How Bradwell Institute has emerged as a powerhouse with both basketball teams this season

Behind a pair of veteran coaches, the Bradwell girls and boys basketball teams are off to an excellent start with a combined record of 28-2 at the midway point of the season.

Faye Baker is in her 29th year leading the Tiger girls squad — the Bradwell and Georgia Southern alumnus is one of the most respected coaches in Georgia. On the boys side, another veteran leads the team in Ty Randolph, the former Harlem Globetrotter, who is in his fourth season at the helm.

The Lady Tigers are coming off a 23-5 season last year, when they finished second in Region 1-5A and made a run to the state quarterfinals, losing to eventual state champion Kell. Bradwell graduated a pair of stars in Bailey Gilmore, now playing at Vanderbilt, and Taniyah Bowman, a freshman guard at University of South Carolina Beaufort.

Baker's squad has battled through adversity this season as the injury bug has hit the Tigers hard. Over the summer, junior Ta'Tyana Anderson went down with an ACL tear in her knee. Sophomore Ja'Nya Bush was averaging 15 points a game early on when she tore her ACL in December and was also lost for the season. Senior Alicia Estrada broke her finger and is expected to be out for another month.

Yet the Tigers are 14-1, with their one loss coming in a December setback to North Forsyth, which is 15-0 on the year.

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"Our record is amazing to me, we're really excited to be 14-1," Baker said. "I never thought we would be where we are with all the injuries we've had."

Baker said forward Parris Parham has been carrying the team. The junior is averaging 20.3 points and nine rebounds per game.

"Parris has been playing extremely well," Baker said. "She's playing the 4 for us, but will ideally be a 3 in college. She has great moves around the basket and a ferocious step-back jumper. She does the kind of things you just can't teach, and makes shots that have you shaking your head."

Baker said the Tigers have been getting contributions from freshman point guard Kayla Kirkland and her classmates Raliyah Rivers and Mikalya Olivera. Junior Jordyn Rogers and sophomore Jamia Ousley had also been keys to the team's success.

On the boys side, the Tigers won the Region 1-5A tournament last season, but were knocked off in the first round of the playoffs by a Jones County squad that reached the state semifinals.

Randolph said his team learned a lot from the playoff setback.

"We won the region and then got hit in the mouth in the first round," said Randolph, who came to Bradwell after a successful run at Lanier County and another strong stint with Groves. "I think we learned that we have to deal with the highs and lows of a season. After a big win, you can enjoy that success for the next 24 hours, but then you have to move on and take the next step. It was humbling, but it's served as motivation this year."

Bradwell (14-1, 2-0 in region) will miss the presence of senior Elyjah Thurmon, the star offensive lineman who signed with Clemson and enrolled early with the Tigers. Thurmon was named the Region 1-5A Player of the Year last season after averaging 16.2 points and 13.4 points per game. He played this season early on with the Tigers before inking his deal with Clemson.

But the Tigers are a talented squad led by guard Tahshaun Frasier. The Columbus State-bound senior is averaging 14.9 points, 4.7 assists, 3.6 rebounds and and 2.9 steals per game.

"Tahshaun has been a program changer," Randolph said. "He's worked so hard since his freshman season until now. He's a blue-collar type of player with a high basketball IQ and is the kind of player you just love to coach."

Bradwell has an emerging star in 6-foot-7 Christopher Perry, who was named the Region 1-5A Freshman of the Year last season.

"He's a sophomore sensation and has all the tools you could ask for," Randolph said. "He's just 15 years old and a very special player. He defends so well and blocks a lot of shots. His ceiling is so high that it's scary."

Randolph said Bradwell is getting great play from DJ Pasley, a 6-5 senior who has missed two years with a knee injury, and is relishing his chance to do the dirty work down low. Senior Jamal Jackson who has taking on a bigger scoring role and Jahzhia Thomas, the senior known for his scrappy defense.

Baker said the girls and boys teams support each other every step of the way.

"Coach Randolph has done such a great job bringing the program back to life," Baker said. "They have a senior led team and I knew they would be strong. It's great to see the fruits of his labor paying off."

Dennis Knight covers sports for the Savannah Morning News. Contact him at Dknight@savannahnow.com. Twitter: @DennisKnightSMN

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Bradwell girls and boys basketball teams combine to form top notch program