Football season came to an end giving way to award season as no less than 11 Ware County players were named to the 2-AAAAA All-Region team. Coach Franklin Stephens was also named Region Coach of the Year for leading the Gators to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs. Senior quarterback JeMar Lincoln was honored as Athlete of the Year and junior linebacker Ernest Jones was selected as the region’s Defensive Player of the Year. Other first team selectees included seniors Ronnie Adams and Ha’Keem Dillard and juniors Jalynn Strickland, James Lucas and Trey Cobb. Honorable mention went to Hayden Blackburn, Jamoya Howard, Xavier Clemmons and Dezel Stephenson.
At the Seventh Annual In the Game Sports Network Southeast Georgia High School Football Awards Banquet, defensive back Ha’Keem Dillard also won the Farrah & Farrah Forward Progress Award as Southeast Georgia’s most improved player of the year.
The boys’ and girls’ basketball teams have started a new season in a new region. Now in Region 2-AAAAA, the Gators must face Savannah’s New Hampstead, South Effingham, Statesboro and Wayne County.
Coach Tre Hill’s boys’ basketball team got its season started in late November. The Gators lost nine players to graduation last year but they are excited about their returning players. The team’s leading scorer and All-Region performer, JerMar Lincoln, is back as well as seniors Deshawn Bostick, Adrias Scott and Jared Richardson. “Who should have a break out season this year,” Coach Hill anticipated about Richardson. The Gators will also get big help form Juniors Jalynn Strickland and AJ Pinkney.
“When the Gators get everyone in, and in basketball shape, they will look to compete for a region championship,” Coach Hill said. “We have a good group of hard working players and coaches that are ready for a great season, especially after a great run to end last season.” Last year the Gator boys went on an 11-game winning streak and became the number four seed in their Region. They fell in the opening round of the state playoffs to Warner Robins.
Mandy Lingenfelter’s Lady Gators basketball team got off to a fast start with season opening wins over Houston County, Swainsboro and Glynn Academy. They were 8-0 going into the annual Vidalia Christmas tournament.
Coach Joe Eichfeld’s Gator wrestling team got the season started in November and has been doing well ever since. The Gators are a young team with lots of talent. Another big plus is that they are no longer in the same region as nationally ranked Camden County.
The 2016 dual meet season started with their own Swamp Duals. “We had a pretty good day. We went 3-2,” said That Coach Eichfeld. After the opening dual meet, The Gators went on a tear and were 27-4 early in the season. “I fully expect us to win the region,” Coach E said of the new reconfiguration that has Ware in a region with South Effingham, Statesboro and New Hampstead. “We should get thru the region in a pretty dominant fashion.”
The team is confident of their chances of making the state’s top six and possibly the top four. “If everything goes well, I predict us to be wrestling on Saturday during the state duals tournament. That’s my team goal,” Coach E said. “It would be real nice to bring another cup home which is top four.”
As far as the traditional tournament in February, Ware could have as many as five state placers and up to 10 state qualifiers if all goes well. “The last time we had five state placers, we took second in the state in the traditional tournament,” he recalled. “It’s like every sport, it comes down to injuries, eligibility and, in this sport, whether you’ve got the guys at the right weight class.”
SE-SF-0117-Ware
By Rob Asbell
All Region Football Announced
Basketball and Wrestling Off to Strong Starts
