Lakeside star is now playing in Tinseltown

One of the best live performances of Sunday night's Academy Awards was the song Patience from the movie Dreamgirls. The song was nominated for Best Original Song and was performed on stage by Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose and Keith Robinson.

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All were actors from the movie, and yes, Keith Robinson is the same Keith Robinson who was a three-year starter at point guard for the Lakeside High School Panthers.

Robinson was with the Panthers from 1988-92 and has had a number of great roles recently, including in Fat Albert. His role in Dreamgirls is likely his biggest break in Hollywood. He was able to showcase his acting, and his singing talent was on full display.

Keep a close eye on Robinson, because he is undoubtedly a rising star on the big screen.

Greenbrier opens the year at No. 1

Fresh off its 35-1 state championship season, Greenbrier High School's baseball team opens 2007 atop the Class AAAA state baseball poll. The Pack looked extremely impressive in a recent scrimmage with traditional baseball power Westside.

With the return of two of Georgia's premier pitchers (Brandon Cumpton and Nolan Belcher) and offensive star Jeff Rowland, the Pack is primed for a repeat.

No other area teams cracked the pre-season Top 10.

Lady Wolfpack face tough test in second round

Greenbrier High School's girls basketball team had no trouble rolling past Starr's Mill 65-30 in round one of the GHSA state playoffs to improve to 29-0 on the season.

Round 2 likely will be much tougher. Greenbrier will face Northside from Warner Robins, Ga. The Lady Eagles are 26-2, with both losses coming to Westside of Macon. Northside features the one thing Greenbrier may have trouble with: size. All five Northside starters stand 5-foot-8 or taller. The team's top scorer is 6-foot-1 post player Brittany Holder. She has been extremely consistent this season averaging 18.7 points per game, 11.1 rebounds per game and more than three blocks per contest.

Another player the Lady Wolfpack should key on is 5-foot-8 guard/forward Janay Wilson. She averaged 14.6 points per game along with five assists and nearly four steals per game. Also freshman Tai Brown has turned heads this year. At 5-foot-9 she's averaging 12 points per game and is extremely versatile.

Also, Northside Warner Robins defeated Jones County four times this season. Jones County was in the same region with Greenbrier a year ago and, like the Lady Wolfpack, made it to the state semifinals. This season Jones County played in Region 4-AAAA and lost all four games with Northside by an average of nine points.

Keys for the Lady Wolfpack:

- Create easy baskets with defense. Greenbrier has used their swarming press to create easy offense all year, and that becomes even more important vs. a team with great size such as Northside.

- Someone needs to have the hot hand from downtown. Tiffany Blackburn is the most likely candidate, but Brooke Jackson and Sara Oland are also capable. One of them needs to knock down a couple of long-range shots to force Northside to defend them and possibly open up some driving lanes.

- Big game from Dorian Freeman. Freeman has showed flashes of brilliance this year. She needs to put forth a supreme effort vs. Northside. Blackburn will have to help her out on the boards, but Freeman's defense could be the biggest key for success for Greenbrier.

Prediction: Despite their size and talent, I think Greenbrier will find a way to get past Northside. Michelle Swiec will have a big game, and if it comes down to a big shot she will find a way to knock it down.

Greenbrier 60

Northside 56