Gators’ Rice selected as Class 4A honorable mention
The Okefenokee area produced eight members to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s various allstate teams.
There were three named First Team All-State.
Class AA Pierce County junior running back Jae’Veon Williams (5foot-10, 185 lbs.) earned First Team honors.
Class A DI Bacon County senior wide receiver Santiago Bizzell (61, 175) was a First Team selection.
Class A DII Clinch County senior defensive back Fred Causey (5-10, 170) also garnered First Team honors.
Ware County senior wide receiver Jamario Rice (6-foot, 185) was a Class 4-A honorable mention.
Region 1-AAAA champion and state runner-up Benedictine had four First Team selections and an honorable mention. Senior Chris “Bubba” Frazier (5-11, 180) was tabbed as “Athlete” for his allaround exploits.
Senior defensive linemen Kameron Cody (6-2, 285) and LaDamion Guyton (6-3, 225) were joined by senior defensive Micah Williams (6-0, 200) on the defensive side of the ball.
Cadet senior quarterback Stephen Cannon 6-2, 195) and Warner Robins’ sophomore wide receiver X’Zavier Cannon (5-10, 165) received honorable mention status.
PCHS’s Williams was joined by six fellow Region 3-AA individuals representing four schools.
Appling County junior running back Jaiden Knight (6-0, 185) and Cook High senior punter Brooks Moore were tabbed First Team selections.
Receiving honorable mention status were Crisp County’s senior wide receiver Deshan Fedd (6-1, 175) and senior defensive lineman Carlin Ervin 6-1, 257), Cook junior linebacker Jabari Dawson (59, 180) and Tattnall County senior running back Trevon Rogers (5-10, 180).
Region 1-A DI, which includes Brantley County, had 11 other players recognized besides Bacon County’s Bizzell. Unbeaten region and state champion Worth County’s Jeff Hammond received Coach of the Year honors.
The Rams’ senior defensive lineman Chance Sims (6-2, 205) was named the Defensive Player of the Year.
The Lady Bears built a 13-7 first quarter lead behind McGatha’s exploit. They widened the margin by two points at intermission outscoring Crisp County 9-7 for a 22-14 halftime lead.
PCHS stretched the margin to double-digits during the third period outscoring the visitors 104 for a comfortable 32-18 advantage. The Lady Cougars, who trailed by as many as 18 points in the final stanza, surpassed their point production over the final eight minutes outscoring Pierce County 20-19.
Alayna Bell scored a season-best six points to help the Lady Bears. Sahara Minott and Caren Drew chipped in two points and one point respectively.
Lakayla Alexander led the Lady Cougars with 12 points. Mariyah Chambers netted 10 points.
Crisp County..........62 Bears .....................53 Crisp County was never headed after claiming a seven-point lead in the first quarter in beating the Bears.
The Cougars used a balanced scoring attack getting 17 points from Caden Lofton. Four other players scored followed with a nine-point effort and three finishing with eight points.
PCHS got a game-high 22 points from Nigel Brown (trey) with 17 coming in the second half including 12 over the final eight minutes. Jikeyse McGauley (three treys) netted 13 of his 15 points over the final 16 minutes.
Crisp County jumped ahead 12-5 over a coldshooting, turnoverplagued Bears squad in the opening eight minutes. The Cougars padded the margin during the second stanza outpointing PCHS 12-10 for a 24-15 halftime lead.
The scoring pace picked up over the final 16 minutes with each team scoring 38 points.
Crisp County outscored the Bears 17-14 in the third period to open up a 41-29 advantage. PCHS found an offensive rhythm in the final stanza outscoring the Cougars 24-21 for the final nine-point deficit.
The Bears received eight points from Jamil Strickland (two treys) - all in the last period - five from Chezz Armstrong (trey) and three from Amir McKenzie (trey).
