From the Macon Coliseum and the Macon Centreplex, the 2026 GHSA Basketball Championships.

I paused there on purpose for a second.

Continues with the Adaptive Sports Championship presented by our friends at Pest Management West Georgia coming in with a record of 3-4 coming up against one of the biggest dynasties that you might never have known about the Houston County Sharks coming in with a record of 7-0 Will they get another championship to add to their trophy case here in the state of Georgia, alongside the man whose name is attached to the basketball championships?

It is the executive director emeritus of the Georgia High School Association.

Dr.

Ralph Swearngin Dodd, good to see you, my friend.

Good to be back.

With you, John.

And so it is that time where we get to focus on some of the really cool athletes here this weekend.

And this has been one of those things that you have made sure is going to be a part of the fabric of this entire week.

That's right.

This is the 30th anniversary of ASP.

It's the 25th anniversary of the alliance between GHSA and ASP, and these are, as you well said, their athletes.

They may be ambulatory, non-athletic, but they meet all the qualifications for the national limitations for disability sports.

And they're phenomenal.

They really are.

And we will see that over the next six periods.

We'll be getting that in a sec.

So we mentioned rules of the game.

So let's show you just how different the wheelchair activity is.

And you have 68 minute periods.

It's three halves 3-3 It's a running clock the entire time.

And this is one that we're really going to have to pay attention to.

That third one right there is very, very important.

Yeah.

There's no such thing as double dribble.

But there are traveling violations.

You have to have one dribble for every two turns of the wheel.

You can coast all the way down without dribbling.

But if you start turning your wheel, you got to put a dribble down.

And every player has to play one period.

Of the six here today.

Now, over the last couple of seasons, we mentioned the dynasty.

That is the Houston County Sharks.

And there is one gentleman in particular that we have been able to see over this time period, just grow and evolve, and it's been great to see him.

Yeah, it's the whole thing.

It's Houston Sharks came about.

They had great coaching.

They have great support from their from, from the, from their administration.

But Anthony Cuti is, is a guy that does, he's the facilitator.

He, he, he sets up his team mates.

He scores.

He's, he's just a, he's just a great athlete.

And we have seen him be the two time state championship MVP here at the Macon Coliseum.

On the flip side, for the West Georgia Wolverines, I know that you have had someone in the doc spot shadow Austin Thompson.

Yeah.

Austin Thompson has tremendous chair speed, great maneuverability.

Their offense runs with a lot of ball screens off of him, and that clutters the field sometimes.

But he has the ability to get around those things.

Very, very good athlete shoots.

Well.

We're going to see that shooting on display from Austin Thompson here this afternoon.

As it is, the Houston County Sharks in 7-0 and there is the good doctor Geoffrey Martin, the head coach of Houston County.

We're going to have the starting lineups coming out here in a bit.

And Coach Roach from West Georgia will be able to see him too.

And we'll get through the starting lineups here in just a second.

Houston County it is number two.

Caden Nelson.

Number three.

Dalton.

Crosby.

There's Doc Martin and number 11.

Laila Kindness.

Number 15 Anthony.

Cuti.

Number 21 Caleb Jordan.

You're going to see that lineup come out for Houston County.

For West Georgia it's going to be Austin Thompson Emmitt Darden wearing 11 Blaklee spear wearing 2021.

Luke Woods and number 30 JP Brandon.

You've got some keys here in a second, but I want to see I just want to show everybody there's there's Roach the coach right there for the West Georgia Wolverines.

Yeah.

I there are about four or five keys.

I think really important.

Number one, both teams press right.

Whichever team has turns most turnovers on their press are going to have the advantage obviously.

Right.

The Wolverines are going to have to they shot well mid range shoots.

But this is an open ended gym and they have to adjust to that.

And they have to they're going to have to really stop the fast break that that the Sharks are known for.

And I think that it's going to be a surprising game.

Sharks won twice in the regular season pretty convincingly, but in the semifinals, the Wolverines really, really overcame a team that had beaten them twice.

I think they've improved in their peaking.

So there's your prediction from the good doctor once again from the Macon Coliseum.

And it's it's wild to think you mentioned the two anniversaries, the 25th anniversary and the 30th anniversary.

It seems almost like it was yesterday when we started doing this.

Yeah, exactly.

You sounded like me thinking.

Yeah, after the 1996 Paralympics in in Atlanta the American Association of adaptED Sports Programs developed.

Five years later, they came to us and said, can we work together?

And we found that their goals were very, very much like what we wanted for the GHSA.

And it's been a great relationship.

Handball, basketball, wheelchair football, and also a part of the embedded in the GHSA track and field.

You're getting the entire rosters introduced to everyone here at the Macon Coliseum.

And so when they are integrated into the lineups will go through who they are.

But once again, starting lineups for the Houston County.

Sharks.

Caden.

Nelson wearing two Dalton Crosby wearing three.

Laila Kindness wearing 11.

Anthony Cuti wearing 15.

He was in the Doc Swearing-in spot shadow and number 21 Caleb Jordan for West Georgia it is number ten.

Austin Thompson.

Number 11 Emmitt Darden Blaklee spear wearing 20.

Luke Woods wearing 21.

J p Brandon wearing 30.

And you had mentioned these two coaches with with Doc Martin and Roach, the coach, it could not be any more 180 degrees.

Stylistically.

They really are.

We have we have the staid and very quiet Jeffrey Martin.

Really has a great feel for the game.

And he coaches well, Coach Roach is very intense.

He lets his feelings be known.

And but he has such great love and concern for his kids, and it shows in what they've been able to, to grow this season.

So center circle, it's going to be Luke Woods for West Georgia and Anthony Cuti you see them lining up, making sure that the wheels are even Stevens center circle.

There's your whistle once again.

Remember six periods, three for each half and it's won by Houston County.

Caden.

Nelson on the dribble outside the 99 line goes into the paint up and in first two points on the board, two Houston County.

And you notice the Sharks.

They operate with a wide defense.

And so that leaves a lane open for passes.

They're smothering.

Defense is probably one of the two major factors of their success.

Stick with West Georgia Austin Thompson, 12th grader.

Lagrange.

Here's your first two on the board for Houston County off the window, up and in.

That opened the middle and made an easy place for him.

And he had good share momentum.

He could make the shot.

Darden with the inbounds on the turn, JP Brandon, East Coweta nice handoff there inside the paint stop up off the rim.

No good.

It's going to stick with West Georgia.

Georgia once again your starters Austin Thompson Emmitt Darden Blaklee spear, Luke Woods and JP Brandon.

Keep an eye on JP Brandon.

Number 30 has a great great ability to set screens.

He's he's pretty good at it.

There's your other lineup for the Houston County Sharks by the way, four straight titles for Houston County.

12 of the last 13 and and 11 of the past 15 in wheelchair football.

Other than what we're seeing here today.

So it's 11 of the past 15 for Houston County wheelchair football.

12 of the last 13 here in wheelchair basketball.

And in handball.

It's about the same.

Cuti once again off the window up in the assist.

Yeah.

Wolverines you're gonna have to tighten up that interior defense.

And they the teams that they have played in the past don't tend to be spread as wide as the Sharks spread.

Austin inside the paint turns around underneath the bucket, hands it off off the glass, rebound off of Cuti.

I think it's going to stick with West Georgia.

They're going to say it's going to go the other way to Houston County.

And.

There's your peek once again.

You mentioned how Cuti is the facilitator right there.

Yes, there it is.

For example.

So Cuti with the Kindness and Laila with the bucket long outlet up front.

Too much for Anthony Cuti.

And it's going to be interesting to see.

Now what Austin Thompson does.

He's probably going to get some double teams and and he he's he's an adept passer.

So he may set his teammates up.

Good pick to get him sprung.

Superior speed.

Center line heading toward the paint off the window.

Rimmed out.

Second chance taken away by Cuti.

Good hands for the turnover.

Tries to go to Caden.

Nelson ball on the floor and once again.

