Senior talent on display at All-star Games
Local basketball fans got one more chance to see some competitive action on the court on Saturday before heading into the long offseason as the Northwest Georgia Tipoff Club held its annual girls and boys All-star Games at Georgia Highlands College.
Several seniors were able to put on their high school uniform one final time as they suited up for four different teams, two on the girls side and two on the boys. The girls teams were coached by Rome head coach Jared Hughes and Trion head coach Garrett Brown with Team Hughes edging out a 57-47 victory.
Model’s Rachel Burkhalter had a stellar game with 24 points to lead Team Hughes, including six made 3-pointers, while Rome’s Breana Griffin added an impactful 18 points of her own.
Also contributing for Team Hughes were Model’s Briley Sims with seven points, Coosa’s Riyah Manley with five and Pepperell’s Sakiya Winston with two.
Team Brown’s top scorer was Lafayette’s Fanny Barber with 12 points. Trion’s I’ziah Mccutchins added nine, and Chattooga’s Addyson Daniel scored eight. Other scorers for the team included Armuchee’s Chloe Shaw with five, Adairsville’s Aliyah Mcbride with four, Adairsville’s Alissa Winters with two and Trion’s Kinzleigh Turner with one.
The boys game followed, and it was a tight one, going all the way to the end. The team coached by Unity Christian head coach Davy Fisher edged out the squad led by Trion head coach John Cornett by a 68-67 score.
Team Fisher was lead by a trio of players with 15 points each, which included Unity Christian’s Jay Davis, Rockmart’s Treylin Davis and Northwest Whitfield’s Jackson Harris.
Pepperell’s Landon Lockwood added eight points while Pepperell’s Chris Fife and Northwest Whitfield’s DK Blackwell each had seven.
Rome’s Josh Askew rounded out the totals with two.
Team Cornett had contributions up and down the roster led by Sonoraville’s Donovan Mcdaniel with 17 points and Sonoraville’s Bryson Shellnut with 15. Trion’s Josh Cornett was also in double figures with 11, and Trion’s Caden Hinton added seven.
Completing the Team Cornett scoring were Dade County’s Connor Wilburn with six, Coosa’s Jamarion Bryant with five, Armuchee’s Matt Hampson with four, Trion’s Greyson Patty with three and Armuchee’s Logan Benedict with two.
Northwest Georgia Tip-off Club president Ron Roach presented two awards at halftime of the boys game as Unity Christian senior Chase Vaughn was named statistician of the year for his contribution to the Lions’ program and Coosa’s Tyler Bradley was name “Interim Coach of the Year” as Roach stated how Bradley stepped in at a difficult time for the Eagles and helped them stay on course and reach the state tournament.
Truett’s Chick-fil-a also sponsored halftime contests for the girls and boys games with two lucky winners taking home six months of free Chick-fil-a food.
“The Northwest Georgia Tipoff Club would like to again recognize all senior girls and boys that were nominated to play in today’s game,” said Roach. “We would also like to thank Georgia Highlands College for hosting the game and Truett’s Chick-fil-a for sponsoring the halftime contests today.”