Life in Motion: We Are The Champions!

“…the smiles made all of the hard work and practice time well worth it!” ~ Coach Jodie Watkins

The Habersham 8U Girls recreation basketball team won this year’s State Championship in Flea Division B and C at the Georgia Recreation and Park Association State Tournament on March 4th in Murray County. They clinched the GRPA title by defeating Calhoun, 12-7. On their way to the title match-up they beat Catoosa County 23-20 in the quarter-finals and shut out Jackson County, 23-0, in the semi-finals.

Head Coach Jodie Watkins says it was a true team effort. “I have coached at the college and high school level and I never won a state championship. However, I couldn’t imagine it would be any sweeter than winning it with this young group of girls!,” Watkins says. “They learned a great deal about mental toughness. Even though they were exhausted by the third game of the day, they pushed through being tired and played some amazing defense to seal the deal in the championship game.”

Pictured (front to back, left to right): Jazlyn Burke, Lizzy Huebner, Ella Kate Shedd, Ava Saxon and Kenzie King, Head Coach Jodie Watkins, Macy Harrison, Kylie Watkins, Haygen James, Sara Beth Thomas, Breelyn Wood and Assistant Coach Beth Huebner.