If you're upended, that's when the whistle happens.

And so it was an opportunity for Luke Woods to hang on to the basketball and orient everything so Luke can get back into his chair.

Exactly.

Woods long outlet JP Brandon is available once again.

The tenth grader from East Coweta, pressured from behind from Caleb Caden Nelson Cuti to Caden Nelson.

The transition game is so important for the Sharks.

Side rim no good on a three on one.

And they're going to call steps on Emmitt Darden.

One of the.

One of the problems that they had in the semifinals the Wolverines did was the inability to defend this this kind of a play.

And we'll see how they do this time.

Bullet pass nicely defended that time by Brandon, but it ends up with Kindness for the bucket.

Three on the board for the Sharks.

Collision with his own teammate.

Cuti sends it into the backcourt to start things back over.

Great pass to Caden Nelson by the way.

Nelson Kindness window.

Cuti second chance in.

And the last.

Four buckets on the board for Houston County transition.

Is there going to get.

Out of bounds heading back to Houston County.

It's all set up by those.

Those diagonal passes.

They're always looking to find the open player.

Coach Martin wants to have every player score in every game.

That's his goal.

First Laila Kindness with two buckets early on here.

First handful of minutes.

Three separate players have scored for Doc Martin West Georgia.

There's a screen by Brandon.

You heard that screen too, by.

The way.

JP Brandon from long range just off the rim.

And that's the other thing that we see we've seen from DeKalb County in the past.

We're seeing it from West Georgia here.

These athletes are not afraid to launch from three.

No they're not.

Cuti off the glass and the rim no good.

It's going to stick with Houston County.

The Wolverines have been pretty good at stopping the ball up high, but they've been vulnerable underneath.

And that's what I think the Sharks are taking advantage of right now.

Blaklee spear had it went off for fingertips.

It's going to be in now.

Dalton Crosby in the lineup he gives to Cuti 220 and counting here in the first period.

Hands off to Dalton Crosby up and over the rim.

It's going to go all the way and it will end up as a throw for West Georgia here.

210 and counting here.

First period.

Doc Martin speaks.

He's getting his instructions and giving his instructions out through the hands.

Turn over and it's going to go to Houston County.

Yeah, it's very difficult to do all the maneuvering of the chair, but when you've got this kind of full court pressure, you have to face it every time.

It's really difficult.

Second chance Crosby bucket Dalton Crosby.

His first two margins, five baskets now coming up on 90s to go.

First period.

Turning to Luke Woods.

Woods tries to work it forward and he does to Austin Thompson.

Bounce pass picked off.

Caden Nelson is there and he's stood up.

Collision was there too.

JP Brandon let's take a peek at the last basket.

Basket number five.

Crosby from the baseline.

The Sharks.

If you're not on the ball, if you don't have the ball, the Sharks on offense are always moving.

They don't stay stationary.

So that makes them open for shots.

Darden looking to inbound.

He finally does.

Launching from three.

Need I think another stride for Austin Thompson.

50s and counting here in the first.

Can you hear there's Doc Martin surveying his domain.

That has been a great deal of success for Houston County over the last decade plus.

Off the window.

Nicely done.

Dalton Crosby with.

Carr.

Darden looking to inbound finds JP Brandon a jump ball situation.

Anthony Cuti getting in there with the hand.

The Wolverines are looking tentative.

They were a lot more intense in the semifinals and I guess coming in and playing the undefeated team, it sometimes creates that thing in your mind.

Aiden Nelson, jumper, 15 off the back of the rim.

And that'll do it for the first period.

All the gold all the hoops on the board six for Houston County.

They've got 12 on the board.

Undefeated coming in at 7-0 they're going to try and make it eight and take another state championship.

Weekend continues here on GPB.

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Welcome back.

Start of the second.

It's been Houston County Sharks so far.

Six buckets on the board.

Dalton Crosby with four.

Laila Kindness with four Caden Nelson and Anthony Cuti with two each for separate scores.

So far for Houston County, and the margin is 12.

As we get you ready for the second period.

Once again, three periods a half.

So let's see what West Georgia can do Doc here in the second.

Now that they've gotten acclimated to things.

Yeah, that's you can see there that they're double teaming Austin and Thompson.

And it's going to be very difficult for him to maneuver like he did some in the previous games.

That's what happens when you put Austin Thompson in the open as the player to watch.

That's right, a double team.

They do.

Cuti with a lot of space, edge the paint nice.

Whenever he comes down court with the ball his head is up.

He's always looking for teammates.

If it's not there, he takes it himself.

Caleb Jordan Jordan's first shot of the afternoon.

A little too much on it.

And so now Wolverines and you have that pressure coming from Madison Ryan and Anthony Cuti long outlet up to the top.

Blaklee spear.

Nicely done.

Edge of the paint off the window, up and in.

First two to Garrett Kinney for West Georgia on the.

Nice transition work that time by the Wolverines to get there.

First bucket.

Making sure that Cuti can't get any place pass to Ryan two v two nicely.

He's a seventh grader.

She and her.

Her twin, 31, are seventh graders.

Cuti up and in from the baseline.

He's got four.

He's gonna be a bit of a transition year for the for the Sharks.

They have five seniors.

But they got some kids playing JV.

They started in elementary school, so they learned the game there and they come up.

As your outlet again off of Tenney goes out over the.

The inline.

Let's take a peek.

Take a peek at the West Georgia first two on the board.

Nicely done.

Nicely done.

And so then once again, Cuti drives baseline as an opportunity.

Rainbow up and in.

Picked up by West Georgia.

They're trying to go for that long outlet pass.

Nice.

Nicely anticipated by Cuti.

The long outlet pass is not their usual method.

They usually try to bring the ball up quickly on a dribble.

Cute little B button move by Anthony Cuti off the window.

Thompson can't quite hang on to it.

Cuti once again picks it up for Houston County two on two outlet all the way to the back.

Luke Woods now tried to grab it, couldn't hang on to it.

So once again back and forth continues to Houston County champ Ryan.

Ryan.

He averaged four points a game in the regular season, and he had 12 in the semifinals.

So he's a seventh grader and a good athlete.

3.9 GPA.

He's been on the previous three championship teams steps.

Cael here.

Let's take a peek at the last bucket.

Sister gets an assist.

So she's in a sister is what you're saying?

Yes.

Well said.

There's Champ Ryan.

Addison, inbounding to Anthony.

Cuti.

Checking the perimeter over to the far side into the paint opportunity off the window.

Second chance.

Too much.

Third opportunity.

Up and in Madison.

Ryan with her first two.

So to your earlier point, six of the ten players for Houston County have scored here.

435 and counting.

Second Cuti stands still.

I'm going to call a foul on Anthony Cuti the last basket once again inside the paint.

Up and in by Madison.

Ryan.

An opportunity here.

West Georgia to inbound.

You see the pressure Thompson Thompson and Cuti.

I like this matchup.

It's a nice back and forth second foul on Anthony Cuti in about 10 seconds.

Remember it's a running clock.

So pass the halfway point once again margin 162.

But it's another inbound opportunity here for West Georgia.

Doc Martin doing a little bit of and.

Don't understand the delay.

I'm trying to see what.

I think they were trying to get Caden Nelson securely into his chair.

And so now Caden Nelson is in for Anthony.

Cuti.

Gets there ahead of Ryan.

Nicely done.

Trying to shield was Austin Thompson to prevent the fast break opportunity.

So he's inbound chance here for Houston County in 310 and counting here in the first.

So let's see what Caden Nelson can do and what he's what he's thinking here on the inbound.

Violation.

Violations.

The first time I've seen that.

Yeah.

I'm not sure.

So Caden Nelson called for a lane violation.

245 and counting here.

Second period.

Here comes Austin Thompson Thompson around Nelson Blaklee spear turned Emmitt Darden jumper off the window, close and off the rim.

Second chance was almost there, picked up by Asher Hayes.

Ace pops it up into the air.

