By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
SPRINGFIELD — Effingham County’s girls went 374 days without a basketball victory, but in the space of 24 hours they won twice.
The Rebels (2-8) capped a happy holiday break by defeating Bryan County 47-30 on Dec. 29 and Southeast Bulloch 30-27 on Dec. 30 to snap a 22-game losing streak.
“Over the Christmas break, we’ve been trying to iron out the kinks,” said first-year Lady Rebels head coach Monica James. “We’re still learning, still growing, still have a long way to go but I’m proud that they’re starting to buy in and they’re playing like a team.”
ECHS entered the break with an eight-game losing streak to start the season after dropping the final 14 games during the 2019-20 campaign.
The Rebels lost to Brunswick 90-19 on Dec. 15.
But the return of several starters from injuries has fueled the turnaround. Sophomore Faith Norman, who missed time with a back injury, stepped up and scored 10 points in each win, including a short jumper with 34 seconds left that broke a 27-27 deadlock against SEB.
Against Bryan County, freshman Roneisha Goss scored 12 points to lead three ECHS girls in double figures. Jania Taylor, who missed 2½ weeks with a sprained ankle, had 10 points in her first action back against the Redskins.
While snapping a losing streak that dated back to Dec. 21, 2019, a 30-20 win over Groves, the Bryan County victory was particularly special for James, who played her high school basketball in Pembroke.
“It was big but, at the same time, I didn’t want to make (the game) about myself,” James said. “I wanted it to be about the girls but it did feel kind of weird to be on the opposite bench at Bryan County.
“It’s always good to go back to your alma mater and pick up a ‘W.’ “
Rebels blast Yellow Jackets
Effingham County’s boys rode a big offensive performance from their 5-foot-10 point guard Caleb Williams to breeze past Southeast Bulloch, 71-51, and complete the boys-girls doubleheader sweep.
Williams blew past a defender for a layup on the Rebels’ first possession of the game, a precursor of things to come, en route to a 20-point performance.
The junior scored six points in ECHS’ 14-0 second-quarter run which turned a 21-13 game into a 35-13 blowout.
Rebels’ Khiry Wallace finished with a game-high 24 points. Keion Wallace, saddled with early foul trouble, had 11 points.
“I told the guys after the game, this is a good win against a talented team and we stepped up and played well. Now we have to use this game moving forward,” ECHS coach Jake Darling said. “You see their potential, but there are times when we play below our potential. Games like tonight, when we come out with energy and effort, we look really good.”
Former ECHS star Tyler Griffin, who transferred to Southeast Bulloch after his freshman season, finished with 10 points.
Griffin received handshakes and greetings from many of the Rebels after the game as the teams walked off the court.
