OK, what did I tell you about the Deerfield-Windsor School basketball teams that Coach Gordy Gruhl has put together this year? You know what I am talking about if you are one of my loyal readers. If you’re not, you still have time, if you’re a basketball junkie like my wife and I am, to see their varsity teams in action in the state tournament in Macon that starts this week.
If you missed the championship games of the regional tournament this past week at ABAC in Tifton, you missed some great games, especially the girls varsity championship game that Deerfield won. It was back and forth the whole game and it looked like it was the end of the road for the girls, especially because Heather Lash got badly hurt in the seconf half and had to leave the game with an apparent concussion.
Deerfield was playing Westfield for the championship and it was basically a defensive game. Neither team could break through what was a lid, apparently on both basketball rims. Both teams really wanted to win and bodies were flying all over the 90 foot length of the basketball floor.
Westfield had beaten Deerfield earlier in the year and near the end of the game, it appeared that they had their number again. Both teams were pressing the entire game and were tired. What that happens, the girls on both sides were showing just how tired they were in the fourth quarter.
With three and a half minutes to go, the Lady Knights of Deerfield fell behind by a score of 22-15, which was a lot for this game, and it appear that the game was out of reach for them. At that point, Courtney Kelson drove the length of the floor and suck a layup. Sabrina Curry then hit on a huge three-pointer to close the game 22-20.
Jennie Rust from Westfield hit on a two point shot and Kelson hit on a free-throw. Kelson then hit on a turn-around jumper to make it 24-32. Jennia Rust then hit on one of two free throws to tie the game at 25-25 with 23 seconds to go.
Westfield had the ball but turned it over with 15.7 seconds to go. DWS then played for one shot. Curry hit Candace Cosby with a great pass with three-tenths of a second to go and was fouled. Cosby, who injured herself at soccer and was unable ot play until the last three games of the season, then coolly went to the line and mae the very first free trow to win the game. The crowd went crazy as DWS won the first Region Championship of the night.
The final game was the boys championship game: Deerfield against cross-town rival, Sherwood Christian Academy. The game was relatively close the whole game until the fourth quarter when DWS showed the effects of having at least 10 players on the team that could be substituted freely throughout the game. That kept everyone fresh, and without any noticeable difference with Coach Gruhl’s constant substitutions.
The one exception was, of course, Ramello Carter, whose absence at any time could be felt. Ramello is a superstar. He’s an outstanding player who is only a junior and will most certainly be playing at the next level after he graduates from Deerfield. It was announced at the end of the game that Ramello, only a junior, had reached the coveted goal of any high school shooter of 1,000 points.
The boys team, like the girls, all like each other and play together without worrying about how many points any one of them is scoring. They both play like a team, unlike a lot of the teams they during the year, and that is one of the reasons why they have outstanding teams almost every single year.
When the game was over and the championship trophy was presented to the Deerfield boys for winning the regional championship again, one additional trophy was presented and that was to Coach Gordy Gruhl. With that win, Coach Gruhl had won his 1,000th career game! That is what an accomplishment for a Hoosier, as Coach Gruhl is originally from Hope, Indiana.
Everyone from Deerfield is very proud of their coach and athletic director. Ty Kinslow also has done an outstanding job at Deerfield and needs to receive a great deal of praise for what he has accomplished with the girls while at Deerfield.
This week, it is on to the State Basketball Tournament in Macon. Let’s wish Deerfield a lot of luck with this next goal of the school, which is to become state champions again.
Please go to the upcoming State Tournament in Macon this week and see what a great team Gordy has put together again this year. It will be well worth your trip if you like basketball.
Written by Ted Anderson. Insurance agent Ted W. Anderson worked in sales for half a century, has lived in Albany since 1993. He is president of Dover Lane Neighborhood Watch. Send email to him at aj@thealbanyjournal.com.