Thompson gets it back.

Jumper off the rim.

No good.

Tries.

Second chance.

Gives himself a little bit more room rimmed out.

Notice how the Sharks really do a good job of boxing out on the defensive end for rebounds and.

Traveling.

Have a traveling violation.

Remember it is now once again the rule for those who are watching for the first time.

I have to have one dribble for every two turns of the wheel, and a pivot is not a turn and you can coast.

But if you're going to turn your wheel, got to put a dribble down.

Inbound West Georgia 145 and counting for the second.

They'll try it again.

Thompson calls for it long.

He'll get it long over Nelson shoulders thrown in.

Nicely done off the window.

Back rim.

Second chance taken away.

Caden Nelson nicely done there.

Defending Luke would now it's a one v two.

Nice pass.

Well done.

They're up and in champ Ryan for the bucket.

The diagonal pass.

Not completely across court has been very effective for for the Sharks all year long.

So 70s to go second period.

Austin Thompson outlet to the right hand side.

Nicely done there with the pass off the rim.

No good second chance up.

Fighting for it.

Trying to get out of the mass of humanity that's in the paint.

Kicked back out.

Jumper off the glass once again.

Three chances in a row doesn't fall for West Georgia.

Notice the chair speed.

Caden Nelson has exactly that.

And the problem that that players really have to learn the momentum.

Imagine an able bodied player doing a layup.

He's going to extend up to Darden some of the momentum of the body.

These people have to have to keep the chair's momentum so they can get the shot up like that.

Champ Ryan, he's now got six.

22 on the board, 11 buckets for Houston County under 20s to go here in the second period.

Thompson edge of the paint comes in.

Nicely done.

Off the baseline.

That's the kind of maneuver that we saw last week in the semifinals, where Thompson is able to use his speed.

In.

Two periods down, and it is Houston County in control.

Six different players have scored for the Sharks, and here's one of them.

Margin is 2010 baskets on the board.

Champ Ryan with six leads the Sharks Moore.

When we return.

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Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

Getting ready for the third period for the Adaptive Championships.

West Georgia coming in with a record of three.

And for the Houston County Sharks, who've won 11 of the last 12, the last 13-4 straight championships in this division.

They are holding court 11 buckets so far for them.

Champ Ryan with six Laila Kindness Anthony Cuti with four, as well as Dalton Crosby two each for Caden Nelson Madison Ryan.

Six different hoopers so far have scored for Houston County Doc.

Yeah.

And that's that's the that's what they want.

And they will they will keep keep the intensity even if they have to pull the press off and go half court defense, it'll still be intense pressure defense.

, eight minute periods, running clock.

This is the last period of the first half.

Get it back to Atlanta and find out what's on Hannah Goodin rundown.

Find out what's going on there.

Nice bullet pass to the inside off the underside of the rim for Ruby Stachowski second chance.

Bounce off of Stokowski last and it will go to the West Georgia Wolverines.

Ruby Stokowski is a fifth grader, so that's.

She's come up through the JV program and now her first year on varsity.

Once again, just, you know, once again, reminders just when you see a team here playing in the adaptive championships, it's not just straight up high school age athletes that you're seeing.

Yeah.

And they don't all come from the same school and they some of these players here have played started in the second and third grade.

Emmitt Darden in possession, first minute gone here.

Third period.

Pulled it out to the right wing for a second.

Now he's free.

Throw line up off the glass.

No good.

Second chance kicked back out once again to the free-throw line.

Into the paint off the window.

Rimmed in and out for JP Brandon.

Spinning trying to get possessions.

Austin Thompson but Sharks with it now up into the air.

Caden Nelson outlet with some space.

Bounce pass.

Dalton Crosby nicely done.

Well done there by the Sharks you see just how quickly they can turn something in transition.

Come down the floor for two.

With strong defenses, feed your transition game and they do that very well.

Thompson Brandon too much on it.

Dalton Crosby once again Thompson trying to prevent any kind of an outlet found.

Caden.

Nelson right near midcourt.

Luke Woods Nice pass.

Nicely done there to Dalton Crosby off the window one more time.

He's got eight.

Here comes JP Brandon teammates left and right.

Austin Thompson now cuts it to the inside.

Too much on the pass to Thompson.

Here comes champ Ryan.

He had he had Thompson open in the middle.

Just missed it.

Nelson stopped off the window.

Stachowski the rebound.

Passes it up under side of the rim.

Second chance.

Stachowski they're encouraging her to shoot.

Nelson up and in.

And there's an example of that unselfishness.

They're always wanting to help their teammates succeed.

That's a that's a trait that I wish a lot of other teams had.

Brandon.

Coming forward outlet to the right.

Thought about the cross court pass space down the baseline, up too much on it.

Now here comes Houston County again.

Laila.

Kindness.

Caden.

Nelson.

Nicely done to Stokowski.

Trying to pull away from Brandon.

Try to give herself some space.

3 seconds I think.

Yep, three second violation.

So it goes back to West Georgia.

Take a peek at the last couple of baskets on the board.

Nice pass to the cutter there with Dalton Crosby.

And he's able to coast.

He.

That's not traveling because he was coasting.

He didn't push the wheel wide open.

There's a basket that followed there as well.

Dalton Crosby with a long launch rimmed out.

Nice try there by JP.

Brandon had the range too much on the outlet.

Trying to catch up to Caden Nelson on the fast break.

In the games that I've seen earlier this year Thompson has operated as a point guard and they ran the offense around him setting ball picks, but the defense of the of the Sharks has kept that from happening, and they've really changed their offensive approach.

Spear checking in for.

West Georgia.

Yeah, and we've got we've got substitutes in.

Every player has to play one period each half.

Encourage the players to participate.

It's a very positive thing.

Gabe Williams is an example now in for West Georgia here in period number three.

I like the wheels.

I like that I like the, the, the spinning neon and Gabe and Gabe chair.

I love that Dalton Crosby.

Long.

Outlet, long outlet, fast break Dalton Crosby.

Thompson with the rebound for West Georgia.

One and done for the Sharks now up the middle.

Blaklee spear through center circle wants to come over to the right.

Dalton Crosby prevents any kind of a run bullet pass.

Man, that was a lot on it to JP Brandon.

Yeah, I think if the people at home are saying, wow, why aren't they making more of these shots?

I encourage them to go out and sit in a chair in the backyard and shoot, know how hard it is.

And now to have a rolling chair do that.

It's a very difficult.

Darden inbounds to spear working the perimeter from left to right, three point line extended off the window.

Rebound Dalton Crosby.

Crosby.

Leading scorer for Houston County, stopped by Thompson.

Nice pass forward to Laila Kindness 15 feet extended.

She'll go the other side of the paint off the window.

Second chance does not happen.

Nicely done there to box out by spear and West Georgia.

2:00 to go here.

Third period.

Spear working the perimeter.

Now here to the near side.

Gets away from the baseline guarded by Crosby over.

Kindness to Brandon.

Back opportunity.

Thompson then closing the distance quickly with Dalton Crosby.

Nicely done there.

Back door rimmed out.

Second chance.

Spear in front of the basket.

Thompson third chance.

Now the outlet coming back the other way.

Dalton Crosby by himself.

Nice shielding job there to make sure that it is an opportunity for Crosby gets his own rebound.

He'll pull it back out at 1:15.

Kindness in.

She did a nice job on the original outlet pass of shielding.

But unfortunately the shot didn't.

Go.

Laila Kindness.

Now with six.

JP Brandon coming forward.

Under a minute to go.

Third period Thompson cross court shot had too much on it.

Second chance pass back behind spear off the rim.

No good.

Coming forward Madison.

Ryan outlet.

Nicely done there to Dalton Crosby.

Thompson cut him off nicely.

Second chance Crosby he's got it.

So Crosby now with ten.

Player double digits for the Houston County.

Sharks.

And adapt for champ Ryan for the pass under 20s to go here first in the first half.

Three periods.

