Hardaway girls basketball team played its first state title game. Here’s the result
UPDATE: Baldwin beat Hardaway 47-39 in the 2024 Georgia High School Association Class AAAA girls basketball state championship game Wednesday at the Macon Centreplex. Here’s our story about how the Hawks got there:
As the Hardaway High girls basketball team prepares for its first state championship game in the school’s 59-year history, it doesn’t take nearly as long to put this event into context and learn the significance of this program’s improvement and achievement.
Look back six years ago when the Hawks finished 4-21 for their fifth straight losing season in Kelly Ellison’s first year as their head coach.
But they surged to 17-12 the following season. After dipping to 11-18, Hardaway has gone 11-5 (in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season) 19-8, 24-5 with a state semifinal appearance and now 27-4.
That’s six state playoff appearances and two region championships in Ellison’s seven seasons coaching her alma mater.
So, when the Hawks play Baldwin (28-2) Wednesday at 5 p.m. in the Macon Centreplex for the Georgia High School Association Class AAAA state title, they already will be the program’s most successful team.
“It’s really a huge accomplishment,” Ellison told the Ledger-Enquirer. “We’re just really excited to represent our school and the city of Columbus.”
And they are confident.
“I’m just really proud of our team,” Hardaway junior point guard Adazha Burrell told the L-E. “We’re making history. Now, it’s our time to win it all. … I just want to get this ring and celebrate with my team.”
If you can’t attend the game, you can watch the livestream online at NFHS Network or get periodic updates at MaxPreps.com.
‘Best decision for our athletic program’
Making this journey even sweeter, Ellison is coaching where she played.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” she said. “It’s just a great opportunity to be able to give back. I loved attending Hardaway.”
Ellison, who graduated from Hardaway in 2008, played point guard on the school’s previous girls basketball team that reached state semifinals (2007). That’s when Hardaway athletics director Kendall Mills was the head coach of the school’s boys and girls basketball teams.
No wonder Mills called resigning as the girls coach and hiring Ellison “the best decision for our athletic program as a whole.”
“She is totally devoted to her program,” Mills told the Ledger-Enquirer. “It’s a year-round thing to build champions. Coach Ellison is no way a seasonal coach. She puts in the work. I would describe her as a perfectionist. Hell, she has never made a B in any classes in her life, and she has a master’s degree in business. She is definitely the smartest coach on campus.”
‘Hard work and commitment’
Ellison played basketball in college at Stetson and Shorter. She started her coaching career as an assistant for one year at Shorter before moving back to Columbus and serving as an assistant coach for two seasons at Carver High School.
When she returned to Hardaway in 2017, only seven players remained on the girls basketball team. But by connecting with potential players at the school, Ellison methodically grew the roster to 20 players.
“It was just hard work and commitment,” Ellison said. “When I first started, players were missing practice, so we really had to work on creating a culture for high expectations. The basketball part came later. Every year, we got more and more dedicated student athletes, and we made progress every year.”
With a motto declaring the program was “Rebuilding Tradition,” the Hawks started notching more wins than losses again. Word spread around the city that Hardaway was an attractive school for girls basketball players.
“People in the community, they saw what I was doing, and they trusted me with their children,” Ellison said. “Basketball is a difficult sport to pick up, but I think there are a lot of students that crave structure and want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”
Just ask Burrell.
“I have so much fun with my teammates,” she said, “and I love my coaches.”
‘Taking feedback’
Burrell appreciates the coaches for “taking feedback from us if we see something that we don’t like.”
And the coaches appreciate the players for showing maturity, especially when the inevitable stretches of tough times arise.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” Ellison said. “When things didn’t go our way, it would weigh on them. But this year, I’ve gotten a lot of compliments from people who watch our team and say how composed they are. They just keep playing hard no matter what.”
Hardaway lost by five points in last year’s state semifinals to eventual champion Griffin. Losing such a close game, Burrell said, “made us hungrier.”
Although three seniors departed, the Hawks returned their entire starting lineup this season. They lost four of their first seven games, but then won 24 straight.
“Their growth has been monumental,” Ellison said, “not only in skills but also mentally.”
Burrell agrees.
“Last year, we got down on ourselves,” she said. “But we want it more now. … We have all the pieces, and we’re disciplined and fundamental.”
So the key to winning the state championship game, Burrell said, will be “staying focused and not letting it get to our head, just pushing and grinding for more.”
Hardaway’s leading scorers are junior shooting guard Mikayla Johnson (18 points, 5 rebounds per game) and junior forward Akilah Shelton (14 ppg, 7 rpg). Burrell leads the team in assists (7 apg). Junior wing Jenaiya Hardy and senior center LaNiya Meeks are the other starters.
