Loganville p3
From 6-19-14
This is the third in a series about Loganville High boys basketball, and unless you are a relative, or interested in LHS, or connected to Coach Bradley's 50 year career, you probably want to skip this story. It is going to be loaded with names, statistics, and a few disappointments as we go on a journey to try and change a program that has had only one winning boys team in 32 years(a 13-12 record).If you read the first two posts, you remember the role that administrator Dan Digby, board member Coy Baker, and my quest to set up a retirement income, played a role in my coaching job in Loganville.Once I began my efforts to resuscitate the Red Devil program, two other key people were Linda Hobbs, and Ginger Stephens, along with many longtime supporters, and some outstanding young men. Loganville had already played a key role in my career as the first victory in our varsity basketball record of 1,372 wins came against them. Our biggest problem with their teams was how to get enough playing time for my starters to keep their averages up. By the end if the first quarter the guys on the bench would be leaning over staring at me, and so would their parents. Our first year at LHS we got off to a great win in the Jefferson tournament, which we won. After the game we celebrated with a meal at Golden Corral, and Wes Nash, who had made 16 of 18 field goal attempts, and scored 35 points told a teammate, " it's the first time anyone has had confidence in me, to let me shoot." With the Nash boys leading the way won 16 of our first 17 games and were ranked in the states Top Ten poll for the first time in school history. This was heady stuff as the crowds got bigger and bigger as a lot of old timers came out to see this miracle. When East Hall came to town it created such a stir that tickets were sold early and the game was televised through the lunchroom. After the Red Devils won the sub region tournament, once impossible dreams of going to the state tournament surfaced. Back then the state tournament only allowed 2 teams from each region. After a loss to East Hall, region 6aaa sent the same two teams as usual, the Vikings and Gainesville High. The '95 team finished with a record of 23 wins and only 4 defeats as Robbie Nash averaged 23.8 points per game and Wes cleared the boards with a 13.4 rebound average. One of the best statements came from one of the other seniors when he said,"we don't have to think of ourselves as losers anymore." With juniors Mike Dunn, Josh Mobley, Keith Wages, Ti Wilder and sophomore Travis Stephens returning, the future looked bright. Prior to the start of the next season two things happened two make basketball spirits soar. Our son, Bill Bradley joined the team as an assistant coach. He had been a very successful head coach elsewhere, but stated,"he wanted to study his Dad 's coaching up close." Something must have worked for Bill as he has gone on to win over 400 varsity basketball games with 3 state championships and one 2nd place finish. The other positive was when Zeb Reid moved to Loganville. I knew the first time I visited his house that he was smarter than me, and would make a great coach someday. Zeb had his girlfriend feeding him the ball and he was working on his moves. (I remembered I did the same thing with Jan, but I forgot to use a basketball.) The second year mirrored the first, as the Devils won 8 of 9 games including the Jefferson invitational. The team was once again ranked in the Top Ten poll, as Ti Wilder averaged 17.7 points and 13.4 rebounds. Other double figure scoring averages were posted by Zeb Reid's 15.8 , Mike Dunn 14.2, and steady Travis Stephens 12.7 average. The Red Devils finished with a fine 22-5 record, but were disappointed as they lost in the region semi-finals again. The two old traditional powers, with great coaches, left the Red Devils at home again. The 3rd year of the resurgence of the Loganville basketball program was creating a lot of excitement as the Devils won 13 of their first 14 games, including their 3rd straight Jefferson tournament, which provided some special drama.The Devils lined up in the hallway preparing to play the same team they had beaten for the 1996 sub-region title. One of the opposing players announced,"our coach says we can beat Loganville as bad as we want, and he is not going to take it easy on them." We played a great game in winning a sweet victory. One other big season highlight was beating East Hall on their home floor. It was the first time both of their teams lost on the home floor to a school in years. Coach Bill Bradley was not on the Devil boys bench, as he was the new coach piloting the girls program. After we lost again in the region semi-finals we finished with a 22-4 record. For the season Zeb led us with an average of 20.8 points, Matt Needham averaged 15.1 points and 11.7 rebounds, Travis Steohens 11.7 points, and a 6 foot 10, Croation transfer, Milo's Paravinja 14.5 points. Milo's first games after transferred in during the season he wanted to play guard, and after the game when we lost to a great Gainesville team, one of my old players, Bob Richardson, sent me a note that said,"coach, put that tall guy under the basket." After 3 years we had won 67 games and lost only 13 games, won 6 different championships, been ranked in the state's Top Ten poll each year and had a great time. I'll always regret that I couldn't help us get past East Hall and Gainesville, so our players could have experienced the state tournament. After three years I had reached my commitment to develop a winning Loganville program, and putting Jan and me in a position to buy back my retirement program. When it was time to leave the Loganville position, my wife, who was not happy said,"we are leaving Shangri-La again!"
