A local rec team's success, and what it could mean for the future, didn't happen overnight.
Instead, the notion took root about two years ago when a group of girls coached by Alex Tucker and Cory Sommers nearly won a state 10U Georgia Recreation and Park Association championship.
“Cory and I felt like we had something to build on,” Tucker said, “if we could keep the core group together.”
They could, and did, and South Bryan County’s 12U All-Star girls cashed in on that promise by winning the GRPA District 1 and state Class B titles in convincing fashion with a roster consisting of Ayoluwa Akerele, Brooklynn Dunlevy, Lila Garren, Quin Lock, Mackenzie Loth, Molly Miller, Simone Pierre, Ansley Sommers, Annabelle Tucker and Georgia Tucker.
During the state tournament, played March 7-8 in Thomasville, South Bryan dominated the competition – beating host Thomasville 57-28, Dublin-Laurens 47-14 and Summerville 66-41.
“We had decided to see if we could continue to grow their skill sets and chemistry on the court,” Tucker said. “It was nice to see that develop and come to fruition.”
Meanwhile, South Bryan’s 8U All-Stars team, coached by Colleen Davis and Corey Fickiesen, also saw success.
With a roster consisting of Riann Cahoon, Austyn Canady, Natalie Cloherty, Kinley Davis, Kaelyn Fickiesen, Natalie Fickiesen, Nora Hatfield, Kelsie Miller, Kallie Miller and Jaelyn Rothwell, the 8U All-Stars downed Coffee County 13-9 and Liberty County 18-1 in the District 1 Tournament Feb. 28-March 1 in Douglas, to win District and advance to the state 8U girls tournament in Jackson County.
For both squads the results, and the work put in to achieve goals, are about more than winning, coaches say.
For the 8U girls, the aim is to teach fundamentals and have fun, their coach said, with bigger goals in mind down the road.
“(At this level) it’s about teaching the basics and helping them understand the game,” said Davis, a longtime coach at both Richmond Hill High and Richmond Hill Middle School, adding, “What stood out most to us was the girls’ level of commitment and growing passion for the game. It’s not always easy to get young girls invested in basketball, so every moment of success – big or small – mattered.”
For the 12U girls, a goal is to keep them from burning out on basketball while also keeping them together for competition, and Tucker is quick to note both the contributions of coach Kenya Robinson, a former WNBA player who works with local girls to improve their skills, and the growing number of girls hoops programs in Richmond Hill.
All are helping to improve the game’s outlook down the road for the players and, ultimately, programs such as the one that led the 12U All-Stars to success can serve as unofficial feeder programs for RHHS, Tucker said.
“The long-term goal is to help the school system remain competitive at the 6A level,” said Tucker, a pharmacist by trade and owner of Richmond Hill Pharmacy. “The short-term goal is to work with the girls and continue to get better. We’re still building this thing.”
Davis, who, like Tucker, Fickiesen and Sommers has kids in youth sports and on their respective teams, said what stood out to her the most this past season was the girls’ level of commitment and growing passion for the game.
“We encourage our players to attend girls’ varsity basketball games to give them a clear picture of what is possible and what it takes to compete at that level,” Davis added, noting that when young players stick together and keep working it can build a pipeline of talent to benefit the local high school’s athletic department down the road.
“Helping them recognize that connection, even at a young age, is key to the continued growth of girls’ athletics. Any opportunity to involve them in sports and nurture their love for the game is a step in the right direction,” she said.
