CCHS sophomore guard Rayshawn McCall goes up for a layup against Gainesville High School on Jan. 10, 2014. Photo by Chad Rhym.
By Kevin Mobley – Web Writer
On Saturday, Jan. 18, the Clarke Central High School and Cedar Shoals High School varsity basketball teams will meet at the Jaguar Gym. But it won’t be the first time this season.
The Jaguars and the Gladiators squared off on Dec. 14 in the Terra Gladitorium. The game marked the last time that CCHS senior forward Cameron Johnson, along with six other seniors, would play their cross-town rivals at home.
“It was a big moment for me,” Johnson said. “I also scored my 1000th point that game. It’s something that I’ll never forget.”
The two teams remained neck-and-neck in the first half, as CSHS only led by two at the break. An 18-9 third quarter gave CCHS a 49-42 lead that separated the two teams for good, as Clarke Central won 67-61.
“We went out and I thought we did some things well early,” CSHS head coach L’Dreco Thomas said. “There were a couple of things that caused us to lose momentum in the second half – some defensive lapses, the ball not moving as fluidly as it was supposed to and turning the ball over. That cost us down the stretch.”
CSHS senior guard Devante Johnson was frustrated with the outcome.
“I just knew in my head that they weren’t better than us,” Devante said. “We should’ve won that game.”
Clarke Central’s game plan features a full-court, man-to-man press and a dizzying offense that likes to run the floor as quickly and as often as possible.
“We feel that if we can make the opposing team uncomfortable with the ball then we are at our best,” CCHS assistant coach Travis Techo said. “We are fortunate to have the athleticism at Clarke Central to be able pick up the opposing team 94 ft. from the basket. As far as the offensive side, we like our defensive pressure to translate to our offense.”
Though the Gladiators have always played an up-tempo style of basketball, CCHS head coach Andre McIntyre felt he needed to kick the intensity up another notch with this team, whose tallest player is Johnson at 6’4”.
“With our lack of size, we can’t allow a team just to walk the ball up the floor against our defense and throw the ball inside,” McIntyre said. “We have to create a lot of chaos and turnovers.”
Thus far, the results speak for themselves. CCHS is currently undefeated (15-0, 9-0 in Region 8-AAAAA play), and is ranked as the No. 16 team in Georgia by HoopSeen web magazine, No. 24 by Maxpreps.com.
“The key is to buying in,” McIntyre said. “The kids know that we have to get better each and every day to attain that goal. That’s what we’re doing and that’s what we’re striving for.”
CCHS squares off against CSHS back on Jan. 19, 2012. Photo by Chad Rhym.
Clarke Central is led by a senior-laden group, headed by Johnson and senior forward Leroy Leggette, who average 20.3 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game and 12.8 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, respectively.
McIntyre feels that despite the notoriety that Johnson and Leggette receive, senior point guard Donavin Thompson has fueled the team’s success thus far in the 2013-14 campaign.
“(Thompson) runs the offense, he keeps everybody in the flow of the offense. Defensively, he sets the tone by picking up his man full-court and playing aggressive,” McIntyre said. “We can’t measure the how valuable Donavin is. I hate to think what we would be without him.”
Cedar Shoals likes to play in a similar fast-paced fashion – a staple of Clarke County basketball.
“I think one of the best things that we do is run the floor and finish,” Thomas said. “We’re pretty good on the break. We’re very up-tempo. Everybody knows where they’re supposed to be depending on where the ball is.”
However, the Jaguars have a size advantage over CCHS that can be utilized if and when CSHS can break the press.
“Height-wise, I think we have an advantage, if we use it, on the boards and offensively,” Thomas said. “They’ve got quick guards and they use that to their strength while pressing, but I think we match up well with them.”
Nonetheless, at 10-7, 6-4 in Region 8-AAAAA, Thomas feels that his team has yet to play with true team chemistry.
“Right now it’s just really hard to get a feel for who we are, what we do well and what we don’t sometimes,” Thomas said. “They’re a great bunch of kids, but they don’t always gel like I felt they would coming into the season.”
Cedar Shoals has been powered by the play of junior forward D’andre Mahaffey, who averages 16.7 points per game and 4.5 rebounds per game.
“(Mahaffey)’s a focal point in our offense,” Thomas said. “I like that when teams start taking him away that he works in some other areas to try to get his points. I tell him all the time: a lot of times he passes when he shouldn’t. He loves his teammates. As he goes, we go.”
Despite a first half of the season that didn’t live up to his expectations, Thomas believes that his teams’ best basketball is ahead of them.
“We’re capable of so much more,” Thomas said. “I was just telling them the other day: ‘No one is blowing us out. We’re not playing well. We’re not doing the fundamental things well. When we do, imagine how many more victories that could’ve been, and how many victories it can be down the stretch.’”
With the opportunity to face off against the Gladiators once again, this time with home court advantage, CSHS awaits the game with great anticipation.
“I feel like a lot of people felt that we should’ve won (the last game)” Mahaffey said. “We left some stuff on the floor. We’ve been working and working, and I think people are very ready for the next game.”
