McEachern’s Pachiyaanna Roberts and Harrison’s Ryan Blumenthal, the Cobb County Tip-Off Club’s players of the year, hold up their plaques, sandwiched by their coaches — and Wednesday’s coach of the year honorees — Phyllis Arthur and Robert Churchwell.
Staff photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan
Staff photo by Jon-Michael Sullivan
Blumenthal, a 6-foot-3 senior shooting guard and small forward, was named Cobb County’s Mr. Basketball. He averaged 17 points and 6 rebounds per game in leading the Hoyas to the semifinals of the Class AAAAA state playoffs and a 23-8 overall record.
According to Harrison coach Robert Churchwell, Blumenthal, the Hoyas’ all-time leading scorer with 1,232 career points, has yet to commit to a college, but schools showing interest in him include North Georgia, Valdosta State, Tulane, New Hampshire, Montana and Jacksonville, among others.
“It’s a humbling feeling to win this award,” Blumenthal said. “You set goals for yourself every year, and when you get the opportunity to reach them, it’s a great moment. I just want to keep going and to use this award to help me reach bigger and better things. This is a big step for me going forward with my plans for college.”
Roberts, a 5-10 senior who could play all five positions, was named Cobb County’s Miss Basketball. She recorded 18 double-doubles and averaged 17.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 3.8 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for the Lady Indians, who capped off their 33-0 season with the Class AAAAA state championship and a No. 2 national ranking from ESPN.
A Syracuse signee, Roberts ended her time at McEachern with 1,591 points, 942 rebounds, 290 assists and 351 career steals.
“This award means a lot,” Roberts said. “I’ve come a long way since freshman year. It’s taken a lot of hard work and dedication, and to be recognized with all of these great players from the county is special.”
Georgia Southern men’s basketball coach Charlton Young served as the ceremony’s keynote speaker, and he urged the players in attendance to prepare themselves for life after basketball. Young’s focus was to urge the players to find their passion and have a backup plan outside of basketball.
The Tip-Off Club also announced its first- and second-team all-county squads.
The boys first team included Blumenthal, Walton’s Sean Morgan, Wheeler’s Chuck Mitchell, Harrison’s Marshall Guilmette and North Cobb teammates Lee Moore and Saxon Steele. The second team included Walton’s Rico Overall, North Cobb’s Jordan Neff, Allatoona’s Dimychael Ross, McEachern’s Dimar Hill, Hillgrove’s Rhodis Eason and Marietta’s Damon Mitchell.
Harrison was acknowledged as the boys team of the year and Churchwell was named the boys coach of the year.
McEachern and Hillgrove each placed two on the girls first team, which was made up solely by Region 4AAAAA standouts. The Lady Indians’ Roberts and Dominique Wilson, and the Lady Hawks’ Celina Rodrigo and Mackenzie Engram were joined by Harrison’s Nikki Hegstetter and North Cobb’s Taylor Gordon.
Second-team honors went to North Cobb’s Amber Reeves, Kennesaw Mountain’s Kira Gordon, McEachern’s Te’A Cooper, Allatoona’s Elise Spann and Marietta’s Courtney Sprague.
McEachern, which also captured the Region 4AAAAA championship, was selected as the girls team of the year, while Lady Indians’ coach Phyllis Arthur garnered girls coach of the year honors.
The Tip-Off Club also recognized retiring Hillgrove coach Sheryl Fowler with a career achievement honor. Fowler coached for 30 years in Cobb County at Campbell, McEachern and Hillgrove, totaling 568 wins and seven region championships. She also made four state semifinal appearances and coached in two state championship games.
Wheeler’s Richard Eboka was selected the boys scholar-athlete of the year after posting a 4.55 grade-point average. Seven others joined Eboka on the all-academic team.
Pope’s Andrea Brown led the girls all-academic team with a 4.40 GPA.
The awards handed out Wednesday were open to schools that held membership in the Cobb County Tip-Off Club.
“The talent and caliber of the student-athletes in this county is incredible,” said Walton boys coach Joe Goydish, the Tip-Off Club president. “This was a great year across the board for boys and girls basketball in Cobb County, with several teams advancing far into the playoffs.”
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I would assume that not placing Kenny Gaines from WA on the first or second team, or naming him Player of the Year would mean this is true...