Lady Spartans Prepare For High School Basketball Playoffs

SANDY SPRINGS, GA -- On Friday, the North Springs Charter High School Lady Spartans basketball team will take on their counterparts at Flowery Branch High School in the first round of the GHSA state playoffs.

While this accomplishment is an exciting milestone for any team, it's monumental for North Springs. This year could be the first time in North Springs history, or at least in the last 30 years, that the Sandy Springs institution has sent a team to a post-season tournament of any sport, the school said.

“The girls are just thrilled because they came into the program not knowing how to dribble a basketball and look up at the same time," said girls head basketball coach Tonique Frasier. "That shows not only me, but of course them, how far they’ve come.”

This year’s starters include all-region first team senior Cierrah Perdue, all-region second team and North Springs’ high school Heisman winner Lyric Johnson, London Kelly, Gabriela Boatright and Nicole Izuagie.

The team finished third in the region with a 14-9 record and third in the region tournament to qualify for state. They are led by Frasier, a Colleton County High School and Newberry College Hall of Famer who played three years overseas before coming to North Springs in 2011, and assistant coaches Teana McKiver and Tonisha Watkins.

Photo: Back row, from left: Leilani Bell, Sydney Clark, Gabriella Boatright, Nicole Izuagie, Cierrah Perdue, Ashlee Tousana and Leigha Foster. Front row, from left: Chyna Wright, London Kelly, Lyric Johnson, Maddi Kamean and Jade Jackson. Credit: North Springs Charter High School.