GREENE COUNTY
After winning the GHSA Class A Public state championship last year, the Lake Oconee Academy girls basketball team has set itself up in a similar position.
Even though the region tournament hasn’t been completed yet, the Lady Titans are guaranteed a spot in the state playoffs since they finished in the region’s top four.
First-year head coach Savannah Soles’ squad ended the regular season with a 22-2 record and went 11-1 in region competition.
Lake Oconee Academy’s only two losses came against Class 7A’s North Paulding in December and region opponent Towns County in the month of January.
The Lady Titans have since battled back from that region defeat and won five straight games to end the regular season, setting themselves up in the semifinals for Region 8.
The Lady Titans have shown a lot of experience throughout the season so far, and it’s mostly due to the number of players the program was able to return from last season.
Lake Oconee Academy had zero seniors graduate off of last year’s team, so Soles’ starting five played together all 27 games before the 2022-23 year even began.
In a few of the close games the Lady Titans were in during the season, this experience showed by being able to close out contests down the stretch.
One of the main reasons the Lady Titans have been able to maintain this level of success is their ability to score.
Lake Oconee Academy has scored 59 points per game over its 24 contests so far, and the Lady Titans are versatile while doing so.
Players such as Georgia Bosart and Hannah Heinen lead the team from 3-point land while girls like Jada Williams and Kensi Stevens score more around the basket.
The Lady Titans’ ability to move the ball around and break down opposing defenses has led to their high volume in scoring, but it’s been their defense as well that’s really kept the team dominant.
Most of Lake Oconee Academy’s players are guards, but since the early parts of the season, the group has rebounded the ball efficiently.
They have been able to limit their opponents' second-chance opportunities by grabbing defensive boards and getting an outlet pass to a teammate quickly. Soles’ team has also crashed the offensive glass more, which has allowed them to score more to get set up in its full-court press.
The defensive aggression the Lady Titans play with comes from all five players on the court. Williams usually spearheads LOA’s defense, but Heinen and Jane Monachello have caused problems for opposing ball-handlers throughout the year as well.
Ultimately, it will be the Lady Titans’ ability to take care of the ball that will take them deep into the state tournament. If so, they could repeat as state champions for the first time in school history.