Athletes make it a season for ages

Here are The Columbia County News-Times' picks for the All-County Girls Basketball Team:

Girls First Team

G - Michelle Swiec, junior, Greenbrier

Swiec is a joy to watch. She has a great understanding of the game and has made herself into a legitimate mid-major college prospect. She averaged nearly 18 points per game and led the Wolfpack in assists and steals. She has also guided the Pack to a 51-12 record over the past two seasons.

F - Melissa Lewis, senior, Greenbrier

While Lewis' scoring average was down from 17 points per game in 2004-05 to about 12 points per game this season, her role in Greenbrier's success was just as important. Lewis was forced to guard bigger players all season, and she was up for the challenge. Her interior defense and rebounding was a major reason Greenbrier was able to earn the school's first Final Four berth.

G - Jordan Little, senior, Augusta Christian

Little has spent the past two seasons rewriting the ACS record books. She helped lead the Lady Lions to the South Carolina Independent Schools Association Final Four and a 23-7 record. Along the way, she paced the team in scoring (17.1 points per game) and steals (5 per game). She also contributed nearly four assists and three steals. She set the school record for most points in a single season (514), finished third on ACS's all-time scoring list and holds all school marks for 3-point shooting.

F - April Woodard, senior, Harlem

Woodard is probably the county's top athlete. She was capable of taking over games at times for the Lady Bulldogs. She led Harlem in scoring at 13 points per game and was a three-year starter for the Lady Bulldogs. She certainly has the talent to play on the college level. She's simply a solid all-around talent.

C - Lauren Middleton, junior, Evans

Middleton averaged a double-double this season, pouring in 10.2 points per game to go with 10.9 rebounds per contest. She has started all three seasons she has been at Evans and should be primed for a big senior campaign. Middleton also averaged 2.6 steals per game.

Honorable Mention

Augusta Christian - Sarah-Beth McKinney, Lynlee Satcher, Casey Brush, Elizabeth Alewine

Evans - Janay Moore, Rachel Hall, Tynisha Butler

Harlem - Kacee Camp, Shontale Wells, Nicole Wells

Greenbrier - Brooke Jackson, Sara Oland, Tiffany Blackburn

Lakeside - Alex Cassagnol, Perrin Fryer

Player of the Year

Michelle Swiec, Greenbrier

I should thank Michelle. She made this choice very easy for me. She led the Wolfpack to the best season in school history and the finest season for any girls team in county history. With Swiec at the helm, Greenbrier finished the season 28-4 and earned a spot in the Class AAAA Final Four.

Here's a fact: Greenbrier had no winning seasons before Swiec's arrival on campus; since her arrival, Greenbrier has 66 wins in three seasons.

Swiec has always been able to handle the ball, pass and play defense, but this season she started to take over games by scoring, using her quickness to get to the basket almost at will.

She plays the game the way it was meant to be played, and I (as cheap as media people usually are) do not mind forking over money to watch this young lady play.

Coach of the Year

Garrett Black, Greenbrier

This race was closer than you might think.

Keith Walton at Augusta Christian would have captured the honor most seasons. After all, his Lady Lions won a school-record 23 games and made a run to the SCISA Final Four.

However, this was not most seasons. This was a special year for the Greenbrier Lady Wolfpack. Black led his team to a 28-4 mark and the school's first trip to the State Final Four.

The team began the year getting no respect despite 23 wins and an Elite Eight run in '04-05.

By the end of the season the 'Pack found themselves ranked No. 5 in the state polls. The 'Pack did this with four underclassmen in the starting five.

Another interesting note: Greenbrier lost only one game to schools from the CSRA.

If the 'Pack get any inside help next season, another Final Four is not out of the question.

The boys All-County Team will be released Wednesday, March 22.