Hilliard Middle-Senior High School’s basketball athletes display grace under pressure.
The school was awarded the 2016-17 JC Green Sportsmanship Award as the “school that best exemplified the true meaning of sportsmanship toward fellow student athletes, coaches and officials,” according to a plaque presented by the Southern Association of Basketball Officials.
More than 200 basketball officiants were polled and selected HMSHS as the top school among others in Nassau, Duval, Clay, Baker and St. Johns counties, according to SABO President Gregory Bing. He presented the award, named for former SABO president JC Green, in the HMSHS cafetorium March 16.
“We basically find the one with the least flaws,” Bing said, adding later, “That’s a big deal when you talk about the five school districts.”
The new designation puts HMSHS under consideration for the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Fred E. Rozelle Award.
School selections are accepted through Friday. A winner will be announced soon.
Seniors Armani Scott and Grace Franklin accepted the sportsmanship award on behalf of the boys and girls varsity teams.
“It’s definitely an honor to have it,” Scott said. “And it makes me feel good that our team was recognized.”
The forward plays basketball and football, competes in track and lifts weights for the Flashes. Scott works to keep his cool when he’s on the court.
“I keep my composure and try to coach my teammates instead of yelling,” the teen said. “Sports are definitely fun to play. I give thanks to our head coach Myron Saunders – he taught us well.”
Franklin has played basketball since she was a sixth-grader. Mom Tara Franklin coaches her team.
In the heat of competition, it can be difficult to maintain composure, according to Franklin, even under the watchful eyes of her mom.
“Yes and no, because sometimes it’s really easy to lose my cool,” the guard said. “She’s been a good role model for me. It’s really good that all of the composure that we’ve kept has paid off. I feel like we’ve definitely earned it for sure.”