By Bryant Thigpen
Greene Publishing, Inc.
The girl’s basketball team at Madison County Central School turned the page in history when they ended the season with an undefeated record of 14-0. Coach Tawanna Christian and her assistant coach Megan Dickey led the team to compile not only the best school record, but the first perfect season.
“They communicate,” Coach Christian stated be the simple strength of the team. “This is a great group of girls. They communicate on and off the court. That makes a big difference.”
“My favorite part of being on this team is we get to work together,” stated seventh grader Cindy Brown. “We communicate on the court. If one messes up, we all mess up.” Josie Long, who is also a seventh grade student at MCCS agreed, “We stick together in everything we do.”
While the coaches have placed a major emphasis on unity as a team, sportsmanship has also been a valuable lesson learned by the girls this year. “Even though we’re undefeated, they have the best sportsmanship mentality,” Christian said. “If the girls see one of the team members fall down, girls from our team will be the first there to help them up and pat them on the back.”
The reason the team is number one is because the coaches and players know the ingredients to success. “We’re number one not because of me, but because everyone does their part,” Christian said. “The girls love Coach Dickey, and having the support of parents and administrators makes our job successful.”
She continues, “We have the best supporters. You can always depend on the parents to be there to back them up; school janitors Freddie Williams and Curtis Akins are always offering words of encouragement; the administration, score keepers and managers are the best around.”
“This team is like my family and these girls are like my sisters,” said Long. Christian believes that the parental support is a strong attribute in creating the close family atmosphere. “I believe parental support is essential in the school system nationwide, not just Madison County. The parent support we have received this season has been phenomenal. It makes the kids do better on the court and in the classroom,” Christian explained.
While the team unites on the court as one, there are many different reasons that drive each member to the team. “The reason I wanted to join the team because I wanted to follow in my dad’s steps. I watched him practice and saw how athletic he was. That really inspired me.”
The team is led by inspiration, but it is fueled by competition. The team has played many great teams this year, but one game stuck out in particular to teammate Jameica Cobb who said, “My favorite game this year would have to be versus Hamilton County. They seemed to be more challenging than other opponents.”
The MCCS girl’s basketball team is asking everyone to pack the gym for the regional championship game versus number two Baker County. The game will be held in the MCCS gym on Thursday, Jan. 19, at 6 p.m.
“There’s power in numbers,” Coach Christian stated. “The girls have worked hard and we want everyone to come out and support the girls and pack the gym. This will help us reach our goal.”
MCCS Girl’s Basketball team completes the 2011-2012 season undefeated. Bottom Row (left to right): Coach Tawanna Christian, Adrianna Kinsey, Cheyenne Sheffield, Jakayla West, Kay Scurry, Jamieca Cobb, Cindy Brown, Alexis Livingston, Courtney Fox, Coach Megan Dickey. Top Row (left to right): Tatayana Barfield, Tatiana Carter, Travecia Fead, Josie Long, Nacoya Williams, Sequoia Williams, Darresha White, Crystal Moore, Lizzie Frakes. (Greene Publishing, Inc. Photo by Bryant Thigpen, January 10, 2012)
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