Coach clocks 100th hoops win

A party was on at Greenbrier after Tuesday night's 70-37 Lady Wolfpack win over Burke County.

The game itself didn't bring much excitement. It was a nonregion game that ended in a blowout and gave Greenbrier its fifth win of the season by 30 points or more.

The team celebrated Tuesday because, once again, the Lady Wolfpack had reached a milestone: The win was the 100th of head coach Garrett Black's basketball coaching career.

"I'd say probably half of them have been with this group of girls," Black said.

Actually, more than half have been in the past three years, when the Lady Wolfpack have tallied 57 wins. The 2003-04 squad's 17 wins were the most in school history. Last season's team topped that mark with 22 victories and a state tournament Elite Eight appearance. This year, the team entered the weekend with 18 wins and still had five regular season games to go.

"The bottom line is making sure we get better as a basketball team," Black said. "This group we've got has been together for three years. The experience they already have has helped."

One Lady Wolfpack starter, Sarah Oland, is only a sophomore but earned some experience as a freshman guard last season. This year she's averaging 9.8 points per game, and she turned in another 9-point performance Tuesday.

"Last year she played in spot situations for us," Black said. "That experience has helped her this year. It benefits all the girls."

To add to Tuesday night's celebration, it was also Oland's 16th birthday.

"A win on her birthday was a good present for her," junior forward Tiffany Blackburn said.

The Lady Wolfpack can't celebrate for long. Two other Region 2-AAAA teams, Effingham County and Jones County, entered the weekend undefeated in region play alongside Greenbrier.

The team that survives the final two weeks of the regular season will take top spot in the region and, more importantly, play host to the boys and girls Region 2-AAAA Tournament.

"That would be huge," Blackburn said. "One of our main goals is to have the region tournament here."

The girls team isn't the only squad at Greenbrier looking forward to the postseason.

Greenbrier boy's basketball coach Casey Dees has led his Wolfpack squad to a surprisingly successful 2005-06 season.

The team has faced the season without star athletes Reggie Rice, Rich Poythress and Chris Johnson but still managed a huge region upset over Wayne County. The Wolfpack entered the weekend at 10-9 on the season.

"Our bread and butter is our defense," Dees said. "These boys have worked hard all season. They've bought into the system."

Before either Greenbrier team can head to the postseason, they'll face in-county rival Evans on Tuesday night.

It's not a region game this time, but it's still a big one," Dees said. "We could see them again very soon in the region tournament."

The Knights have won both previous meetings in the boys match-up while Greenbrier has won both girls games.