First half, three periods.

Second half.

Thompson stood up trying to go through all the traffic.

Kindness and Ryan and Champ Ryan.

Now once again, one final chance.

Is it going to go before we hit zero center line?

Wide of the target.

But Houston County dominant in the first three periods.

16 buckets on the board and they lead West Georgia handily as they're chasing after the eight win of the year in another title.

Exactly.

A lot of action here at the Macon Coliseum and the Macon Centreplex back to Atlanta and Hannah Goodin let you know what the day has been like so far.

The Doc Swearingen Basketball Championships continue after this on the great GPB stick and stay.

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Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

Georgia's 41 electric cooperatives are anything but static.

Since the flip of the first light switch, we continue to innovate as the demand for energy increases.

MCs draw from a wide variety of resources to generate electricity, from natural gas to nuclear power and renewables, so that we can reliably power.

Tomorrow.

We're harnessing the current to satisfy the future.

Georgia's MCs so much more than electricity.

So.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey, what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Welcome to the GPB Sports Studios in Atlanta.

We are live from the 2026 GHSA Boys and Girls State Basketball Championships.

I'm Hannah Goodin.

We're at the half of the adaptive wheelchair game.

Let's take a look at what you've missed on the GPB championship scoreboard.

This one has been all Sharks.

They are leading West Georgia 32-3 Houston County is an adaptive sports dynasty, winning the past 12 of 13 titles.

In this game.

They are looking for one more and they've won eight on the season looking for their ninth win.

Fans are driving from all over for all of these games.

It is day number four.

It is time to check in with our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety for a very special message about the Sad program.

Time to catch up with Olivia Hollis, the state coordinator for the state of Georgia for Sadd Students against Destructive Decisions.

Good to see you, my friend.

Good to see you.

Let's get into sad a little bit.

What is a sad chapter?

Why are they so important?

Yeah.

A sad chapter is a student led peer led organization chapter or club at a middle school, high school, college where students work together to talk to each other to make smart decisions every day.

So how can schools start these sad chapters?

They would just go to sad org and they would register very quickly.

It's free.

And then that links them to me.

If they're in Georgia or their other state coordinator, and we give them the tools and the resources to get everything they need to get going.

And you are one of the busiest people when it comes to sad that I know here in the state of Georgia, what's it been like for you to see sad, grow and evolve to where it is right now here in Georgia?

It's been great.

It's been really great to see middle school, high school and then college sad members go all along the way to their journey, all making smart decisions along the way and having two national side presidents come out of Georgia has been amazing.

Very, very cool.

That is the words from Olivia Hollis from Sadd Students Against Destructive Decisions.

And our friends at the Governor's Office of Highway Safety always remind you to buckle up.

Georgia.

All right.

We have to take a quick break.

But coming up next, we'll be getting you ready for the second half of this one.

We'll see what you've missed and what's to come right here on GPB.

I said I never joined.

Never knew I was strong.

I was joining the Navy.

Sounds crazy.

Saying never actually is.

With boots on the ground and suspended mid-air, our line workers are everywhere.

Behind every turn switch are those who put it all on the line to illuminate lives down the line.

Their job is as honorable as it is rigorous.

As we look on with admiring eyes, we want them to know we are grateful.

Georgia's electric membership Cooperative celebrate the life sustaining contributions of our line workers.

Storm or shine.

Thank you for being our lifeline.

Georgia's EMC is so much more than electricity.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

From ninth grade through graduation.

Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA Futures.

Breda Pest Management works to protect the inside and outside of your home from pests.

Breda.

They handle bugs and critters.

From ninth grade through graduation, Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA Futures.

Breda Pest Management knows it's the bugs inside that you want gone.

That's why Breda works to protect the inside and outside of your home.

Wherever you go, there we are.

Here's our story by the numbers.

Georgia's 41 not for profit member owned Dmcs deliver electricity to 5 million Georgians.

Our network of electric lines traverses 73% of Georgia's land area, with operations in 157 of 159 Georgia counties.

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Strength in numbers to be where you need us.

Georgia's MCs so much more than electricity.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

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Dot info.

Welcome back to the GPB Sports Studios.

We're at the half of the adaptive sports championship game where Houston County is leading West Georgia, 32-3 It's time to check in with another one of our special partners.

That's Georgia Futures.

They put the student in student athlete.

They have a special message about their match program, which can help a lot of students with admissions.

Here they.

Are.

Time to catch up and find out more about Georgia Match from the Georgia Student Finance Commission and our friend Chris Green, the president of the G. S FC.

Good to see you, my friend.

Thank you for having me.

All right.

So for those that may not know, what is Georgia match.

Georgia Match is the nation's largest direct admissions program.

It lets high school seniors know where they are automatically qualified for admission based on that high school GPA.

And we love to hear about Hope.

GPA making it the next level.

What do high school seniors and parents need to do to take advantage of that?

We want students to visit our free website GA futures.org and claim their spot.

GA futures.org.

So then you go there.

What's the goal of Georgia Match?

The goal is to take the anxiety and fear out of the college admissions process.

We want students to know that this is a fun, secure way to make those plans for after high school graduation.

Very, very cool.

And we will certainly take advantage of that.

That is Georgia match from our friends at the Georgia Student Finance.

Commission.

Thank you.

Chris Jon, we are back.

And here is your scoreboard of the game we're in right now.

It is halftime of our adaptive sports game.

Houston County leading West Georgia 32-3 There's still three more periods to go 8 minutes each.

So a lot more action to come.

We will see what happens.

Can't Houston County get their 13th title and their ninth win this year?

We'll see.

It's all coming up next with Jon and Dr.

Swearingen right after this on GPB.

The nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

I said I never joined.

Never knew I was strong.

I was joining the Navy.

Sounds crazy.

Saying never actually is.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey, what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

From ninth grade through graduation, Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA futures.

Org.

Breda Pest Management works to protect your home from termites with a liquid barrier.

Breda.

They handle bugs and critters.

Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum and the Macon Centreplex.

That is the margin at the break.

Houston County chasing after their 13th title in the last 14 years.

And there's your proof.

You see a lot of Houston County on here, Doc.

Yes.

Six on one side, six on the other side.

And the Gwinnett heat 20 12-20 21.

This is the dominance that we have seen with the development of the program from the Sharks.

Yeah.

And if you went back a few more years in 2007, the West Georgia Wolverines were champions and they were runners up in 2009, 17-18 So they have a history of being competitive.

They've been in a, in a bit of a change.

They were operating out of Warm Springs and Meriwether County for a while now.

They're being led by the West Georgia Bessette, and they're drawing people from Coweta County and Troup County.

So they're getting adjusted to it.

One of the other things that I do want to talk to you about is the expansion of it just statewide and where you're seeing teams develop in all of this stuff.

Yes.

So hang on to that topic.

We'll get into it here in a. Second.

So once again, running clock, three periods each half inbound West Georgia nice to the inside.

Brandon.

Too much on it.

We have a couple of chairs that have to be brought upright.

Two shot foul.

Can have some shooting.

Yes.

There's Brandon.

And you get Whammed.

We had an official here for years who referred to those kinds of things as Whams.

He said, you wham!

There's no.

Doubt he was wham.

And so JP Brandon going to the line, the tenth grader out of East Kurilla.

And to shoot threes or to shoot free throws.

The rule is that the big wheel has to be behind the line.

So the the small wheel may be in front of the line, but as long as the back wheels behind it, you're okay.

So let's see what see what JP and his six points per game average is.

This is the first off the back iron.

Having the same sight lines that we've seen for the last three days.

You know how difficult it can be sometimes with arenas that are larger than what you're used to and trying to figure out what your what your muscle memory is and trying to convert it to this building.

Exactly.

Right.

Second chance goes off the rim.

And the Wolverines, I'm sure, are totally disappointed.

You know, this is a team that averaged 27 points a game in the regular season.

And so to go through this kind of a scoring drought has got to be really unnerving to them.

