Gamble works for Greenbrier coach

Garrrett Black never voices confidence to outsiders.

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He exudes a certain pessimism about every game his teams play to everyone not on his roster.

"He is always saying that games will be tough and that we will be in for a fight every game no matter who we play," said Tiffany Blackburn, Black's third baseman in softball and 3-point specialist in basketball.

"But we know he has a lot of faith in us."

It might seem funny to some that Black's demeanor is anything but confident considering he has had a year every coach would love to have.

In October, Black led Green¤brier to its first state softball championship.

Now, Black has taken the Lady Wolfpack basketball team to its first playoff appearance. His team has eclipsed the school record for wins by five ñ it now stands at 22.

At 4 p.m. today, he will coach Greenbrier (22-7) in the second round of the Class AAAA state playoffs against Stockbridge (22-7) at the Columbus Civic Center.

It has been Black who has essenti ally built the Greenbrier girls basketball program from scratch, just like he did the softball program nine years ago.

"My dad (Danny Black) and Debbie Born were the architects of this program," Black said before his Lady Wolfpack beat Woodward Academy, 54-31, in the first round of the playoffs. "I just see myself as putting the final touches on the paint job."

The 36-year-old says the players that have filtered into Green¤brier under his tenure have paved the way for success.

Black, who also won a state baseball championship at Thomas Jefferson Academy, gave heavy playing time last season to three freshman and three sophomores.

"A lot of coaches are scared to put freshm en in the starting lineup," Black said. "What did I have to lose? Those girls were the best options I had."

The gamble paid off.

Greenbrier set a school record for wins last season with 17 and the Lady Wolfpack had a shot to make the state playoffs but fell one win shy in the region tournament following a loss to Burke County.

"Those girls learned a lot at a young age," Black said.

"I knew coming into this year that there wouldn't be many teams around with the combination of youth and talent that we had."

Black turned out to be right.

Michelle Swiec, Brooke Jack¤son and Tiffany Blackburn have all started a number of games this year as sophomores.

Junior Melissa Lewis has led the team in scoring with 16.8 points.

Amanda Glover and Brittany Leverett have been key role players.

Add senior Alisha Simmons and another freshman, Sara Oland, to the mix and Black has a deep rotation that many coaches can't match.

"Greenbrier has never been at the level that Garrett has them playing at," Hephzibah coach Wendell Lofton said.

"(Swiec) is one the best players in the state. Every coach would love to have a player like her to build around. Greenbrier is no longer a team you look at to guar antee a win."

"He has meant so much to the program," Greenbrier boys coach Casey Dees said. "He always jokes about retiring from basketball because of the quick turnaround after softball. We all hope that never happens."

Reach Jonathan Heeter at (706) 868-1222 or jonathan.heeter@augustachronicle.com.