By Larry Fleming
Runners-up try harder. At least, that’s what Avis used to preach in its car rental television commercials.
So, Christian Heritage’s Lions and Lady Lions are out to improve on their 2008-09 second-place finishes in Georgia Independent School Association Region 4-2A play.
They’re looking beyond the region to stronger efforts in state tournament action this season as well.
The Lions, who must replace the points and rebounds — not to mention leadership — of departed Damien Chaney, went 28-6 last season and lost to Frederica Academy in the GISA state tourney semifinals.
The Lady Lions were 22-6 and had their season end with a 12-point loss to Tiftarea Academy in the second round of the state tournament.
Coach Chad Woodson’s Lions and Heather Lowery’s Lady Lions again head into this season — they open their seasons today with home games against Georgia Cumberland, starting with the girls’ game at 6 p.m. — with high expectations.
It shouldn’t be hard for point guard Will Clark, shooting guard Landon McClure and post Terrell Wilson, — seniors who have been starring since they were sophomores — to pick up the slack for Chaney, now a freshman and starting for Covenant College.
“Those seniors have to provide our leadership,” Woodson said. “Initially, we want to develop over the first half of the season where we’ll be ready to compete in region play. If a few guys develop and really get into our system, then we’ve got a chance to compete with most teams in our region. We want to continue our winning tradition we’ve got going here. It may not happen, but that’s always our expectation.”
Chaney left his mark on Christian Heritage’s program, just like Stephen McClellan and Tyler Watkins before him. As a senior, Chaney, The Daily Citizen All-Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year last season, averaged 23.3 points, 9.2 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.8 blocks per game, eclipsing the career 2,000-point barrier along the way.
Woodson said Clark, McClure and Wilson have the potential to score in double figures on a consistent basis, but it “might be hard to get all three of them doing it at the same time.”
“Will is a great penetrator going to the basket, Landon is a great shooter, and Terrell is a great rebounder,” Woodson said. “As long as we work from that nucleus, we’ll be OK.”
Guard Mason Sikes and post Brady Seehorn, (classes), will round out the Lions’ starting lineup.
Lowery will have the same lineup she used throughout the 2008-09 season — seniors Caty Nagel, Kathryn Green and Bradley Townsend, junior Meg Crawford and sophomore Maggie Peeples.
In last February’s 54-42 loss to Tiftarea in the state tournament, Nagel scored 12 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and blocked seven shots in a sterling performance. Peeples had 13 points and seven rebounds and Crawford scored nine points.
“We’re very excited about this year,” Lowery said. “We want to win a state title. We have a lot of excitement among the players, who are itching to go.”
Lowery said the Lady Lions have worked hard over the summer and scrimmaged “some tough teams” in an attempt to get better. Once practice started in October, the team’s focus was squarely on defense and rebounding.
“The girls bought into what we wanted them to do in that regard,” Lowery said. “Offensively, we tried to push the ball up the court at every opportunity and worked to take care of the ball. And we got better. We have a junior varsity team this year — we’re working with 17 girls on varsity and JV — and that depth will really help us.”
Peeples was the Lady Lions’ leading scorer last season with a 16-point average. Nagel averaged 12 points and nine rebounds per game, Crawford led the team with five assists each outing, Green averaged six points and six rebounds, and Townsend could be counted on for three steals and five rebounds per game.
“We scrimmaged Heritage-Catoosa the other night and beat them,” Lowery said. “I think that will help us get rid of the jitters and I think we’ll be ready to open the season (today).”