Spear there it is.

Nice shot the rim Laila Kindness with the rebound.

She had six in the first.

She's coming up the left hand side.

Spear marking her.

Madison Ryan up the middle.

Austin Thompson trying to deny going into the paint.

For chairs come together.

Kick back out to Kindness outside the arc on the perimeter.

Near side Asher Hayes helping out with a convoy there a little bit.

Trying to create some space.

Back rim.

Second chance up off the rim.

Rebound.

Thompson with no shot clock for adapted sports.

They can take their time.

Pass the ball around.

Thompson goes on the drive.

Thought about with Ryan.

Nice pass.

Brandon back.

Iron.

Third opportunity.

Spear fourth chance.

Thompson rebound.

Houston County.

Yeah they are getting their shots.

They just won't fall.

Anderson Ryan Kindness looking for Stokowski.

Stokowski was in the paint.

She pulls it back out so we'll rework the perimeter here.

Coming up 3 minutes gone here in period number four.

Kindness looking for the cutter in Ryan found Madison.

Ryan briefly.

She'll come up with the basketball.

Brandon trying to deny.

Shot off the glass.

No good.

Second chance.

Rimmed out.

Asher Hayes tries to kick it back out outside the paint.

Laila Kindness and she'll reset things at 445 in the fourth.

Looking with Ryan.

Bounce pass.

Asher Hayes got it.

Azeris nicely done.

Asher Hayes with his first two.

And that was a cool thing that we just heard.

Jacob Roach, the head coach for West Georgia Cheering that Asher Hayes gets the first two.

Yes.

And I think you'll find that these these students are very very concerned about each other.

Same team and other team.

They compete but they're concerned about each other.

One B two up and in.

Nicely done there.

Luke Woods with his first bucket.

Coming up to the halfway point here period.

Number four Caleb Jordan trying to dribble out of trouble.

Thompson there defensively.

So let's take a peek.

Bounce pass.

Asher's got it up and in.

That's great.

His development over the last couple of seasons has been fantastic.

And then you go into the paint for the Luke Woods bucket.

He'll go off the rim and it gets the kind roll there.

Chance was there for West Georgia coming back the other way off the rebound.

Madison.

Ryan Kindness pulled the handbrake.

And it looks like you're going to get a foul on JP Brandon.

He's wondering what the fouls are.

One of the things you noticed about the coaching of the Sharks is the fact that they're offensively and defensively, they position themselves to get rebounds.

They're taught the right way to do that.

All the angles on the geometry that's attached to it.

The perimeter over to the left hand side near side Kindness hit the B button and try to work it back to the top of the key.

Does it again.

Nice little handoff there to Ryan Tarkowski.

Stood up by Brandon so she'll pull it back out.

Try to go inside off the side of the backboard.

Second chance was there.

Held in by Blaklee Spear.

And the Sharks get back on defense.

Well.

Asher Hayes with a nice hand in the lane to try to disrupt Thompson.

There.

Second chance pressure from behind.

Brandon off the rim.

Picked up by Laila Kindness to Madison.

Ryan spear denying.

A hand check there once again.

Kindness marked by Thompson.

And 10 seconds.

Whatever these players are first beginning to play with your basketball.

Learning your chair, learning what you can and can't do, and the maneuverability is a remarkable thing, and it's a difficult thing to learn.

Jeffrey Martin the man in charge.

Tremendous program that's been built here at Houston County.

Thompson stops the glass.

No good.

Rebound.

Caleb Jordan, jump ball.

Can you watch Coach Martin?

You never know if he's up 20 or down.

He's he's very stoic and he's always concentrating on and giving information.

His players need.

That's inbounds looking for Kindness.

Kindness takes a tumble.

And that's one of the things if you if you're going to pick up the ball off the floor, it really needs to be done from the side.

If you try to do it from the front, then you find that you tip over like she.

Did.

So now West Georgia with the inbound at 80.

80s bounce pass into the paint.

Chance was there for Thompson.

And you're going to get a foul on Asher Hayes.

Astarita.

Grayson.

Thompson goes.

To.

West Georgia the clock frozen at 1:12 here in the third.

Period.

And one of the one of the things that we were talking about is just the development of where all the teams are.

You mentioned Albany is getting into the.

Albany is going to have a team.

The Peach County team, was the first year in their varsity competition.

Athens has a team now.

Henry County, Gwinnett County.

It's it's beginning to spread.

Right now, I think there are 16 different teams playing one of three sports handball, basketball or football.

Austin Thompson one of two last touched by Houston County.

Coming up on 1 minute to go.

Stokowski denies pass.

Had too much on it.

Asher Hayes comes up.

He's looking for an outlet.

Intercepted.

Austin Thompson Thompson working.

Edge of the paint near side up and in Austin.

Thompson now with.

Three.

So now it's 347.

West Georgia getting into a bit of an offensive rhythm here.

Getting the pressure to work, creating turnovers.

Thompson denies Kindness Tarkowski nice shielding job there to give some room up the right hand side and.

That ends up as a foul.

On.

GBI.

0:15 to go here.

Time running out here in the fourth period.

Madison Ryan gets away from spear.

Stachowski there to help out a little bit.

Three v two situation could not get any kind of an offense for the.

Last activity here in the fourth.

And so West Georgia coming up with numbers here in period number four.

Austin Thompson from the baseline.

He's got three of the seven Wolverines down 20-7 heading to the fifth.

From ninth grade through graduation.

Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA futures.

Org.

So.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

You've seen what your electric cooperative can do for your home, your workplace, your weekend.

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That's the electric cooperative difference.

Georgia's EMC is so much more than electricity.

No matter the season, Breda works to protect the inside and outside of your home.

Breda Pest Management.

They handle bugs and critters.

Welcome back to the Macon Coliseum.

The Macon Centreplex getting ready for the start of the fifth period.

Houston County well on their way to finishing the season 8-0 and getting their 13th title in the last 14 years.

And Doc, you were mentioning earlier where the wheels come into play and where they can be positioned on free throws and things like that.

Taking a look here at just the the aerodynamics and the shielding and the wheels of Austin Thompson's chair.

On Austin Thompson's last basket, he set that up with his speed and maneuverability up high.

That got him in position.

The with the tilted wheels, they're built for stability and and speed and maneuverability.

So there's.

Your look.

There it is.

But he set that shot up earlier with his speed and maneuverability around the corner.

And they have straps.

They have lap straps and they have foot straps so that even when they tilt and fall, it isn't.

It isn't usually a serious kind of situation.

And before the game, the, the, the officials check, check to make sure that the the right height and that the straps are working.

So there are specs when it comes to the chair itself, it can only be certain height and circumference and things.

Exactly.

Right.

And so this is a, this this is a competition chair.

It's different from the chair that they would use, say at school or at home.

Start of the fifth Thompson tried to drive.

The patented transition game of the Sharks.

The long pass.

Caden Nelson on the drive stood up by both Thompson and Luke Woods.

They're going to call the foul on Luke Woods, his second.

One.

Jaden Green is now.

In the game for.

Houston County.

Okay, so once again, as long as the the the small wheels are behind then it's the larger wheels that can be over the line or what have you here.

So, so we'll keep an eye on that.

When we go to the free throw line, we'll show once again the guidelines when it comes to small wheels and the larger wheels.

When it comes to the free-throw line.

And I just saw Dalton Crosby palm that basketball.

Yeah, exactly.

And he did it from the side, which is the way you're supposed to do it.

Just palming it.

That's serious hands.

That is serious hands.

Dalton Crosby leading scorer with ten for Houston County.

Jaden screen is open calling for it goes to the inside.

Caden Nelson off the window.

Second chance is there but it goes out and it's going to go to West Georgia.

640 here in.

The fifth.

Yeah.

Dalton's first year play for the Sharks.

He was in third grade, so he's been at it a while.

I mean, it has been it has been a very, very special time to see.

