TIFTON — Four local basketball players have been honored by sports writers from around the state.

The Georgia Sports Writers Association voted on its All-State teams March 9, and Tift County Lady Devil Lindsay Welker, along with Turner County’s Demetrius Ewing, Tray Pierce and Brittany Edwards, were all honored. Welker was named honorable-mention in Class AAAAA, Ewing was a first-team selection in Class A, and Pearce and Edwards were named honorable-mention in Class A.

Welker, who will be playing in Sunday’s GACA North-South All-Star Game in Savannah, averaged 16 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.4 blocks per game.

The Clemson University signee drew high praise from her high school coach, Michelle Caldwell.

“I am very happy for Lindsay. It’s not often that a player from South Georgia gets recognized at the state level,” said Caldwell. “Her hard work over the past few years has paid off.”

Ewing’s first-team selection was very prestigious as he is the first Turner County basketball player to receive that honor since the late Ronalda Pierce.

“Wow, I’m so proud of these boys. Demetrius is the first player since I’ve been at Turner to make first-team All-State. He really deserves everything he is getting right now. He is a great kid. Some college program is going to get a quality young man in Demetrius,” said Turner coach Eric Holland.

On the year, Ewing averaged 18 points, 12 rebounds and three blocked shots per contest.

Tray Pierce joins his first cousin, Ronalda, as family members that have been selected to the All-State team.

“Tray is one of the hardest working kids I’ve ever coached. This honor is a true example that hard work does pay off. The thing I love most about Tray is that he is a great kid,” said Holland. “He is a joy to coach. He really elevated his game this year. He’s only going to get better.”

On the year, Pierce averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and two steals for the Rebels.

Edwards was one of the keys in a bounce-back year for the Lady Rebels of Turner County.

She averaged 15 points, nine rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 1.2 steals per game. Edwards also shot 59 percent from the field during the year.

The senior helped Turner County go from being 5-21 in the 2006-07 season to 22-9 in the 2007-08 campaign. The Lady Rebels also captured the Region 2-A title.

“It was good to see Brittany get rewarded for the outstanding season she had,” said Turner Lady Rebels coach Sherri M. Harris.

The All-State honors were just the icing on the cake for the Turner County basketball teams this week.

Both squads were also heavily recognized in the All-Region 2-A voting by the league’s coaches.

Pierce was named first-team All-Region on the boys side, while Champ Spikes and Todd Lawson were named second-team. Keshawn Odum and Chris Spears were also named honorable-mention.

The Region 2-A Player of the Year was Turner’s Marquis Jackson, and Ewing was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Holland was also named the Region 2-A Coach of the Year.

While he was happy for his All-State honorees, Holland did say he thought Jackson was missing from the list.

“I was somewhat disappointed that Marquis was not honorable-mention All-State, but those kids that made honorable mention was deserving as well,” said Holland.

“Marquis is going to be tough to replace. He did all the little things very well. I’m very proud of this senior class. Champ and Keshawn deserves some praise as well. They have been in the program all four years. This year’s senior class had three region championships, two Final Fours, and one state runner-up, which was not bad for a high school career. The basketball program is well-respected today because of these kids.”

Edwards was the girls Region 2-A Player of the Year, while Harris was named the Coach of the Year.

Turner’s Demetria King was named first-team All-Region, and Kadriana Howard and T’Keyah Chevers were each named second-team.

Chaibrica McCoy and Shanae Carithers were also named honorable-mention.



INTERNET EXCLUSIVE



Georgia Sports Writers Association

All-State Teams

Mr. Basketball: Al-Farouq Aminu, Norcross

Miss Basketball: Anne Marie Armstrong, Wesleyan



Boys

Class AAAAA

Player of the Year: DeQuan Jones, Wheeler

Coach of the Year: Eddie Martin, Norcross



First team

Richard Howell, Wheeler 6-8 Jr.

Ebuka Anyaorah, North Gwinnett, 6-5 Sr.

Kenny Hall, Redan 6-9 Jr.

Trae Golden, McEachern, 6-2 So.

