The Hinesville Lady Hawks eighth-grade team placed fifth at the 2013 YBOA National Tournament held June 30-July 6 in Kissimmee, Fla.
According to coach Harvey Harris, the Lady Hawks had to stage a bit of a comeback after losing the first three games and being placed in a tough bracket. They won their remaining three games and an intraleague game with other district teams.  
Lady Hawk Ashanti Harris earned the MVP award and was named to the YBOA All-Tournament Team.
Harvey Harris said new player Jasmine Brooks really stepped up. She averaged 11 points per game to ramp up the Lady Hawks’ scoring. Harris said Grace Draughan, Navia Telfair and Ashanti Harris also helped the team’s overall scoring average.
With many of the girls getting ready to go back to school this week, Harris thinks the future of Liberty County middle and high schools looks bright.
“These eighth-graders will start to filter into Liberty County High School and Bradwell Institute, and I believe that all of my eighth-graders can excel and play collegiately in a few short years at a high level,” he said. Harris said eighth-graders to keep an eye on this season are Telfaire, Draughan, Brooks, Jasmine Phillips and Ashanti Harris.
Harris said the future of the Lady Hawks looks bright as well after seventh-graders T’Sheney Mungin and Ladaysia Warran performed well at the tournament. Sixth-grader Danika Boyd averaged nine points per game.
Girls ages 12-15 can try out for the team. For more information, call Harvey Harris at 912-980-1971 or Terry Telfair at 912-570-1176.