Cavs capture Classic
Augusta Prep girls basektball takes tournament title; Lakeside High wrestlers place second at invitational
The Lakeside High School wrestling team got pinned on home turf during last week's Black Cat Invitational, but in high school basketball action, the Augusta Preparatory Day School girls came out on top in the Garden City Basketball Classic.
The Lady Cavaliers clinched the Garden City crown Saturday at Boardman Gymnasium with a 42-28 upset of Hilton Head Christian.
"It was a great day. You can't beat it," Prep coach Kevin Furtado said.
At the Black Cat Invitational wrestling tournament, West Laurens High School seemed unbeatable. The Raiders defended their title in the two-day event at Lakeside, while the home-standing Panthers settled for their second-straight runner-up finish.
"We still have a couple weight classes to get better at, but I was real happy with how we did," Lakeside coach Randy Hill said.
West Laurens claimed the team title with 247 points. Lakeside (204) and Evans (134) took the next two spots and Greenbrier (90) placed sixth.
Lakeside's individual weight-class champions at the Black Cat were Mike Ingham (130 lb.), Rhett Carter (140), Payton Gunn (152), Justin Otis (160) and Jimmy Bartasis (171).
Joey Tant (215) and Garrett Jones (275) earned individual titles for Evans.
But the biggest winner on the Columbia County high school scene last week was Augusta Prep. The Lady Cavaliers opened the Garden City Basketball Classic Thursday by edging Briarwood Academy 43-41, then squeaked by Curtis High School 41-39 in second-round action Friday.
That set the stage for Saturday's winner-take-all game between Augusta Prep and Hilton Head Christian, and Prep was ready.
"We absolutely dominated them," Furtado said.
The Lady Cavs improved their record to 5-3, but more importantly, the team has rallied after senior Rebecca Smith was sidelined with a broken clavicle.
"There's nothing like a big trophy to build their confidence," Furtado said. "Augusta Prep needs this, because we have been pounced on for so long. Our basketball program is headed in the right direction."
Prep was led by point guard Abby Alexander, who was voted Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Center Mary Hannah Lynn joined Alexander on the All-tournament team.