Central trio back, aiming for state title

Central High School girls basketball head coach Sheila Toombs is quick to admit that she has never had three girls on the same team with the overall talent that Jada Clowers, JeNya Wilder and Tyleia Williams have.

The three led Central to the GHSA 3A Elite Eight a year ago and are back for their senior seasons with hopes of bringing home a state championship.

They are off to a 2-0 start with wins over Northeast and Southwest already in the early season.

“The great thing about them is they all bring different things to this basketball team,” Toombs said. “Jada is a game changer in the middle and controls the game with her defense and blocking shots. JeNya is also a game changer but is more of an offensive threat while Tyleia is a floor general who can control the game. They feed off of each other and make each other better, and they all work hard at their game and all of them are getting attention from colleges. I know that all three of them will do well at the next level.”

Clowers seems to be garnering the most interest from colleges with at least 10 offers. The 6 foot senior is averaging 15 points a game, to go along with 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots. Wilder is averaging 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals while Williams comes in with 15 points a game and adds 6 assists.

The Central three are just a part of an excellent talent pool for girls basketball in the area. Here are soome of the other players to watch:

Shynia Jackson: The Warner Robins senior and East Tennessee commit is off to a quick start, averaging 18 points a game and 12 rebounds. Jackson is the key for a Warner Robins team that graduated seven seniors but have managed to win three of four games so far this year.

Jordan Thomas: Thomas is averaging 15 points a game for Warner Robins as the Demons are rebuilding this season after a trip to the Elite Eight a year ago.

Brittany Reeves: The Howard senior has already committed to West Florida and is averaging 14 points and 11 rebounds so far this year.

Chandler Shepherd: The senior for Veterans has helped the Warhawks get off to a quick start by averaging 16 points a game.

Tamia Sapp: Northside is off to a 5-1 start thanks to Sapp who has started the year by averaging 12 points and 5 rebounds a game.

Danasia Shaw: The Peach County guard is averaging 16 points a game to go with 6 rebounds.

Niaira Dawson: The senior guard from Westside is averaging almost 17 points a game.

Nadia Reese and Mary Elaine Mitchell: The sophomore guards for Stratford are both scoring over 10 points a game in the early stages of the season and have led the Eagles to a 3-1 start.

I’Uana Slaughter and Allie Gordon: Tattnall Square is off to a 0-3 start, but Slaughter and Gordon have been strong as they are both averaging 15 points a game. Gordon is also averaging 12 rebounds per game.

Other standouts in the area include Stacie Jones from Veterans, Ashanty Hightower from Northeast, Jada Brown and BreAsia Davis from Rutland and Kaliyah Little from Northside.

This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 6:28 PM with the headline "Central trio back, aiming for state title."