Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams at Putnam County Middle School (PCMS) wrapped up Piedmont Athletic Conference championships on Feb. 4, at Youth Middle School in Loganville.
For the girls, it was their second-straight PAC championship, and for the boys, after finishing runner-up last year, they put together an undefeated record on their way to the 2022-23 title.
The Putnam girls went into the championship tourney seeded second after a 10-2 regular season and beat top-seeded Loganville in the final game for the second-straight year.
Girls’ head coach Sha’Kedra Ellison (far right) said strong defense combined with a desire to score was key to her team’s success. She also mentioned having a deep bench meant everyone on the team got playing time and experience in different situations.
“I believe in playing everybody because you never know who you’re going to need when it comes to crunch time,” said Ellison, who has coached the team for two years. “And I was real big on running the score up when we could to give everybody a chance to play. That way, when I need them, they know what to do out there. Because it’s always different in a live game situation from practice.”
Seventh-year boys’ PCMS head coach Alexander Banks said experience played a factor in his team’s success this year, too, as he had several returning players who fell short in the championship game last year.
“That one year made a big difference with them,” he said, recognizing his team got bigger, better and smarter since starting practice last May. “I mean, I don’t want to say this year was easier, but the average margin of victory for us was 15 or better.”
Banks also gave credit to his players’ lives away from the court, too.
“We have great kids in our community and that is attributed to their parents and their willingness to be taught. We can teach them basketball, but when things are not going their way, it’s just attributed to their parents for them to listen,” the coach said.
“Even when you’re winning, I just attribute it to good upbringing and parental support. Teaching them to listen, have respect (for teachers and coaches) and that kind of stuff. And not being selfish, making the necessary sacrifices for the team, that’s what wins.”