Mays holding it down!

4SHOT Sports

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Mays holding it down!
By Larry Williams (4SHOT Sports)
Feb 26, 2003, 06:32 EST

Both the boys and girls basketball teams from Benjamin E. Mays High School in Atlanta are headed into the “Sweet Sixteen” of the 2003-03 State Basketball Playoffs starting Thursday night. Both teams have been a very pleasant surprise this season and outside of themselves I don’t think many people gave them much of a chance to make it to the state playoffs.

With seniors Chloe Jones, Ramona Okonya, Meghan Collier and Aronique

Senior Chloe Jones has done a great job at the point this season for the "Lady Raiders".

Kelly, Coach Oliver Banks “Lady Raiders” looked to be in the mix. But with the likes of perennial powers North Atlanta, Westlake, Stone Mountain and Creekside they weren’t expected to get out of the region let alone to the “Sweet Sixteen” of the 2003-03 State Basketball Playoffs.

After losing to North Atlanta in the Atlanta Public School Christmas (played without 6-1 center Ramona Okonya) they pulled themselves together and made a nice run to close out the season.

In their sub-region playoff game against North Atlanta they played one of the best

Freshman star Nikkita Gartrell is already dishing off no-look passes to teammates.

games I’ve seen a girl’s team from Mays play since the inception of 4SHOT Sports. With Ramona Okonya controlling the paint and point guard Chloe Jones dishing off the rock on the wing to Meghan Collier they jumped on the “Lady Warriors” 62-55, eliminating them from advancing into the state playoffs.

But it was a pair of outstanding freshman that really put the icing on the cake as Nikkita Gartrell and Nikita Thomas stepped up and played like upper classmen. A couple of nights later the “Lady Raiders” beat top ten ranked Westlake to win the Region 5-4A Championship.

Mays beat a solid Cedar Shoals team 58-52 in Round 1 last week as senior Chloe Jones scored a game-high 25 points and freshman Nikita Thomas scored 14 points. The “Lady Raiders” will face their stiffest test of the year when they take on a tough St. Pius girls team that is currently ranked 2^nd in the state. Look for the “Lady Raiders” to be ready to roll.

With the lost of some key big men and their young point guard (transferred to

Transfer DeAundre Bray does a nice job getting everyone involved on both ends of the court.

6-6 Desmond Williams has done a great job on the boards for the "Raiders.

Wheeler), Coach Floyd Mack’s team looked on paper like they might be a year away. But 6-7 sophomore sensation Rashad Chase came back with a years experience and more muscle, along with seniors Calvin Booker, George Andrews, 6-6 juniors Desmond Williams and Brandon Emerson giving the “Raiders” a competitive team.

But the stick, the glue that held them all together was 5-5 transfer guard from Harper-Archer, DeAundre Bray. Bray has done a great job for the “Raiders” at the point. Like the girls team they lost in the championship game of Atlanta Public School Christmas, to No.1 ranked South Atlanta.

But again like the girls team the regrouped for a final push at the state playoffs. The won their sub-regional title by disposing of North Atlanta and Stone Mountain, guaranteeing themselves a spot in the state playoffs. In the regional championship they once again lost to that powerhouse over at South Atlanta.

In the 1^st Round of the state playoffs Mays got 15 points for Orlando Dunson to and easily disposed of Rockdale County 66-38. They now advance into the “sweet Sixteen” against a team that is like a mirror image in Chamblee High School out of Decatur.

This one is going to be real close … flip a coin!