Winder-Barrow High School is relatively quiet on Monday morning.
With the student body out for a holiday, the only sound that can be heard is coming from the school gym where the boys basketball team is holding a morning practice session. As the practice begins to wrap up, players are shooting free throws as first-year coach David Sokol and his assistant coaches look on.
The coach doesn’t say anything, however, this is an important part of the practice session. Free throws, as any basketball coach will tell you, are as important a part of the game as anything. That’s why they are stressed so much.
THE BEGINNING
Sokol seems to have had a smooth transition into his new job at WBHS. After working as head coach at South Forsyth High School for seven years, he was looking for a change. He found it in Winder thanks to a former player and later an opposing coach.
Sokol was a graduate assistant at Georgia College & State University when WBHS athletic director Justin Grant was competing there.
Later the two coached against each other when Sokol was at South Forsyth and Grant guided the Dacula High School program.
“It was time for me to make a change and I saw a lot of positives in this job,” Sokol said after Monday morning’s practice session.
The new Bulldogg mentor said both the coach and players have been dealing well with the change.
“We will put a lot more things in this offseason,” Sokol said. “That’s when we will really get rolling. To this point, things have been great. The guys have really responded.”
It’s a fine line from putting a new system in and trying to put too much on a team, Sokol said.
“I’m trying to hold back,” the coach said. “It’s been somewhat simple. I try to have my assistants tell me if I’m putting too much on the players.”
SCOUTING IT OUT
During his first season at his new school, Sokol is literally learning as he goes about opponents.
“I had heard about some teams, but it’s hard to judge until you actually see them,” Sokol said. “Of course, our goal is to advance and do well. We want to get a good seeding and be able to advance to state. We have a very strong region, however. We are just trying to be the best we can everyday. We have strong competitiors on our team. We want to do well.”
HELPING LEAD THE WAY
When reflecting on his team’s first 15 games, Sokol sees several standouts and several surprises.
Quay Flanagan showed potential during the summer, the coach said, and has carried that over into the season.
Travis Demerritte has contributed off the bench.
DJ Butler has a “heart that is unmatched,” his coach said.
“It’s great to coach someone like DJ,” Sokol said.
REGION OUTLOOK
Sokol said Rockdale County appears to be the team to beat in 8-AAAA.
“One through five in their starting lineup is very strong,” the WBHS coach said. “They are very big. It’s hard to match up with them. They are very athletic. We are a little quicker but it’s just hard to match up with them.”
Monroe Area, led by former Bulldogg coach Ron Garren, is also a team to look out for down the stretch, Sokol said.
“They are also a good squad,” Sokol said. “They are also tough to match up with.”
EAGER TO BUILD
With a sound beginning at WBHS, Sokol wants to continue what has been started.
“We set goals and we want to finish this season strong and go as far as we can,” the coach said. “We look forward to seeing what we can make happen the rest of the way.
WBHS is coming off an overtime win Friday against Clarke Central. The Bulldoggs took a 63-59 win after trailing in both the fourth quarter and the overtime period.
In overtime, the Bulldoggs outscored the Gladiators 12-4 in the final two minutes to secure the win.
Flanagan finished with 15 points to lead WBHS while Alonzo Nelson-Ododa added 11 points to help defeat the No. 6-ranked Clarke Central team.
The Bulldoggs stepped out of region play Saturday to defeat Gainesville 66-63. Nelson-Odada and Trent Demeritte both scored 13 points while Flanagan and Butler finished with 12. Davis added 10 points as five players finished in double figures.
