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 2002-2003 |
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2002-2003 Promises Excitement
Stay tuned for more to come.
500 Wins and Counting..Coach Bing Excels
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By Erik Green, Rome-News Tribune
Few coaches ever reach 500 wins in their careers and the ones who do don’t often spend a lot of time gloating.
Coosa basketball coach Larry Bing is one of those coaches.
When he passed the 500-win mark last season, most people didn’t know about it and Bing didn’t spend a lot of time getting the word out. That’s just the way he is.
“To tell you the truth I really didn’t stop to think about it,” Bing said of win No. 500 that he learned was reached in the state playoffs last year.
“A lot of it is due to the administration we’ve had and their support, as well as family and the sacrifices they’ve made and having some great players over the years.”
Bing has coached some great players over the years — like NFL standout Bernard Holsey and current University of Georgia player Mike Dean — all of whom have made a lasting impact on him, he said.
“They all have a special place,” Bing said. “From the great players to the average players, they are all a part of this.”
Those players, from the greatest to the not-so-great, are part of Bing’s extended family that has been established over a coaching career that spans close to 30 years.
“I tried to develop a family-type situation here and something they would be proud of when they come back here,” Bing said, noting that the late Reggie Johnson and current assistant Jeremiah Blanton came back to work with the program. “They’re still a part of it even though they’ve graduated and moved on.”
Bing began his 28th year in coaching and his 19th at Coosa, one of the longest tenures in the state, this season.
While some coaches are always looking to be upwardly mobile, perhaps moving into the college ranks, Bing chose to stay close to home.
An East Rome and Berry College graduate, Bing never had to leave the city of his youth to have success.
“I’ve never really wanted to go anywhere else,” Bing said. “I’ve always been happy here. I feel like you should develop roots and a tradition and I don’t think that can happen if you’re bouncing around from school to school.”
Bing and his various assistants over the years have created a tradition, one with a long and storied past.
The Eagles, currently the No. 4-ranked Class AA team in the state, have finished in the top 10 in the state for more than a decade and have been region champions and playoff contenders dozens of times.
But in the beginning, all those years ago, Bing wondered if anything good would happen to his basketball teams.
“I wasn’t real sure I was going to reach win No. 1,” Bing said. “I didn’t stop to think about reaching 500.”
Eagles Defeat Dragons at Floyd College
The Eagles (2-0) used a 21-point outburst in the third quarter to spoil Pepperell’s season opener.
Rashun ...
Eagles Crush Calhoun!!
12/04/02
Jim O'Hara, Rome News-Tribune Sports Editor
For the first 15 minutes of the first half, the first showdown of the year between the Coosa Eagles and the Calhoun Yellow Jackets had all indications of following the storyline of past meetings in recent years.
But that last minute before halftime took the rivalry in a different direction.
After the visiting Jackets took a 30-28 lead with a little more than a minute left until the break, the No. 4-ranked Eagles simply left the Jackets in their wake by closing out the opening half with a 10-0 run, then began the second half with an 11-0 spurt to eventually coast to an 86-41 rout Tuesday night.
“Calhoun was really prepared for us,” Coosa coach Larry Bing said after the win that improves the Eagles to 3-0 heading into Friday’s game at Adairsville.
“But I think the pressure wore them down,” he added. “We started playing better on the ball defensively and got the transition game going.”
By the time the third quarter had ended, Coosa had outscored Calhoun (1-1) 29-8 to all but put the game away, then topped off the lopsided win allowing the Jackets just three points in the final period.
“I was real pleased with the way we played that third quarter,” Bing said. “You can’t play much better than that.”
“I thought we played great early on and managed to take the lead right before the half,” Calhoun coach Ray Tucker said. “But then they smacked us and never stopped.
“They have a great team,” he said of the Eagles.
Rashun Bryant headed up the Coosa attack with a game-high 22 points. Adrian Smith added 13 points for Coosa, Roger Rich finished with 12 and Demetrius Roberson had 10.
Gib Roland, who connected for five 3-pointers, led Calhoun with 17 points and Jacob Robbins had 10. The Jackets return home to host Rome Thursday.
Eagles Defeat Armuchee in Season Opener!!
The No. 4 Ranked Eagles rolled past Armuchee 90-60 to firmly establish their hold as the dominant basketball in ...
Eagles Down Adairsville
Rome News-Tribune Staff Reports
Coosa 95 Adairsville 50
Coosa rolled past Adairsville Friday night to improve their record to 4-0.
Adrian Smith led all scorers in the game popping in 22 points for the Eagles.
