We recently named our Winter Sports Teams of the Year for 2022-23. Three of those teams are now placed in the BLITZ Hall of Fame. HALL OF FAME TEAMS

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Lumpkin County Lady Indians

Coach: David Dowse
Record: 26-5
Accomplishments: 3A State Runner-Up, Region 7-AAA Runner-Up, #1 State Ranking

Not many teams can live up to the expectations of what Lumpkin County had to…a State Championship team with zero seniors meant bringing everyone back for an encore and a huge bullseye on the back. David Dowse and his team embraced the expectations and the challenge. It didn’t seem like the team struggled at all. With a tough non-region schedule and arguably the toughest region in the entire state (Lumpkin and Wesleyan both ranked #1 during the season, White County ranked #2, Dawson County #8, Pickens #5), it’s phenomenal that Lumpkin was able to claim the regular season region title. They fell to Wesleyan in the tournament title game, but rebounded with a dominant run through the postseason. The Lady Indians had to beat #4-ranked Lakeview FO (Sweet 16), #5 Cross Creek (Elite 8), and #8 Calvary-Day (Final 4) all on the road or on neutral ground. The 78-31 win in the Final 4 was the 2nd-largest margin of victory in over a decade in GHSA history in a Final 4 girls game. Lumpkin dropped the state title game in Macon to an undefeated, #1-ranked Hebron Christian powerhouse. The Fantastic Five – seniors Mary Mullinax (17.7 PTS, 7.6 REB, 3.7 AST, 2.9 STL; Region POY, BLITZ POY), Lexi Pierce, Kate Jackson, and juniors Averie Jones (16.9 PTS, 4.1 REB, 3.2 AST, 2.7 STL) and Ciera Brooks were unbelievable. Lumpkin averaged 64.3 PPG and allowed only 41.8.

Banks County Lady Leopards

Coach: Steve Shedd
Record: 28-4
Accomplishments: 2A State Runner-Up, Region 8-AA Champions, #1 State Ranking

The Lady Leopards made history by making just their second-ever Final 4 run and first-ever State Championship game appearance. Banks County earned a #1 state ranking and really took off after a big win over #2-ranked Rabun County early in the season. It was part of a 21-game win streak, as Steve Shedd and his Lady Leopards powered on to an undefeated region slate, winning the regular season and tournament Region 8-AA Championship, and then marched through North Murray, North Cobb Christian (Sweet 16), Central Macon (Elite 8), and Josey (Final 4) into the title game against a 32-1 Mt. Paran juggernaut. The Lady Leopards featured the Region Player of the Year in seniors Kamryn Grier (14.0 PTS, 10.0 REB, 2.0 STL, 2.0 BLK) and Madison Adams, juniors Addison Hoard (11.0 PTS, 4.0 AST, 4.0 REB, 4.0 STL) and Carley Segars (8.5 PTS, 7.5 REB), and sophomores Rylee and Reese Murphy. The future is bright with so many players coming back next season.

WRESTLING

Jefferson Dragons

Coach: Kyle Baird
Accomplishments: 5A Duals & Traditional State Champions, Area Champions, #1 State Ranking

The Dragons are as dominant as ever. Jefferson under coach Kyle Baird have stud wrestlers in literally every single weight class. That was never more evident than in the Traditional State Tournament, where Jefferson had 13 grapplers going for state titles, and 7 of them claimed the top podium spot. That list included freshmen Roman Belardo (BLITZ Wrestler of the Year) and Dallas Russell, juniors Sammy Brown and Creed Thomas, and seniors Luke Cochran, Davis Dollar, and Chaz McDonald. Jefferson rolled to a Duals title as well, claiming a pair of state titles. An unforgettable group to be certain.