Team Detail

Lady Spartans win 10 of 11 games - Oconee Enterprise

Despite taking a loss last Friday, the Athens Academy girls basketball team enjoyed a lengthy hot stretch during the most crucial part of the regular season.
The Lady Spartans won 10 games in a row before dropping a 48-37 decision last Friday at Tallulah Falls.
Included in that winning streak were five Region 8-A-Private victories. The final two games of the streak saw the Lady Spartans crush Athens Christian School 62-8 on Jan. 22 and, last Tuesday, Jan. 26, they beat George Walton Academy 56-10.
The win over George Walton came on senior night, which saw Lady Spartans senior Meg Williams recognized after the game.
Williams said she and her teammates used the rest they gained during some time off to come out energized and able to run out to the big win over George Walton.
“We had a few off days, which really pushed us to do our best because you don't want to come down and just forget how to play,” Williams said. “It was great to come back and pick up where we left off. We had a huge, dominant win, which is great for the region seeding and state seeding.”
The Lady Spartans were off to the races from the start against the Lady Bulldogs.
Athens Academy worked out to a 13-0 lead by the time George Walton called a timeout at the 3:16 mark of the first quarter.
That lead was established thanks in large part to a press defense scheme employed by Athens Academy. The defense created numerous turnovers, which helped make up for the team’s missed shots.
Among the first-quarter highlights by the Lady Spartans was a heads-up play by Sally Bullard.
Bullard defended an inbound play following a made shot by the Lady Spartans. She forced a loose ball from the George Walton player who received the inbound pass. Bullard picked up the ball, twisted around the George Walton player and tossed up an acrobatic shot for a bucket.
Athens Academy held an 18-0 lead when the first quarter ended.
George Walton did not score until the 3:30 mark of the second period, which made it a 26-2 game. The Lady Spartans were ahead 36-2 by the half thanks to 5-straight points by Meredith Reynolds.
Their lead increased to 41-2 before George Walton scored on another bucket at the 2:40 mark of the third to make it 41-4.
Athens Academy tacked on 3 more points before the Lady Bulldogs scored again and made it a 44-5 game.
The Lady Spartans took a 46-5 lead into the final stanza. That’s when they put the finishing touches on the game to win 56-10.
“You can really tell when our girls are connected defensively,” said Athens Academy head coach Brian Olson. “I think the most beautiful part about it is they're doing it for each other. It makes them real tough to beat. We all understand where we're at and that every season ends but I couldn't be more proud of who they are as a group of young ladies, who they are as a team. It's just really been a special season for us because of their work ethic, their energy and everything else. They do it for each other and they work hard. It makes it fun to coach. They're getting it done.”
That strong defense created extra opportunities on the other end.
Athens Academy cashed in on most of its scoring chances. The Lady Spartans also did an effective job of spreading the ball around.
In total, nine different Lady Spartans recorded points during the game.
They were led by Jaila Salley-Barnett with 15 points. Williams finished with 8 points. Adair Marvel notched 7 points while India Sheats and Reynolds each scored 6 points. Popi Marquez, Madeline Wicker and Bullard all scored 4 points apiece. Robie Lucas scored 2 points.
“We were just moving the ball fast,” Salley-Barnett said about the offense. “Our coaches always tell us ‘The ball finds energy,’ so [against George Walton], the ball found a lot of energy. We were able to hit some big shots, get our teammates open and not only create for ourselves but create for others.
The game against George Walton saw numerous Lady Spartans receive ample playing time off the bench.
Their early lead allowed for Olson to mix in various lineups on the court.
Those who entered the game in relief of the starters drew praise from their teammates for their performances.
“They always come in ready to play,” Williams said. “They know that there's high expectations and they have really matured. They know that they've got some big shoes to fill and they're ready.”
Though not every game can result in a 46-point win, the balance with which the Lady Spartans played against George Walton is exactly what Olson wants to see.
“I just think that we're comfortable being who we are, knowing that we're gonna get shots,” he said. “We don't worry about the misses; it's always the next play, then we know that we always have a chance to get it back on defense. As long as we're playing defense, we don't really worry about the offensive end and know that, some nights, it'll be tough but we'll be able to be in any game as long as we played defense like that.”
The Lady Spartans hosted Prince Avenue Christian this past Tuesday after press time. That is their scheduled regular season finale ahead of the region tournament.
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Athens Academy is an independent, co-educational school for students in K3 through 12th grade, located on a beautiful 152-acre campus in Northeast Georgia. For over 50 years, Athens Academy has pursued its mission of Excellence with Honor through academics, athletics, fine arts, and service and leadership.