Serving Our Local High Schools
This month, basketball teams representing high schools served by Walton EMC electricity play for hoops glory.
Gyms jam-packed with a cheering student section and equally energetic hometown fans. Fleet-footed athletes and commanding coaches. The confident pounding of ball on wood just before the gentle swoosh signaling a successful free throw. Thrilling overtime action and heart-stopping, buzzer-beater shots. Welcome to another year of March Madness.
You don’t have to turn on the television and watch collegiate matchups to experience the best part of the basketball season. Here in Georgia, high school teams crown their champions in March, bringing the “madness” much closer to home for hundreds of Walton EMC customer-owner families.
State tournament time signals the end of another year of hardwood competition for teams at both public and private high schools throughout the state. Though many fans don’t begin seriously following until tournament time rolls around, boys and girls representing area schools have been playing games since last November and practicing almost year-round. Whether they suit up for a public, private or parochial school, the goal is always the same: bring home a state championship trophy.
Walton EMC supplies electricity to 14 local high schools with basketball teams. From the day training begins until the final horn sounds to end the season, the co-op reliably provides the electricity to keep the lights on, the gym’s temperature comfortable and the scoreboard lit. Co-op electricity also powers all the equipment in the concessions stand to keep drinks cold and food hot. And, when the games are over, an electric motor closes the bleachers.
Area teams completed district and region basketball tournament play in February in hopes of qualifying for state championships in their respective associations. The Georgia High School Association (GHSA) state championships are set for March 7–10 at McCamish Pavilion at Georgia Tech and the Macon Centreplex. The Georgia Independent School Association (GISA) will host its State Final Four tournament March 1-3 at Mercer University.
At this writing, two local boys’ teams and three girls’ teams remain in the hunt for a GHSA state title. Among them is the Morgan County Bulldogs, a perennial powerhouse in boys’ basketball that closed the regular season ranked No. 1 in Class AAA. The Bulldogs are looking to add another championship to those earned in 2014 and 2016.
In GISA action, the boys from Loganville Christian Academy and both the boys and girls teams from Pinewood Christian Academy advanced to the first round of the state tournament played on Feb. 20 and 21. All three teams are making a return appearance in the Sweet 16.
Walton EMC is proud to provide the electricity for 60 schools and gyms where area basketball players of all ages — from elementary school through high school — learn and play. And we’re excited to join with our customer-members in celebrating the Georgia high school version of March Madness. Win or lose, we encourage every player, coach and fan to exhibit sportsmanship befitting the title of state champion.
Go, teams!