Southwest High School - Spirit Yearbook (Macon, GA)

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VA Boys Basketball — 23

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Quality and Depth Lead to Success The Southwest Patriots Boys’ Basketball Team continued the winn- ing tradition established by past Southwest teams by finishing NUMBER ONE in the Middle Georgia Top Ten Teams and capturing the State AAAA Championship. Their outstanding record of 26-2 reflected dedication and hard work on the part of the team and coaches. Under the direction of Head Coach Don Richardson and Assistants Robert Hudson and Clyde Barden, Southwest has been in the state playoffs eleven of the past fifteen years, and with this year’s title, they now possess five State Championships and one National Championship. As one of the teams leaders, 6’7” senior Steve Grayer was voted Player of the Year on the All-Middle Georgia and All-CityeBoys’ Teams. He was nominated for the McDonald’s All- American High School Basketball Team as well as being selected to the Converse and the Addias All-American Teams. Steve was consistently in dou- ble figures and had a playoff high game of 22 points. Steve has signed a scholarship with Wichita State College. Thomas Lowder, the other starting senior, went almost unnoticed throughout the year, but in the victory over Heritage High School, he reached his season high total of 25 points and was instrumental in the Southwest vic- tory. Thomas was selected to the All- City Boys’ Second Team. He has signed with Missouri Southern. Both Grayer and Lowder played in the Georgia State All-Star Game. Junior 6’7” center Earl Wise turned in an outstanding season by averaging 15 points and 9 rebounds a game. He was selected to the All-Middle Georgia Second Team and to the All-City First Team. Eric Manuel, sophomore for- ward, kept pace with the rest of his teammates by averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds a game. He too was selected to the All-Middle Georgia and All-City Teams. TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Eric Manuel fires a jump shot for two points. Steve grayer dominates the boards. BOTTOM: Thomas Lowder brings the ball down court 22 — VA Boys Basketball

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The State ls Ours! The 1984-85 season opener was a prophecy of things to come. The Pat's, lead by Steve Grayer’s 32 points and Earl Wise’s 31 points, came home with a 92-81 victory over Washington High of Atlanta. The season continued with one victory after another. During the Christmas holidays, Southwest journeyed to the “‘Basketball Capital’ of the U.S., Lexington, Kentucky, to participate in the Hillsboro Classic. Steve Grayer and Eric Manuel with 16 and 15 points respectively led the Patriots to a 58-35 victory over Takes Creek Commodores which extended the Southwest record to 11-0. With the arrival of tournament time, Southwest was ranked Number One in the region. In the semi-final game, Southwest faced the slow down tactics of Richmond Academy. At halftime the Pats lead 20-14, but came back strong in the second half, with Eric Manuel scoring 15 points, to lead Southwest to a 63-32 victory. The final game of the Region Tournament was a rematch with Warner Robins, the team that gave Southwest their second loss of the season. The Demons led 30-19 at the half and extended their lead to 13 points in the third quarter. Southwest made a strong charge in the fourth quarter and tied the game up at 58-58 at the end of regulation time. With 46 seconds left in overtime, the score tied at 60, Tony Hall sank a jump shot that gave the Pats the win- ning basket. Southwest had avenged an earlier loss and now advanced to the State Tournament with this 64-60 win. Southwest knocked off one oppo- nent after another to reach the finals of the State Tournament. Their final roadblock to the title was LaGrange. The Pats executed all phases of the game with perfection and emerged with a 66-50 victory and brought home the State AAAA Championship Title. TOP, LEFT TO RIGHT: Steve Grayer concen- trates on this important foul shot. Varsity Team. BOTTOM, LEFT TO RIGHT: Overtime anxiety is expressed on the face of Coach Richardson. Tony Hall goes inside for two points. Earl Wise shows form which dominated center court. 24 — VA Boys Basketball