Georgiana standouts earn all-state honors
Published 4:48 pm Friday, March 20, 2015
Georgiana was well-represented on the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s All-State Basketball selections.
Three players made the cut among the top athletes in the state from both the Georgiana Panthers and Lady Panthers teams, including forward Richard Boggan and guard Jaquez Payton as well as Tyanna Perkins.
Boggan was selected to the 1A first team, averaged 18.8 points and 15.8 rebounds per game.
The six-foot-one-inch forward reached milestones for 1,000 career points and rebounds this season, and also managed to collect 32 double-double performances on points and rebounds in 33 games played. Twenty-nine of them were consecutive.
Payton, the six-foot starting point guard for the Panthers, averaged 18.3 points, four rebounds, 5.2 assists and 3.5 steals per game.
Payton also managed to hit the 1,000-point scoring milestone of his career during the season despite missing 11 games due to a back injury.
Perkins served as the Lady Panthers’ starting point guard as well as a source of senior leadership, and averaged 21.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 3.5 steals per game.
The five-year varsity player also helped the Lady Panthers reach their first regional tournament appearance since 2008, and scored double-digits in every game last season.
Georgiana head basketball coach Kirk Norris said that all three players were invaluable parts of their respective programs.
“All three were a huge part of our success this year as a whole, helping both teams make a run in the state playoffs,” Norris said.
Notable among Payton and Boggan’s accomplishments is the fact that they are both currently juniors despite the leadership they’ve displayed.
“Jacquez and Richard were definitely huge parts of our success this season,” Norris said.
“They were very productive for us in different ways.Jacquez being our primary ballhandler and perimeter scorer and Richard being a huge presence inside with his rebounding and scoring. They are both great young men who have put in the time and work to be the players they have become.
“We will look to them to step up even more next year and lead our team. Both have been vital in elevating our program to higher standards and also have been great role models for our underclassman and younger players.”
Norris added that Perkins, who is a senior, is an absence that will certainly be felt next season.
“ Tyanna will be missed greatly next season, but I hope her dedication and desire have a good team and to be a successful basketball player has carried over into our returning Lady Panthers,” Norris added.
“She was a huge reason for our teams success this season and is the first girl at Georgiana to be honored in a long time.”