Three local basketball programs took different paths to reach the postseason.
Having achieved a preseason goal as region champions, The Habersham School’s girls and boys squads head this week into the Georgia Association of Private & Parochial Schools state playoffs and the potential for more dreams to be realized.
Meanwhile, the St. Andrew’s School boys team, a perennial contender for state titles, last lost a region game in 2020. The Lions captured back-to-back Georgia Independent School Association Class 3A state crowns in 2022 and 2023.
St. Andrew’s (21-3) went 8-0 in 4A/3A District 2 this regular season and next plays – probably Thursday -- as the top seed in the region tournament at Bulloch Academy in Statesboro.
St. Andrew’s boys basketball
While the Lions have won 10 consecutive games, head coach Mel Abrams is looking for more consistency, “staying a little more steady and not as many ups and downs” in games.
“We show a lot of bright spots,” said Abrams, SAS coach since the 2015-16 season. “Our focus defensively, sometimes when we get leads, can be erratic and not as disciplined. For me, it’s about us being more consistent, no matter what the score is and who the opponent is, just playing our very best.”
A bright spot for four seasons and one of the very best players in the Savannah area is Zayden Edwards. The senior point guard has averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 3.6 steals in 23 games.
There are also new faces, including 6-foot-4 junior Ja’Cari Glover and 6-7 senior center Miles Cummings. These transfers give the Lions an inside presence that Abrams said his teams haven’t had in his previous seasons.
The coach calls Glover fairly young and inexperienced but impactful. He has averaged a double-double with 15.5 points and 11.5 rebounds in 23 games.
“(Glover is) someone who really demands the opposing team to scout, plan,” Abrams said. “He forces you to choose how you want to defend us; if you want, allow us to shoot the ball from the perimeter. So that’s been new.
“We typically shoot the ball very well, but teams this year have had to adjust and live with us taking those shots versus in years past. Teams would extend more on the perimeter and give up post entry.”
As is customary in recent years, St. Andrew’s toughened up its early schedule to prepare for region games and a potential playoff run. Their three losses are to GHSA Class 4A schools Locust Grove and, from the area, Benedictine and New Hampstead – the Phoenix dealing them their only defeat in the new year, 65-59 on Jan. 8.
Abrams hopes those losses prove beneficial for a talented squad with many players without high-pressure postseason games under their belts.
“I think we’re inexperienced in terms of playing in some of those moments,” Abrams said. “Throughout the season, I think we’ve seen that inconsistency in some of those moments. But more importantly, the group really cares about each other.”
Habersham Patriots boys basketball
Michael Jaudon, a veteran assistant coach at Savannah public and private high schools before becoming the Patriots’ head coach for this season, vividly remembers his first practice with the squad.
“I have a nine-man roster. Coming into the year, I really challenged them to not let that affect the way that we were going to play,” he recalled.
Despite the small roster, the Patriots will be aggressive, go at full speed and play man-to-man defense, Jaudon told them.
“I remember the first day of practice when I told them that, I got some unconfident looks from them,” Jaudon said. “Just like, ‘Coach, we only have nine guys and you’re wanting to play this fast.’ ”
Skepticism disappeared as Habersham (12-7) went 6-2 in GAPPS 1-A Region 4 and dominated the region tournament, for which Bible Baptist Christian of Statesboro was ineligible. The Patriots downed Veritas Academy 61-36 in the semifinals on Thursday and Trinity Christian by a nearly identical score of 60-36 in the championship game on Friday.
“They’ve really bought into what I’ve told them,” said Jaudon, who gives “meaningful minutes” to five freshmen each game. “My freshman have had to grow up very quickly. By no means are we accepting any moral victories at Habersham. We definitely want to continue this path we’re going on. I couldn’t be prouder of how my boys have responded the right way and just continued to fight for me. It says a lot.”
Habersham is a No. 1 seed and earned a bye into the GAPPS Class A quarterfinals at home at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 14 against the winner of Alleluia Community and Peachtree Academy.
Alleluia edged Habersham 68-65 on Nov. 15, four games into Jaudon’s tenure. After a 3-5 start, the Patriots are 9-2 since. One of the wins was in the second meeting with Trinity Christian on Jan. 16, when Jaudon came down with a high fever that morning, and assistant coach Davonte Johnson guided the Patriots to a 68-63 win.
The Patriots are led on the court by 6-2 senior Caleb Parker, who averages 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists. Parker has battled through injuries in his high school career, Jaudon said, including a hamstring this season.
“I put a lot of responsibility on his plate every night, and – it’s cliche – he brings his lunch to practice every day and just goes to work,” Jaudon said. “I wish I could have him for a couple of more years, that’s for sure.”
Another keg cog is junior point guard Daniil Phillips, who is averaging 11.8 points per game.
“He’s by far my best defender, so I’m asking a lot out of him,” Jaudon said. “I’m asking him to be my main point guard but also shut down the main guy for the opposing team.”
Habersham Patriots girls basketball
Include the Patriots among those who didn’t exactly expect their unbeaten run through GAPPS 1-A Region 4 and top seeding in the state playoffs.
“We’re pleasantly surprised,” Habersham girls basketball coach Glenn Burnsed said. “We graduated four seniors last year off of a team that went to the state final four. So we probably a little bit thought it was going to be a rebuilding year, but these girls really stepped up and grew into their roles.
“They all had a lot of playing time last year,” he continued. “Our five starters all had experience. They continued to step up. They were just really surprised that we have had an even better year than expected.”
Habersham (11-8, 6-0 region) won the region tournament 42-31 over Trinity Christian last Friday at Heritage Christian Academy in Brunswick. The Patriots earned a bye and will host Oakwood Christian in the GAPPS Class 3A quarterfinals at 6 p.m. on Feb. 14.
“We feel like we’re evenly matched with them. We think we have the toughest quarterfinal of any of the remaining teams,” said Burnsed, in his fifth season as the head coach after serving as an assistant for Susan Barry, the school’s athletic director and volleyball coach.
“I think if we beat them, we’ll be in good shape,” he added.
The Patriots’ fortunes will depend a lot on a dynamic freshman-senior duo of 6-footer Myla Shippy and Maddie Viles, who is about that height.
They also are close in productivity. Viles, a senior, averaged 14.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.7 steals in 17 games – not including her 31-point outburst in a 56-38 victory over Heritage Christian on Feb. 3.
“Maddie is a great scorer and rebounder,” Burnsed said.
Shippy, a freshman, had rates of 15.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.6 steals, and 4.2 blocks for 16 games. Burnsed considers her one of the top shot blockers in the state, and she has excellent timing.
“She’s really strong,” the coach said. “She’s got a bright future ahead of her. Very, very athletic and can play inside and outside, so it really makes her a threat.”
Shippy can post up or move out to the wing and hit from beyond the arc, stretching and probably stressing out defenses.
Small schools like Habersham play in a division that allows eighth-graders and even seventh-graders to be on rosters. Such was the case for Shippy and fellow freshman Gaby Kenard.
“Gaby Kenard is having a really great year,” Burnsed said. “She hasn’t scored as many points (9.2 average for 17 games), but she’s a great rebounder (7.4). Probably our best defensive-pressure player as far as being able to shut down an opposing wing or guard with pressure.”
Photo Credit: Courtesy The habsersham School and ST. Andrew's Athletic Department
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