Standouts make up all-county team list

Last month marked the end of the most competitive basketball seasons in recent memory. Every region game was an all-out barn-burner.

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As if it needed any more fuel for the fire, the rivalry between Evans and Greenbrier was further strengthened by two of the best boys basketball games this county has ever seen.

Sadly, the season ended prematurely for most local teams. No public school boys team reached the state tournament, while the Greenbrier girls were the only team in the county to win a state playoff game.

That brings us to The Columbia County News-Times 2006-07 All-County basketball teams. This was, by far, the toughest all-county team to select since I came to this newspaper. With plenty of help from Ashley Brown, we have put together the top players from the county.

We present the girls all-county basketball team today; the boys team will be released next Sunday.

ALL-COUNTY FIRST TEAM

G - Michelle Swiec, Sr. Greenbrier

The county's best player for at least two years finished with more than 1,700 career points and sparked an unprecedented line of girls basketball success at Greenbrier.

G - Sara Oland, Jr.

Greenbrier

Oland would have been the best guard on almost any other team in the state. The Lady Wolfpack saw a fantastic sign of things to come when Swiec went down with an injury and Oland stepped in and became a leader.

F - Laura Kopald, Sr.

Augusta Prep

Led the Lady Cavaliers in scoring. A 20-point performance was an off night for this sharp-shooter.

F - Nicole Wells, So.

Harlem

Only a sophomore, Wells scored 14.2 points per game and added more than five rebounds per game to lead the Lady Bulldogs

F - Casey Brush, Sr.

Augusta Christian

She wrapped up a strong high school career by averaging a double-double every night. Her 11 points per game and 13 rebounds per game led the team.

ALL-COUNTY SECOND TEAM

G - Taylor Jones, Jr.

Evans

Filled a huge hole in the Lady Knights' lineup and averaged 8.6 points per game.

G - Lynlee Satcher, Sr.

Augusta Christian

The senior will play at USC Aiken next year after averaging seven assists per game at her point guard position.

G - Brooke Jackson, Sr.

Greenbrier

Three-point shooter and defensive specialist might have been the star guard on any other team in the county.

F - Tiffany Blackburn, Sr.

Greenbrier

An intimidating, experienced player who could light it up at the 3-point line but also help out underneath the basket this year.

F - Lauren Middleton, Sr.

Evans

Averaged 12.1 points per game and 12 rebounds per game. Also developed a 3-point shot that surprised opposing forwards.

HONORABLE MENTION

Lakeside - Alex Cassagnol, Ashley Williams

Evans - Tarah Henderson, Tiphani Grimes, Brittany Brooker

Greenbrier - Dorian Freeman, Janay Moore, Kaila Hunt

Harlem - Kacee Camp, Kelley Hamilton, Diamond Rorie

Augusta Christian - Whitney Waters, Elizabeth Alewine

Augusta Prep - Mary Beth Horton

2006-07 GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Michelle Swiec, Greenbrier

2006-07 GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

Garrett Black, Greenbrier

The Lady Wolfpack's 29-1 overall record is the best mark for a high school basketball team in Columbia County history.

It was just one more highly successful season in what's become a Columbia County dynasty.