Championship Week (Episode 2): Josey vs Glenn Hills; WACO vs Westside; GRU vs Flagler

Every morning, starting Wednesday and ending Sunday, I will release an episode of "Championship Week," which will chronicle all the region tournament action I can see!


While driving to the region 3A tournament, and recording the introduction to the "Championship Week" episode above, I thought of the unfortunate fact that either Josey or Glenn Hills would play its last game today.  Glenn Hills has had a difficult path to the post season, playing virtually the entire region schedule without its best all around player, Zi Cook.  Seniors Aaron Williamson, Maurice O'Bannon, and Cook have been part of the core group that has made Glenn Hills one of our area's best team the past several years.  But if any team deserves to get past today's quarterfinal round, advance to the state playoffs, and play at least three more games, it's Josey.  The team's only shortfalls this season have come to region and area powers Laney, Butler, and Washington County. The Eagles were a possession or two away from winning four of the six games against those teams. And what basketball fan would like to know Josey's Darius Williams has played his last high school game?  Not me.

Donald Jordan and Darius Williams (Josey) prepare
to trap Glenn Hills' Zi Cook in region tournament action

So before the game even started, I was practicing what I might say here to show appreciation for the seniors (whichever group it turned out to be) whom I would have watched for the last time come Thursday morning.  Ideas for saying goodbye did not instantly flood my head.  The way I choose to give the Glenn Hills (who lost a very well played game) seniors a nod came from a Spartan himself. When Aaron "Toot" Williamson attacked the rim in the first half Wednesday, elevated high above a Josey defender, and slammed the ball through the hoop with ferocity, he had the balance, composure, and "coolness" to land, stop, stand tall, and give me a salute.  Check it out in the "Championship Week" episode above.  If you think it was a "hot dog" move by Williamson, I'll disagree.  I choose to believe he was letting me know he knew I was there, letting me know I was watching a true competitor, and letting me know how basketball is played in one of the state's best regions.  I'll say this:  I see you, Toot.  And I'll miss seeing you in the Spartan blue!  But you know where to find me...