And we saw the the full screen with all the championships in a row and the runs that Houston County has been on, to see them just completely and totally develop into this dynasty that we've seen here in the state of Georgia.

And one of the things that's happening is that more and more colleges across the nation are developing wheelchair basketball teams, and there are several every year.

There are several Georgia players, not all from the Sharks who get college scholarships to go play with your basketball.

Inbound.

2 minutes gone here.

Fifth period Thompson working the perimeter once again.

Caden Nelson trying to disrupt and he does.

And picked by 14 and by 11.

Nicely done.

There.

You say it's an offensive foul.

Or a three second.

Got it.

Okay.

Yes.

Three second violation 3 seconds on West Georgia.

And that was more the offense that I was used to seeing from the Wolverines with Thompson at the point and then having screens on both sides.

Blaklee Spear and Luke Woods trying to deny.

Caden.

Nelson now into the paint up and off the front of the rim.

And it kicked straight up into the air.

Rebound.

Luke Woods.

So it's two rolls and a dribble.

Doc.

Yes you have to have a dribble every two rolls or it's a traveling violation.

But as we saw Austin Thompson he was coasting.

Yes.

And his hands were not on the wheels themselves.

That's perfectly fine.

Yes.

Trying to come back the other way in transition.

Spear.

Nicely done.

Look at that.

Nice piece of skill there.

Thompson double team kicked it back out off the window.

Too much on it.

Now you get that outlet once again.

Transition.

Here comes the speed.

He's got.

The speed.

Dalton Crosby setting a pick.

Tries to find the outlet gets it back to Caden.

Nelson looking for Cuti who has four on the afternoon.

But to see the.

And I'll use this word to see the artistry that you have with these offenses.

When they are in transition and knowing the responsibilities.

So here is once again, you saw you see Luke Woods trying to shield and he shields Dalton Crosby into Caden Nelson on that.

Yes, exactly.

Off the rim.

Second chance.

Spear through the other side.

Cuti with the rebound.

He's going to go outlet.

And this is what we've been seeing from Houston County outlet outlet and gone.

Yes.

Caden Nelson into the paint off the rim.

Chance was there.

Second opportunity third hitting the side of the rim.

Picking it back up was Champ Ryan.

But he loses possession coming back the other way.

It's West Georgia 3:40 to go in the fifth.

There's Thompson using that speed to get to the outside, but Cuti cut him off.

Caden Nelson trying to create a turnover.

Thompson gets away from the double team spear.

Cuti got a hand in the air.

Now here comes Houston County again.

3-0 on numbers.

Fast break.

Is there?

Caden Nelson on the roll and defending.

Nicely done by Luke Woods, but it goes into Caden Nelson.

He's now got six.

One of the things that the Sharks are taught.

If you're guarding the ball, you're supposed to have your hands up high.

Not every team does that, so it makes it difficult to pass or difficult to shoot.

Scene transitions 3-0 We've seen fast breaks going back the other way.

It has been it has been a great window into what Doc Martin has been teaching over all these years with Houston County.

Thompson crashes into the paint off the rim.

Second chance spear straight up into the air.

Cuti comes down with it.

Yeah.

The history of the Sharks great coaching.

Brent Barnett started Kristy Jones and then Dr.

Martin.

They've had some great, great coaches and coach coaching is difficult.

You have to learn the abilities of your players and you have to teach them to improve their abilities.

To pick up violations.

White.

There's this transition.

So you end up with the defense off the rim.

And the first thing they do is to look for that pass.

Hands in the air.

Now here's your outlet and Cuti.

Yeah, the facilitator.

Literally you go 94 feet pushed forward easy for Caden Nelson.

And you see Luke Woods almost getting there to create a little bit of havoc.

And then second chance for Caden Nelson goes up and in.

So he has six.

He got his first bucket in the second half.

And has second wife was Dalton in.

A technical foul that has been called.

Wheels were on the line.

Yeah, the big wheel has to be behind the line.

The small wheels can be on the line or even in front of the line, both for the free throw and the three point shot.

And so you see here you have to keep an eye on things.

Free throws by Luke Woods.

So.

Misses on the technical fouls but it is two shots and the ball.

So Emmitt Darden will inbound at 214 and counting here in the fifth.

Thompson patrolling the perimeter.

12th grader at La Grange, the leading scorer for this team.

So as a senior nice.

Nice pass.

Nicely worked into the paint up in the air for Garrett Tenney coming away with it.

The long outlet again Dalton Crosby comes down with it.

But he goes away from Dalton and goes away from Thompson gets to Cuti.

Cuti in the paint and it's taken away.

So the defense is here for West Georgia.

You're seeing them come to the four 95 seconds for the fifth.

Spear with a cutter inside.

Drive on the baseline, picked back up in the long reach of Dalton Crosby one, 23 Caden Nelson.

And champ Runyon.

And that's where he'll find champ gets to Cuti.

70s to go here now in the fifth.

Now working the perimeter.

Dalton Crosby leading scorer on the afternoon with ten for the Sharks.

And very soon these teams are going to be switching to wheelchair football.

That will come that comes up and it's an exciting game played on a basketball court.

People ought to come out and see that.

So when does that start up, doc?

It'll start up pretty soon.

The championships are in late April.

Thompson long range three off the window right there for Luke Woods.

Champ Runyon is there.

And now, once again, Dalton Crosby thought about the long outlet looking for Caden.

Nelson.

My guess is Coach Martin is pulling off his transition a little bit.

Champ Ryan and the paint screen up into the air off the window.

Cuti second chance up and in.

So Cuti now at six 10 seconds to go here in the fifth.

The Sharks have 38.

And once again, it's been really fun to see the evolution of this sport and Thompson up in the air before the buzzer at the end of the fifth period.

One more period coming up around the corner and it is Houston County the Sharks.

They're going to be getting a championship, but it is a dynasty that you need to find out more about on GPB.

Great.

A pest management works to protect the inside and outside of your home from pests.

Breda.

They handle bugs and critters.

From ninth grade through graduation, Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA futures.

Org.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey, what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Final period here for the Adaptive Championships at the 2026 Dr.

Ralph Swearngin GHSA Basketball Championships, presented by our friends at Brady Pest Management.

Nothing like getting to sit next to the guy that they named the entire week after.

Great support for both of these programs, and it's an opportunity to once again shine a light on athletes that are doing tremendous things across the board.

It really is.

And many of these students have had childhood difficulties, never dreamed that they'd be able to do the kinds of things that they see able bodied students do.

And by giving this adaptED Sports Programs, they get to participate and it improves them in so many ways.

And for the record, Dr.

Swearingen, who is the executive director emeritus of the Georgia High School Association, he came with the War and Peace version of game notes Stokowski.

Off the glass, back to the rim.

Opportunity now for JP Brandon.

Doc came prepared and so he was ready to go.

And he's all the research.

He goes and sees the semifinals.

Long launch for three off the back of the rim.

Now it's an opportunity for Madison Ryan if she can get out of traffic champ Ryan up the right hand side.

Laila Kindness shielded by JP Brandon.

In the middle Madison Ryan once again she's got a bucket on the afternoon.

Stokowski they're going to want to try to get her integrated into the offense.

Ryan bounce pass.

Champ is there.

He's going to go all the way back to the other side.

Madison Gabe Williams now in the game for West Georgia helping out defensively with Brian Brandon into the paint.

Stokowski underside of the rim.

Spear comes up with it for West Georgia.

Minute 15 into the sixth.

But yeah seriously Doc Swearingen came in here with about 2 " of notes.

It's everything that I know.

It was eight font.

It's not like Times New Roman like 32.

It's not like, you know, those of us that that have the progressive lenses, as they say these days, this is this is not this is fine print, man.

It's going to stick with West Georgia 620.

Yeah, this is a lot of enjoyable stuff.

A lot of good information about these teams and the whole program and the state of Georgia all the things that they're doing being school based.

Off the back of the rim.

Three point attempt for JP Brandon and for West Georgia, you mentioned how they're coming from a bunch of different locations.

