CARROLLTON, Ala. — Wade Goodman admits he demands a lot from his players.
A year ago, the teamwork and selflessness Goodman asks of his Pickens Academy girls basketball team were tough to adjust to. The transition from Alabama Independent School Association Class AA champion in 2010 to rebuilding team in 2011 was difficult enough.
Add in the fact Corey Dawkins and Marion Colvin transferred in from Central Academy in Macon, and the Lady Pirates went through their share of growing pains.
A year later, everything has come together to push Pickens Academy two victories away from another state title.
At 3 p.m. today, Pickens Academy (20-7) will take on Evangel Christian at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. The winner of that game will take on the winner of the Autauga-Lakeside game, which will be at 6 tonight, at noon Wednesday for the championship.
“Everything has really come together the past two weeks,” Goodman said. “I really preach teamwork, and I try to get them to praise each other for a good pass. … I tell them the first of the year we can go as far as you want to as long as we don’t care who gets the credit. The really have bought into that the past couple of weeks.”
Goodman said this season’s team is nothing like the 2010 squad that had plenty of options to score. He admits the 2011-12 squad has had trouble scoring, but he said its defense is the calling card that has kept it in games and allowed it to return to the Final Four. In fact, he said this season’s team often passes it when it shoot should and shoots when it should pass. But he said he is especially proud of his players for shaking off a midseason lull in which he feels the team got a little overconfident after hearing talk from the fans that it “ought” to win a state title.
In the Elite Eight, Pickens Academy defeated Restoration Academy 45-38. Elisabeth Hankins, who is one of four players who was a part of the 2010 title team, paced the Lady Pirates with 26 points and seven rebounds. Dawkins had 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Colvin had six points and 12 rebounds.
Marion’s sister, Abigail, also is a member of the team.
Pickens Academy beat Escambia Academy 45-29, Marengo Academy 44-42, and Patrician Academy 32-25 in the region tournament to advance. Hankins (13 points, 11 rebounds), Kacy Noland (11 points), and Marion Colvin (10, 14) scored in double figures against Escambia Academy.
Dawkins had 20 points and 12 rebounds to help Pickens Academy escape Marengo Academy and Chandler Stenz, who scored 18 of her game-high 25 points in the final two and a half minutes. Hankins added 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Marion Colvin added 10 rebounds.
Dawkins, who was named the tournament MVP, had 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Hankins had 10 points and 12 rebounds. Marion Colvin, who had 14 rebounds, joined Dawkins and Hankins on the all-tournament team. The victory helped Pickens Academy avenge two losses to Patrician Academy in the regular season.
Dawkins, who also is a member of the school’s softball team, said the players have listened to Goodman and understand it isn’t important who scores all of the points. Instead, she said things like rebounds, assists, and steals are more
“I think we have come a long way from last year,” Dawkins said. “We’re a whole different team, and we all have worked very hard.”
Hankins said it has been tough to get to this point because she said it isn’t easy playing for a coach who is as demanding as Goodman. She said she and the other team leaders have stressed the team concept in everything they do.
“We’re not that dumb,” Dawkins said when asked if the players have gotten tired of Goodman’s message this season.
Said Hankins, “We basically spent all of last year just trying to get used to playing with each other. When we finished our season last year, we knew we could (play in the Final Four). We all worked hard and did what coach said.”
Hankins said the 2010 title team was different because it could look to Catherine Johnson, Callie Minor, Tate Fuller, or Lincoln Pearson to score big baskets. This season, though, she said the team has relied on its defense to move within grasp of another state title.
Dawkins agrees. She said she and the Colvin sisters have adjusted well and are ready to lead the Lady Pirates to another crown.
“They say defenses win championships, so, hopefully, that is where we’re heading,” Dawkins said.
Goodman wouldn’t have it any other way. He said the Lady Pirates have taken it personally every time a team has scored on them. He hopes that mentality will be on display today.
For his part, Goodman said he will try to relax a little bit and allow his players to play a little more.
“We had some growing pains, and they really bought into me,” Goodman said. “They really started to trust me.
“They had their way of doing it, and I had my way of doing it. In the last year, they bought into me more than they had last year.
“They always play hard. I don’t have a girl who doesn’t give everything they have.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.