Harlem's girls soccer best of 2003-04
George Berry is building a dynasty at Harlem High.
Harlem's Christy Hart (left) and ARC's Gennie Balogh
scramble for the ball
during the first half of their region 3-AAA championship game at Harlem.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Berry's Lady Bulldog soccer team had another fantastic season, highlighting the school's 2003-04 athletic season.
The girls team won 20 games during the regular season and lost only one heading into the playoffs. The team had the best record in the state and rose to second in the Class-AAA state rankings.
The team breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs, crushing Screven County and Fitzgerald, 8-0. The shutouts were nothing new, as the Bulldogs posted 11 during the season.
The Bulldogs fell to Lovett, 11-0, in the quarterfinals. Lovett, a private school that eventually lost to Westminster of Atlanta in the state finals, also beat Harlem last year, 16-1, in the playoffs.
After the game, Berry said he would put his team up against any public school team in the state. He will again get the chance next season to show off one of the area's best programs.
Brandy Braswell was named to The Augusta Chronicle All-Area First Team after the season. Elissa Botts and Jamie Nevin made the second team and Jackie Schmidt, Mallory Morgan and Beyra Ortega were honorable mentions.
Braswell also excelled in softball, landing a dual scholarship with South Georgia College.
The senior led the Bulldogs to a third-place finish in Region 3-AAA, putting them in the state playoffs.
Harlem beat higher-seeded Peach County but fell to South Effingham in the second round of the Winner's Bracket. The Bulldogs beat Monroe, Albany but were knocked from the playoffs by West Laurens. Braswell, Sarah Harrington and Amber Klein were honorable mention Augusta Chronicle All-Area picks.
The Harlem baseball team also made the playoffs under the guidance of Jimmie Lewis, a four-time state title coach.
The Bulldogs knocked off Savannah Christian but fell to Dublin in the second round. Harlem was led by Clayton Bruce, Ben Hill and Jordan Whitaker, all named to The Columbia County News-Times All-County Second Team.
The boys and girls tennis teams made the playoffs in 2004, but lost in the first round to Perry and Dublin, respectively.
The Bulldogs other playoff representative was the boys soccer team. The team fell to Richmond Hill, 8-1, in the first round. Tyrell Dyson was named second team All-Area by The Chronicle.
Tim Camp and Foster Moore led the football team, and both signed scholarships to play college football. Camp will suit up for Air Force this fall and is the first Harlem football player in more than a decade to sign a Division 1A football scholarship. Moore signed with Fort Valley State.
The girls basketball team loses Sharday Taylor, an All-County pick by The News-Times. Taylor averaged 13 points and eight rebounds last season. Patrick Mott was also named All-County and will also be lost to graduation. Mott led the team with 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds a game.
2003-2004 Harlem Scholarships
Tim Camp: Football, Air Force
Foster Moore: Football, Fort Valley State
Brandy Braswell: Soccer/Softball, South Georgia College