Roger Rich followed with 20. Chris Fife was the only other Eagle in double figures, scoring 12 points.
Eagles Defeat Calhoun Again!
Eagles Advance to Tournament Championship
12/22/02
David Dawson, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
Coosa 69, Darlington 58
The Coosa High School boys basketball team will face Calhoun Monday night at 8:30 at Floyd College after defeating Darlington at Shorter College on Saturday.
The high-octane Eagle offense was low on fuel Saturday night, but they found a way to get the finish line — even if it meant coasting home on fumes.
“We have played for three straight nights, and that takes something out of you,” said Coosa coach Larry Bing. “Our kids were playing on tired legs, and that hurt our defensive intensity quite a bit. We weren’t as quick as normal and our press wasn’t quite as effective.
“But I was proud of the way the kids battled, and grinded out a win,” Bing said. “We were fortunate to beat a Darlington team that is very good and very well-coached.”
Coosa was in high gear early, jumping out to a 19-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. However, Darlington charged back in the second period, and enjoyed a brief lead midway through the quarter.
But the third quarter proved to be the turning point, as Coosa used a 16-5 run to build a double-digit lead, and then held off Darlington the rest of the way.
Adrian Smith paced the Coosa attack with 19 points, while Roger Rich added 13 and Chris Fife 10.
Eagles Win Christmas Tournament!!
Erik Green, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
After taking a yearlong break from being Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival Champions, the Coosa Eagles are back on top.
The Eagles won the 49th annual Festival on Monday with a 60-44 win over Chattooga, giving them their second Gold Ball since 2000.
The win was bittersweet for the Eagles because post player Rashun Bryant and Chattooga’s Jaquez Wiggins collided late into the game and both were taken off the court with injuries.
“We’ve got some extenuating circumstances that we’re more concerned about right now, but we’re tickled because we played four games and it’s a tough process,” said Coosa coach Larry Bing. “We’re just very fortunate to be champions.”
Bryant reportedly hurt the same shoulder that he injured in the first game of the Festival last year against, ironically, Chattooga.
Wiggins was carted off on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.
No word on the two players’ conditions were available at press time.
Coosa’s Roger Rich was named Festival MVP.
Bryant, Adrian Smith and Chris Fife of Coosa were named to the all-tournament team along with Wiggins and Jarod Parrish of Chattooga.
“It’s a tremendous honor for us to win it,” Bing said. “I take my hat off to Chattooga for the effort they put in. Once again it’s an honor to be a part of this Festival.”
Both teams battled through a slow first quarter and Coosa took a 10-8 lead into the second.
Coosa’s Michael Williams scored 11 of the Eagles’ first 19 points and Fife, Bryant and Rich pitched in the rest.
Midway through the second, Coosa led 21-12.
Chattooga (7-2) made a game of it for the rest of the second and Coosa led 29-20 at the half.
In the third, the Eagles quickly bulked up their lead to 14 after starting the half on a 5-0 run. Coosa then went on a 6-3 tear to lead 40-23 midway through the period. They led 47-32 at the end of the quarter.
Bryant scored Coosa’s first seven of the final period before going down with the injury around the four minute mark.
After a lengthy delay, the game continued and Coosa (10-0) held on to the win.
“The whole difference in the ball game comes down to the fact that we couldn’t make lay-ups and foul shots,” said Chattooga coach Kevin Muskett. “I felt like the turnovers we had were senseless. Make no mistake about it, Coosa has one fine basketball team.”
The win is Coosa’s sixth since the tournament began in 1954.
“Everyone involved did a great job,” Bing said. “We’re just proud to be a part of this.”
Rich finished the game with 17 points and Bryant had 15 for Coosa.
Parrish led Chattooga with 10.
Coosa Slams Rockmart
From Rome-News Tribune Staff Reports
Coosa 74, Rockmart 39
Roger Rich scored 21 points, Rashun Bryant had 14 and Chris Fife had 10 to lead No. 4-ranked Coosa to a win.
Corey Webster led Rockmart with 15 points.
Rockmart scored in double figures in just one quarter during the game, while Coosa scored no less than 16 in a quarter.
Coosa is at Darlington Friday.
Eagles down Chattooga.....Again
Erik Green, Rome News-Tribune
Coosa 63, Chattooga 56
The rematch of the boys championship game of the 49th annual Rome News-Tribune Holiday Festival belonged to Coosa Saturday.
Rashun Bryant returned from a shoulder injury to score a game high 21 points.