Wesley Witherspoon, Berkmar 6-8 Sr.



Honorable mention: William Tolefree, Stephenson; Derrick Spear, Douglass;

Toby Veal, Johnson-Savannah; J.C. Ward, Marietta; Kevin Williams, Savannah;

Teondre Williams, Meadowcreek; Ralph Sampson III, Northview; Taariq

Muhammad, Norcross; Yaw Gywau, Parkview; Glen Rice Jr., Walton



Class AAAA

Player of the Year: Travis Leslie, Columbia

Coach of the Year: Phil McCrary, Columbia



First team

Raymond Willis, Westlake 6-7 Sr.

Darrius Morrow, Columbia 6-9 Sr.

Mfon Udofia, Miller Grove 6-3 Jr.

Noel Johnson, Fayette County 6-7 Jr.

Tony Woods, Rome 6-10 Sr.



Honorable mention: Justin Rush, Dacula; Devoron Ashmon, Lithia Springs;

Aloys Cabrel, Mays; Andre Malone, North Clayton; Shalamar Tresevant, Stone

Mountain; Demetrius Mickens, Thomas County Central; Manny Atkins, Tucker;

Rashad Hassan, Riverdale; Kenny Mitchell, Columbia; Chris Beasley,

Pebblebrook.



Class AAA

Player of the Year: Derrick Favors, South Atlanta

Coach of the Year: Richard Wallace, Glenn Hills



First team

Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus 6-4 Jr.

Jerel Stephenson, Glenn Hills 6-4 Sr.

Brian Bryant, Dougherty 6-1 Sr.

Chris Singleton, Dunwoody 6-9 Sr.

Chris Reynolds, Glenn Hills 6-4 Sr.



Honorable mention: Delwan Graham, Dunwoody; Matthew Brabham, Central-Macon;

Terrance Hill, Jordan; Steve Peterson, Jordan; Kenneth Wise, East Hall;

Izaan Cross, Flowery Branch; Demario Mayfield, Franklin County; Hugh

Robertson, Northeast-Macon; Chris Edwards, Westover; Marcos Knight, West

Laurens.



Class AA

Player of the Year: Howard Thompkins, Wesleyan

Coach of the Year: Skip Matherly, Wesleyan



First team

Tony Mitchell, Swainsboro 6-7 Sr.

Dexter Ellington, Randolph-Clay 5-10 Sr.

Rashad Smith, Dublin 5-10 Jr.

Tanner Smith, Wesleyan 6-5 Sr.

Jimmy Williams Jr., East Laurens 6-3 Sr.



Honorable mentions: Wendell Williams, Appling County; Tyler Arnold,

Calhoun; Tyshawn Good, Darlington; Ken Taylor, East Laurens; DeAndre

Johnson, Randolph-Clay; Patrick Myers, Josey; Harold Doby, Laney; Zuri

James, Pace; Jimmy Bacon, Long County; Alex Elam, Lovett;



Class A

Player of the Year: Kammon Holsey, Hancock Central

Coach of the Year: Anthony Webb, Hancock Central



First team

David Buchannon, Portal 6-2 Sr.

Demetrius Ewing, Turner County 6-5 Sr.

Quintravis Benjamin, Terrell County 6-3 Sr.

Justin Udi, Hawkinsville, 6-3 Sr.

Joel Lamb, Southwest Atlanta Christian, 6-7, Sr.



Honorable mention: Tray Pierce, Turner County; Nasheed Muhammad, W.D.

Wohammed; Jalen Kendricks, Southwest Atlanta Christian; Brandon Reed,

Whitefield Academy; Jamaal Day, Wilkinson County; James Wilber, Galloway;

Joe Chase, Greenforest Christian; Tyler Blackman, Excell Christian; Daley

Strafford, Calhoun County; Jacovi White, Chattahoochee County.



Girls

Class AAAAA

Player of the Year: Jylisa Williams, Stephenson

Coach of the Year: Dennis Watkins, Stephenson



First team

Khaalida Miller, Douglass 5-8 So.

Alicia Manning, Etowah 6-1 Sr.

