three-peat.
The Patriots realize doing the unthinkable could be great for Westside, but even more important for the City of Augusta.
Head Coach Jerry Hunter said, “At the beginning of the season, I told the guys, I would rather fail trying to do something impossible, than be successful at doing nothing, so let’s get to work. They bought into the understanding. It seemed a little unattainable at first, but then it started getting closer and closer, and they started to understand that we have a chance to do something real special here, not only for Westside but for the City of Augusta.”
Senior Guard Xavier Goss added, “Being on this stage the past few years, I’d say it’s an advantage, because you know the type of atmosphere you’re going into, the type of referees you’re going to deal with, you’ve got to adjust to the court and all of that. So, that atmosphere the past few years has definitely helped this year because I feel more comfortable.”
The Class 2A Boys State Championship game between Westside and Toombs County is set for Thursday at 3 p.m. inside the Macon Coliseum.
The Josey Lady Eagles’ second-half surge in the state semifinals against Central Macon on Saturday helped them punch their ticket to state for the second time in the last four years.
The Lady Eagles 28-3 overall record does not tell the full story of this year’s team, because of the growth the underclassmen showed throughout the season, especially during their road playoff games.
This Josey team is playing with an edge. The Lady Eagles are battle-tested, and now they have an opportunity to fly to the mountaintop once again.
Head Coach Nichelle Chapman said, “You have to take the time to get to know your kids, get to know your athletes, and get to know yourself, because there are going to be challenging times where we’re going to have to grow as coaches and as adults as well. So, it’s been a process, and not all of it has been good, but it’s been a journey well worth taking.”
Sophomore Guard Kerri Fluellen added, “I feel like we do play our best when we have that emotion because it hypes not just that person up, but it hypes the team up. We’re going to go for each other, so when that person is happy, we’re all happy.”
The Class 2A Girls State Championship game between Josey and Mount Paran Christian will also be on Thursday in Macon, at 1 p.m.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