Roger Rich had 17, Adrian Smith had 12 and Chris Fife had 11 for Coosa. Dee Adams led Chattooga with 12. Coosa (11-0) hosts Rockmart Tuesday night.
No. 3 Eagles defeat Darlington
Erik Green, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
Darlington’s Justin Albury tries to drive past Coosa’s Michael Williams during their Region 6-AA South game. Ryan Smith / Rome News-Tribune
The rematch belonged to the home team.
No. 3 Coosa played possibly its best game of the year on Tuesday in an 82-62 home win over Darlington, the only team to beat the Eagles this season.
“We executed our offense and played well on defense,” Coosa coach Larry Bing said. “Darlington came to play; they’re a quality team and have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Rashun Bryant led four Coosa players in double figures with 23 points in the Region 6-AA South win.
Chris Fife had 16 points — most of which were scored during an impassioned opening period by the Eagles — Roger Rich had 13 and Demetrius Roberson had 12.
“We played well, got the ball inside and had a big lift from Demetrius off the bench,” Bing said. “Rashun was a dominant force inside and had a big game and Roger shot well from the outside.”
Khalif Muhammed Williams led Darlington (8-10, 3-2) with 18 points and Chantz McClinic had 12 in the loss. In the first meeting of the year between the schools, Darlington had its way with Coosa in transition and made often times wide open shots under the glass.
On Tuesday, Coosa (16-1, 5-1) returned the favor. The Eagles started the game on a 21-2 run, with Fife scoring 10 during that stretch, and Bryant seemed to have a monopoly on rebounds.
Turnovers also hurt Darlington early and more often than not during the opening period, Bryant or Rich would make a steal and throw a pass down court to Fife, who made the easy lay-ups.
“When they play with that kind of energy, they’re exceptional,” Darlington coach Jim Van Es said of Coosa. “We were the only team to beat them so they had something to prove.”
By the end of the first quarter, Coosa led 27-12. The teams traded baskets in the first few minutes of the second, but by the five-minute mark, Coosa led 33-18.
By halftime, the Eagles had increased their lead to 52-27. Darlington stood toe to toe with Coosa in the third period and both teams scored 18 points, but by the end of the period, the Eagles led 70-45.
The Eagles kept a double-digit lead the rest of the way. “Coosa was outstanding,” Van Es said. “They took us out of it early, but I was proud of our kids for sticking in there.”
Darlington Upsets Coosa
Erik Green, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer
PHOTO CREDITS Darlington guard Justin Albury looks for an opening around Coosa’s Michael Williams during the first half of Friday’s game. Ryan Smith / Rome News-Tribune
The Huffman Center was Troy’s house Friday night.
Darlington’s Troy Watson poured in 29 points to lead the Tigers to a 53-52 upset win over No. 4 Coosa, halting the Eagles’ win streak at 12.
“Our plan was to get the ball inside and we did that,” said Darlington coach Jim Van Es. “We’re just delighted to win, obviously.”
Watson made 12 of the team’s 24 shots from the field, most of which were wide-open lay-ups or five-foot jumpers, and played aggressive defense in the Region 6-AA South game.
Darlington concentrated on dishing Watson and Khalif Williams the ball in transition and it worked against the normally back-door-aware Eagle defense.
Williams finished with 10 points in the game for Darlington.
“I’m proud of our kids,” Van Es said. “(Coosa coach) Larry Bing does an excellent job with Coosa and when you beat them, you’ve beaten somebody.”
Adrian Smith led Coosa with 22 points and Rashun Bryant had 10.
Coosa came out flat offensively and had trouble making high percentage shots, while Watson was near perfect under the glass.
Coosa (12-1, 1-1) took an 8-5 lead early in the game, but Darlington went on an 8-4 run to end the first quarter with a 17-14 lead.
Watson and Williams took over in the second period, scoring 14 of Darlington’s 16 points, and the Tigers owned a 33-26 lead at the half.
Coosa started the second half on a 13-4 run and took a 39-37 lead with 4:53 left in the third.
From there, Darlington went on an 8-1 run to finish the third quarter with a 47-44 lead.
Chris Fife and Smith combined to score the Eagles’ final eight points of the game and Coosa trailed by only a point in the closing seconds.
The Eagles had several game-winning shots, but they didn’t fall.
With the win, Darlington improved 7-5, 2-0 and Coosa fell to 12-1.
“I’d like to commend Darlington on the way they played,” Bing said.
“It was deserving that the game ended on a last shot. Unfortunately we didn’t make it.”
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