Telia McCall, Marietta 6-2 Jr.

Taylor Turnbow, Stephenson 6-2, Sr.

Porsha Porter, Mill Creek 5-5 Sr.



Honorable mention: Tyra Smith, Berkmar; Morgan Jennings, Douglass; Mykala

Walker, Duluth; Lindsey Mason, Etowah; Shaniqua Pauldo, Luella; Brittney

Echols, Marietta; Kyra Crosby, McEachern; Alisha Andrews, Redan; Sczeny

Hartry, Parkview; Lindsay Welker, Tift County.



Class AAAAA

Player of the Year: Charenee Stephens, Southwest DeKalb

Coach of the Year: Kathy Richey-Walton, Southwest DeKalb



First team

Tamika Willis, Westlake 6-2 Jr.

Brittni Johnson, Clarke Central 5-4 Sr.

Tessah Holt, Fayette County 5-6 Sr.

Courtney Freeman, Madison County 5-10 Jr.

Eboni Mitchell, Southwest DeKalb 5-7 Sr.



Honorable mention: Abril Peeples, Americus-Sumter; Sharon Swanson,

Cherokee; Jalissa Dawson, Baldwin; Fraderica Miller, Marist; Tai Brown,

Northside-Warner Robins; Amma Onyeuku, Fayette County; Chelcey Farrar,

Hillgrove; Latia Williams, North Clayton; Courtney Hurt, Salem; Mo Bennett,

Statesboro.



Class AAA

Player of the Year: Janae McKinney, Kendrick

Coach of the Year: Sterling Hicks, Kendrick



First team

Mukia Myrick, Kendrick 5-6 Sr.

Jasmine Judge, Hephzibah 5-6 Sr.

Parrisha Simmons, Southwest-Macon 6-2 Sr.

Metra Walthour, Liberty County 5-7, Sr.

Ciara Lyons, Glenn Hills 5-9 Sr.



Honorable mention: Brittany Kirkland, Monroe Area; Aarika Judge, Hephzibah;

Sada Wheeler, East Hall; Ashley Holt, Cairo; Tiffany Anderson, Dougherty;

Beneidra Colbert, Mary Person; Velicia Bell, Carrollton; Karisma Boykin,

Carrollton; Kelly Ellison, Hardaway; Dominique Gilbert, Monroe-Albany.



Class AA

Player of the Year: Destiny Mitchell, Randolph-Clay

Coach of the Year: Jan Azar, Wesleyan



First team

Briana Jordan, Greater Atlanta Christian 5-8 So.

Porschia Hadley, Macon County 6-3 Jr.

Glentrice Sapp, Laney 6-1 Jr.

Blanche Alverson, Buford, 6-3, Jr.

Kiara Smith, Model, 5-8 Sr.



Honorable mention: Robyn Foster, Coosa; Chaney Means, Greater Atlanta

Christian; Shekinah Henry, Vidalia; Amber Satterfield, Fannin County; Ty

Johnson, Laney; Erin Hall, Wesleyan; Tahitia Butler, Dodge County; Allyson

Faircloth, Savannah Christian; Precious Peak, Randolph-Clay; Breanna

Bradley, Rutland.



Class A

Player of the Year: Monshay Thomas, Terrell County

Coach of the Year: Jackie Hamilton, Calvary Day



First team

Katie Covington, Calvary Day 5-9 Jr.

Kori Penland, Gordon Lee 5-8 Sr.

La’Tanya Scott, Southwest Atlanta Christian 5-11 Sr.

Nikki Winn, Towns County 5-6 Jr.

Diamond Hunnicutt, Landmark Christian 5-10 Sr.



Honorable mention: Madison Scott, Atlanta International School; Katherine

Dotson, Savannah Country Day; Jasmine Birdsong, Hancock Central; Precious

Friend, Southwest Atlanta Christian; Shayhlia Jester, Terrell County;

Brittany Edwards, Turner County; Shaniqua Holston, Taylor County; Brittany

Standifer, Monticello; Brittany White, Trion; Amanda Irwin, Towns County.