Spear is a 12th grader at Callaway Gabe Williams, a tenth grader at noon, and he's been voted Most Improved Player by by his group at the 2024 awards for that, Austin Thompson, 12th grader at Lagrange Emmitt Darden Garrett Tenney.

They're eighth graders at Gardner Newman Middle.

Luke Woods is at Callaway.

He's a senior JP Brandon's at East Coweta.

So it's not just as you mentioned, they've shifted from kind of the Warm Springs area to Lagrange and Troup County.

And you're seeing a lot of different schools being represented and under one umbrella for West Georgia.

We'll get into Houston County as we go here, but.

They're hoping to even expand it more because there are some that Reese operates also in Meriwether County.

So there's a lot of different schools in the backcourt.

A lot of different schools available.

And I think part of the problem is that they need to they need to help recruit these students and Houston County schools over the years have done that.

They really spend a lot of time letting the coaches know about kids who are eligible.

Laila Kindness, a tenth grader at Warner Robins.

See, now I wonder what the conversations are like between, say, Laila Kindness and Caden.

Nelson Caden.

Nelson is a north side senior and Laila Kindness is a tenth grader at Warner Robins.

What's.

What's the.

What is the.

247 separation looking like there and in.

Nicely done.

There.

My guess is that when they get out of the chairs they're they're still bleeding blue or red.

Having lived out in that area for a while, I know how intense that rivalry is.

Champ Ryan, a seventh grader at Mossy Creek, Middle.

And Mossy Creek Middle School, is right close to Houston County High School, which is some of our students are from Sharks are from there.

Kindness again, shielded by Thompson.

She's in trouble.

It's one v three thrown long.

Nice hands for champ Ryan.

Did a time out here.

The last bucket, doc?

Yeah.

Nice touch by Champ Ryan.

There it goes in.

Champ Ryan really caught my attention to the semifinals.

I just like his game.

He's got good hands on defense.

He opens, he gets into open for shots.

Only a seventh grader.

And I think we're going to see a lot of him.

Three previous basketball championship teams, 39 GPA, three championship teams, handball and football.

As Doc Martin, with the words of wisdom here for the final 354 Dalton Crosby 12th grader at Warner Robins.

We mentioned Laila Kindness and Warner Robins.

Madison Ryan, a seventh grader at Mossy Creek, Middle Anthony Cuti, who's a 12th grader at Houston County High.

There's a look at Gabe Williams you mentioned what what Gabe does these days.

Tenth grader at Newnan, most Improved Player.

And that's kind of the cool part about all this too, is to see how the games developed, how it is with Gabe Williams and how it is with Asher Hayes.

Exactly to see their games evolve and how they're embraced by their teammates and how they embrace the sport itself.

We we did some studies back back a long time ago with Michael Thurmond, who was.

Later today.

And talking about how that when it came to employability as adults across the country people who had participated in adaptive sports had had a better, had a better job record.

So it really not only is good for now, but it builds in the future.

Stokowski up off the glass and Her2.

There you go.

And her teammates are clapping.

For her.

So Stokowski on the board Caden Nelson with six Dalton Crosby leading scorer with ten, Kindness with six.

Madison Ryan with a bucket, Anthony Cuti with six and a couple of assists.

Asher Hayes has scored.

Stokowski scores.

Champ Ryan's got eight.

Looking to Gabe didn't quite get enough air underneath it, but the unselfishness once again of JP Brandon to get Gabe Williams involved into the offense for that open shot.

Exactly right.

Almost a jump ball opportunity.

Stokowski finds the outlet, but double team Gabe, Williams and spear but dribbling out of trouble.

Kindness jumper off the glass.

Caleb Jordan trying to get into the Scorebook at 2:50 to go.

Exactly right.

Yeah, they got some style points here with some of the wheels.

Gabe Gabe Williams is not messing around.

You look at Gabe Williams number.

You look at his, you look at his wheels and it's the rotating rainbow glitter wheels.

Very, very cool.

Full credit to Gabe and his and his chair design.

Looking for Caleb Jordan to get on the board.

And he does.

Gordon with a two.

And my guess if you talk to some of these people, the final score wasn't important as the fact that they set each other up to.

Score.

This is the same score that the Sharks won the semifinal game 44-7 Darden off the glass once again in transition.

It's a four v one.

Once again bounce pass.

Caleb Jordan pulls up outside of the rim.

Spears going to grab it at 1:45.

Asher Hayes is a just to wrap up everybody.

Asher Hayes junior at Houston County.

Caleb Jordan, a senior at the Transition Academy.

Champ Ryan Mossy Creek.

Jayden Green is a senior at Houston County.

And Ruby Stokowski, a fifth grader at Langston Road Elementary.

Big three there for Austin Thompson off the rim.

Chances there for Gabe once again.

And you hear that.

You hear the pop Gabe gets every time he launches a jumper.

Yes.

That's subs coming in and it looks like it's Jaden screen coming in once again the senior at Houston County 3.82 GPA started playing in the second grade for the Sharks.

Yes yes.

He's got two championship rings.

Checking out is Caleb Jordan.

And that's the thing.

Every one of these Sharks have played on multiple championship games situations.

If not in basketball and handball or football.

And that means a lot.

They've been here and they've done this before, and some of the other teams haven't had that experience.

Three pointer up into the air.

Austin Thompson stopped the ball well.

They were looking looking for the outlet pass.

Outlet pass looking for Jayden.

Screen picked back up.

They're going to give it to Jayden.

See if he can either figure out the pass or try to get a jumper himself.

Jayden gave up the chance to Ruby Stokowski.

He got officials time out.

And Jayden was in the.

Jayden was in the group of.

Group of folks and I think the ball kind of.

I think he got a jammed hand.

Yeah I think I think the ball ended up getting to smashing a pinky finger there for Jayden and those are never fun.

I mean it's and he's kind of flexing it out a little bit.

And the physios they're helping out.

Yeah.

Here comes Piedmont Orthopedics.

Come in and take a look at it.

They've been so helpful here and the whole tournament to be available if they're needed.

Clark at 30:08 0.7.

Once again you get the just the dynasty of the Sharks.

And once again shout out to our refs today too, Steven Lewis, D Pinson and Aaron Young, who were a part of this today as well.

Yeah, they do a good job.

And there was another set of officials that I saw at the semifinals.

They do a good job and there's there's extensive training for the officials as well as for the coaches.

So everybody comes in prepared and the, the, the, the, the safety of the kids is the first thing on their mind.

And then the rules of the game and the skills of the game are taught thereafter.

So taking, taking a look at the folks with the whistles here.

And once again, Jaden getting looked at by the physios.

He's got a couple of folks there.

We're going to start the clock back up at 38.7.

Champ Ryan has eight picked up by spear and she's going to come back the other way.

Under 30s to go Sharks are going to win the adaptive championship.

Inside the paint off the glass.

Nicely done.

Blaklee.

Well done there.

15 seconds.

Up and over looking for Madison.

Ryan Ryan double teamed.

Almost picked off there by Brandon Thompson had it.

It's going to stick with Houston County and.

The clock hits zero.

So Doc it was a dominant day for the Sharks themselves.

But when you look at a day like this and you get to have folks who are coming in here for the slam dunk competition in the six A's coming up, what's it like to to have this as once again a part of this whole thing?

The fact that it's 25th and 30th years, that's just stunning to me.

But it's really cool.

Yeah, it really is.

And it means so much to, to these participants to be a part of it.

And I think a lot of people will come in and see it.

They really see an insight to it.

Now, when you look at how the sport has continued to just grow and evolve to where it is, you mentioned all of the expansion.

What do you think those next steps are to get into more, even more markets and even more opportunities for these athletes so they can be a part of it.

After sports.

There's a lot of work going on to let principals and superintendents around the state understand what can happen, and it's important to go through the schools.

