CALHOUN, Ga. – Considering the ingredients he had to work with, Calhoun High School boys’ basketball coach Vince Layson isn’t surprised that his team is still playing in February’s final week.
There was the obvious talent and leadership in three-year starting seniors Kaelan Riley and Jireh Wilson. There was a burgeoning star in 6-foot-6 junior Chapin Rierson and a solid group of role players.
To Layson, though, intangibles have been the difference in the Yellow Jackets being a good northwest Georgia team and a 27-0 power two wins away from its second championship-round appearance in three seasons.
Calhoun, with its overall athletic success over the past decade, has an expectation of winning. Riley and Wilson, key players for Hal Lamb’s football team, have known nothing but success in their prep years. That, Layson said, has not been lost on the rest of the players.
“When you have guys who have laid the foundation like that, there are expectations from the ninth grade on up,” Layson said of Riley and Wilson. “That kind of success just trickles down.”
There’s still more to this Calhoun team, said Layson, who knows all the talent and experience in the world doesn’t mean much if there isn’t chemistry.
“First of all, you don’t get guys who enjoy playing with each other like these guys do,” Layson said. “Our locker-room atmosphere is unbelievable, and it carries over to the court. You can tell: They share the basketball, they make the extra pass and they help each other on defense. This team is a coach’s dream.”
Need more? Well, this also happens to be a very motivated team. Following the surprising run to the 2014 title game and with high expectations last year, the Jackets were ousted from the playoffs in the second round.
It’s something the team, especially its leaders, haven’t forgotten.
“We’re a little more focused and more determined to get past these early rounds,” said guard Wilson, who will play college football at Wofford. “That second-round knockout last year really upset us, and it’s motivated us this year.
“A lot of us have been playing together since we were 7 or so, and we don’t want to go out like that.”
Calhoun will get its stiffest test so far today at 4:15 p.m. at Augusta State University, where the Jackets will face defending state champ Jenkins (26-4) and star juniors Trevion Lamar and Zion Williams. Those two are part of a balanced lineup that also features double-digit scorers Michael Coffee and Dimetri Chambers.
Calhoun counters with the 6-foot-5 Riley (15.4 points) and Wilson (13.4 points), while Rierson (13.3 points) is playing his best ball of the season. He had 28 points and 22 rebounds against Westside of Macon.
“We’re playing good ball right now, and one of the things that’s impressed me about this team is how we’ve been able to win games where we don’t play our best,” Layson said. “This weekend will be a huge challenge, and I think our guys are up for it.”
With a win today the Jackets would play again Saturday night. The winner then would play for the state title in Macon next week.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.