AMERICUS – The 2017-18 season may be the best coaching job that Sherri Harris has ever done. For most of the season, she has had a short bench, working with just seven players. With those seven players, Harris guided the Lady Panthers to a 24-8 record and a berth in the GHSA Class AAAA State Semifinals. In the second and third rounds of the state tournament, the Lady Panthers had to go on the road and when against two very tough teams. They traveled four hours to Waynesboro, GA and beat Burke County 39-25. Then they had to travel to Atlanta to take on powerhouse Marist. They beat the War Eagles on their home floor 42-37. In the state semifinals at Fort Valley State University, they were in the game against Henry County for most of the way before the Warhawks pulled away and won 51-38. For her accomplishments this year, the Americus Times-Recorder is proud to announce that Sherri Harris has been named the girls basketball Coach of the Year.

“It is truly an honor,” Harris said. “The glory goes to those seven dedicated players that have worked hard and made sacrifices to get better. Plus, I have the best assistant coaches in the state. My seniors stepped it up the last few games of the season, and we fell a little short at FVSU.”

Harris finished her fifth season at Americus-Sumter. She spent her first year as an assistant coach under Head Coach Evelyn Wright. After Coach Wright left, Harris took over the program. In her first year as Head Coach during the 2014-14 season, Harris guided the Lady Panthers to a 29-2 record and a spot in the GHSA State Quarterfinals. The following year, the Lady Panthers won the state championship, going 31-1. In 2016-17, Harris guided ASH to a 23-6 record and lost in the first round of the state playoffs. This past season, of course, was a memorable one. The Lady Panthers went 24-8 and reached the GHSA Class AAAA Final Four.