Some people have said that students with disabilities sometimes are invisible, and what we want to do now is find to have have people notice them, to be able to have them be a part of programs that they can excel in and feel good about themselves in.

Okay, so before we go, I want to show docs.

I want to show Doc's notes here.

Here's here's Doc's notes.

Go ahead and open them up.

I'm going to pull out every sheet of paper that you have prepping for this.

Here's what Doc did to be prepared for the championships today.

This is all a doc Swearingen's notes he is not messing around.

And so it's always my friend.

Great to see you and be a part of everything here with you.

And it's you know, GPB can't thank you enough for being a part of this and integrating all this kind of stuff.

My pleasure.

When you have all of this stuff going on, it's a great day when you go and you get to catch up with all these teams, you know, not just on a day like today, but having participated in a championship.

What's it like to see their faces light up, knowing that they're also a part of the process and they are equal when it comes to being an equal athlete?

Exactly.

That is so important for them to understand that what they're going through and what they're excelling.

These are these are chances for these students who've never had this chance to really grow and develop, and not just in their basketball skills, but in their life skills.

And I think one of the things that the ASP has tried to do is take school based athletics.

There's a lot of other kinds of of disability sports, but school based disability sports, so that they're in the, in the hallways with other students.

And it's just really a great experience all the way around for them to learn about themselves, about the game, about each other.

And as we've mentioned before, they come from different schools and they learn to cooperate with each other, even though some of their peers might not want to cooperate with other school people.

So being a part of ASP is very important.

Dr.

Jenny Millward is picking up and taking over for the beginning that Beverly Vaughn and and Tommy Storms had.

And I let's go to Jon at the court.

Thank you very much, Doc Swearingen.

It is one of those special times here this week here in Macon.

And to present a trophy to a very special program on a very special part of this weekend.

It's the executive director of the Georgia High School Association, Dr.

Tim Scott, and our friends from Grant Peaster management.

Hey, guys, let's give both teams a big round of applause.

What a great game.

We enjoyed it very much.

Congratulations to the Wolverines on a great season.

And now to present to the Houston County Sharks the 2026 State Championship Trophy is Brad Delp Pest Management.

Congratulations to our state champions Houston County Sharks.

Doc Martin, if you would.

Who gets.

Who gets you going to hang on to those for a second, okay, come on over.

When it comes to dominance in this sport, it is Houston County 13 of 14 I believe is the number in a row here winning championships.

But it's not just about that.

It's about opportunity.

It's about athleticism and showcasing a lot of great athletes.

What's it like for you to be a part of this program that has turned into something very, very special here in the state of Georgia?

Oh, it feels great overall working with this group of kids back here is, has been a tremendous experience.

They bring it, they want to, they want to shoot, they want to win.

They want to play.

So they bring it every day to practice and they bring it out here on the court.

And once again, a great group of athletes here, the Houston County Sharks 13 of 14.

The best dynasty that you need to know more about here in the state of Georgia.

The adapted champs here in 2026.

More coming up from the Macon Coliseum in the Macon Centreplex around the corner.

They're going to be working above the rim.

We also have two championships coming up stick and stay here on the great GPB Moore coming up here from Macon.

After this.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Georgia's 41 electric cooperatives are anything but static.

Since the flip of the first light switch, we continue to innovate as the demand for energy increases.

MCs draw from a wide variety of resources to generate electricity, from natural gas to nuclear power and renewables, so that we can reliably power tomorrow.

We're harnessing the current to satisfy the future.

Georgia's MCs so much more than electricity.

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Dot info Brad Delp.

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Your home.

Welcome to the GPB Sports Studios here in Atlanta.

We are live from the 2026 GHSA boys and girls basketball State Championships.

I'm Hannah Goodin.

We just crowned our third title winner of the day 15th overall this week.

It is day number four, the final day of championship action.

Let's take a look at what you just missed on the GPB Championship scoreboard.

There you have it.

Houston County beat West Georgia 44-9 in the adaptive wheelchair championship game.

It was the Sharks 13th state championship and ninth game ninth win this season.

They won 13 out of the past 14 state titles.

Time to check in with some other sports around the state and our friends at You Save at Pharmacy, Brookwood High School golf star Mason Howell is one of those standout athletes that has been so successful all year long.

Let's take a look at his story.

Mason is an elite talent due to his work ethic and how he manages his time.

He wants to win.

He's not out there for a participation trophy.

I can promise you that.

It was awesome playing in front of a crowd like that and playing against some of the best players in the world and players that I grew up watching.

That was a crazy feeling.

It's something I never really thought I would be doing.

He doesn't get wrapped up in, you know, success.

He's always looking forward.

We've been super blessed as a family that we get to watch Mason live out his dream as playing golf because it's all he's ever wanted to do.

For as long as I can remember.

Him winning the U.S.

Amateur now makes him the third youngest to ever do so.

One.

Congratulations, Mason, and thank you to our friends at you save at pharmacy.

We have to take a quick break, but this is the countdown to tip off show.

Which means we're going to be getting you ready for the next event, which is the slam dunk contest.

Stick around right here on GPB for more.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

You've seen what your electric cooperative can do for your home, your workplace, your weekend.

What lights us up is empowering your local community and economy.

Georgia's EMC support 15,000 jobs and invest $16 billion in infrastructure annually.

And because we operate at cost, any extra revenue is reinvested into your co-op or return to members investment with impact.

That's the electric cooperative difference.

Georgia's EMC is so much more than electricity.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

Welcome back to the Countdown to Tip off show here in Atlanta.

We're live from the GPB Sports Studios.

I'm Hannah Goodin, where all the action is taking place at Macon Coliseum.

If you're just now joining us, it's the final day of championship action and we want to get you caught up on what's happened and what's to come on the GPB championship scoreboard.

So this morning at it was at 11:00.

It was the double, a matchup between Murray County and Hardaway.

The Indians get their first state championship since 1965, with the 51-48 win.

They avenged last year's loss to the same team.

Then at 1:00, it was the AA boys turn Morgan County beat Butler 53-52 in a nail biter overtime game.

That was incredible.

We just got through with the adaptive wheelchair game where Houston County beat West Georgia 44-9 And coming up next, it's the slam dunk contest.

We have three contestants in action and you are not going to want to miss it.

Coming up tonight at 53730, we have the 68 girls and the six A's boys matchup.

All right.

That is coming up next.

The slam dunk contest.

That's it for the tip off show.

We'll be back right after this.

But for now stick around.

Jon Nelson in the slam dunk contest right here on GPB.

He's in Breda works to protect the inside and outside of your home.

Breda Pest management.

They handle bugs and critters.

From ninth grade through graduation.

Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA futures.org.

Georgia's 41 electric cooperatives are anything but static.

Since the flip of the first light switch, we continue to innovate as the demand for energy increases.

MCs draw from a wide variety of resources to generate electricity, from natural gas to nuclear power and renewables, so that we can reliably power tomorrow.

We're harnessing the current to satisfy the future.

Georgia's MCs so much more than electricity.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey, what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

I said I never joined.

Never knew I was strong.

I was joining the Navy.

Sounds crazy.

Saying never actually is.

You wouldn't take a call during the big game.

Oh hey, what's up man?

You wouldn't be texting while cheering on your team.

Jacket.

And you definitely wouldn't want to watch a video while marching with the band.

So why would you drive a car while distracted?

Driving isn't a game when you lose on the road, it could lead to a crash.

So when you get behind the wheel, put the distractions aside, drive hands free and save lives.

Heads up Georgia.

Half of the nation's opioid overdoses happen right at home because people don't understand the dangers of taking an oxy or perc with a glass of alcohol for stress or to sleep.

Learn how to protect your family from opioid overdose at opioid response.

Dot info.

From ninth grade through graduation.

Georgia Futures provides tools to help you plan and pay for college, as well as prepare you for your career beyond high school.

Create your account today and explore the possibilities at GA futures dot.

Breda.

Pest management works to protect the inside and outside of your home from pests.

Breda.

They handle bugs and critters.