Local team successes are sweetest of treats

Sure, I have a college degree. I live on my own in a two-story townhouse. I pay my own bills. I cook my own meals and fix my bed (most of the time).

Despite all my grown-up ways, every spring I still get an Easter basket from my mom.

Now that we're two weeks removed from Easter, I've almost finished off my basket. The chocolate bunny was the first to go. Then the caramel eggs. After that, chocolate footballs, a few pixie sticks of pure sugar and several Peeps. At this point, all that's left is two or three empty plastic eggs, a few loose jelly beans and that annoying plastic grass that I'll be picking out of the carpet for the next six months.

Let's say Columbia County is the Easter basket. This year's chocolate bunny is the Greenbrier baseball team. It's the team everyone will remember - the biggest and the best.

But let's not forget about the other guys. Sure, the chocolate bunny is the cream of the crop, but the Peeps and caramel eggs are still amazing.

Here's a few of my Easter basket favorites:

Lakeside tennis

The boys ran the table in the regular season with an undefeated record. The girls also dominated, and both teams finished No. 1 in the region. They both took care of their first-round opponents in the state tournament and were competing in the second round this weekend. The boys tennis teams from Greenbrier and Evans also advanced to the second round of the state tournament.

Lions baseball

Augusta Christian, seeded fifth in the South Carolina Independent Schools Association Class AAA state tournament, started its quest to defend last season's state championship May 1 with a two-game sweep at fourth-seeded Robert E. Lee. Augusta Christian's Josh Whitaker hit three home runs and batted 4-for-8 in the two games. The Lions were taking on top-seeded Northwood this weekend.

Middle school

The county was well represented in the CSRA Middle School All-Star basketball game last month. Among the top basketball players from the area were Grovetown Middle's Bianca Stewart, Bianca Boyd, Laroy Spears, Justin Threats and Gabriel Warner, Greenbrier Middle's Ben Morgan, Taylor Hudsteth, Kaila Hunt and Meredith Shelton, Riverside Middle's Chris Hartfield and Halie Brinkman and Lakeside Middle's Keith Luke.

Harlem boys tennis

More than 100 pupils got out of class April 29 to watch the Harlem tennis team in its home state tournament match against Mary Persons. The Bulldogs lost the match, 3-2, but got impressive showings from three-year No. 1 singles player Troy Moore and the No. 1 doubles team of Wesley Gower and David Devoti. Gower and Devoti picked up the game only a few months ago but still managed a record of 13-2 including a win over Evans this year.

Harlem boys soccer

The Bulldogs stumbled to a fourth-place finish in the Region 3-AAA tournament but came roaring back when it counted. Harlem upset No. 1 seed Spalding 2-1 in an overtime shootout April 28 to advance to the second round of the Class AAA state tournament. The Bulldogs lost to AAA No. 5 Columbus in the second round but still posted a 10-10-0 record on the season.

Lakeside boys soccer

The Panthers recorded an upset of their own in the first round of the Class AAAA state tournament. Lakeside made the long trip to Ware County and beat the top seed from Region 1-AAAA, 3-2. The season came to an end in the second round with a loss to No. 6 McIntosh.

Coaching change No. 1

For two years, Kim Chambers has coached both the boys and girls basketball teams at Harlem. Starting next fall, the girls will have their own coach, as assistant Jonathan Holley takes over the program. Holley filled in for Chambers a few times this past season and has already played a big part in the development of the program.

Coaching change No. 2

The Panthers will be under new leadership next year as Donnie Burch announced he will step down as boys basketball head coach. Burch said he'll stay with the school in his regular position as counselor and girls tennis coach but will use the time away from the court to spend with his family.

Lakeside assistant coach Ryan Morningstar will take over the program. Immediately after the announcement, Burch said he was hired on as an official scoreboard operator.

A good gesture

High school coaches have enough responsibilities without the worries of facing the media hanging over them.

When the Greenbrier girl's soccer team lost to rival Lakeside in the Region 2-AAAA Championship game, Greenbrier coach Alex Heider was in a tough position. He had suffered a hard loss and was already late for his son's little league game. Meanwhile, I was busy interviewing Lakeside players.

Despite the loss and tight schedule, Heider called me from his son's game and answered every question I asked.

Such a gesture after a loss to a rival is unexpected and certainly appreciated.