Godby sweeps season series against Rickards in showcase of young talent

It isn't a rekindling of the rivalry between Godby and Rickards, but more so a fresh look than in past years.

It's been a different season in the Leon Community Schools basketball world, to say the least. Every program has kept pace with each other due to the youth in the players and coaching staff. Friday the two most veteran coaches in LCS, Andonte Gennie (two seasons at Godby) and Eli Bryant (15 seasons at Rickards) clashed in the second meeting this season in one of the most storied rivalries in the Big Bend.

Godby, who went 22-6 last season, was riding a four-game losing streak, the longest since 2017. Nearly three years off of a state championship, Rickards was sitting a 10-10, riding a similar pattern as they did last season. The trends can be attributed to a changing of the guard in both programs, seeing younger players cycle into full-time varsity roles.

More:Rick and roll: Rickards continues area dominance with 31-point win over Godby

More:Leon boys basketball shows determination in win over North Florida Christian

With both rivals in similar places, the game went down to the wire, capped off by a clutch performance from sophomore Mekhi Butler in the final minute. Scoring only five points in the game, off a 3-pointer and 2-2 shooting at the line, Butler gave Godby the edge of Rickards, snapping the Cougars' losing streak, 57-56.

"It's always big when you bet your rival, especially in the Godby/Rickards game," Gennie said. "It was big for our program to go on the road and get a win, especially on a four-game losing streak. It was a much-needed win."

Finishing out strong

Godby may have gotten the last laugh, but for most of the second half, Rickards was in control. Led off by junior Randall Pompey, downing 22 points, 16 of which came in the second half, the Raiders found themselves on the brink of their first win over Godby since 2021.

Looking back on how things have ended in the final stretch of the game for the Cougars this entire season, their focus was not only to take the lead back but make sure it held. Gennie said staying together late in games has been a struggle this season for his team.

"This is where we had been falling apart in previous games," Gennie said. "It was important we stood together and keep rolling. We got stopped after a stop at the end, got some big steals and I thought that was the key to us playing. They just didn't quit tonight."

Outside of Butler's five clutch points at the end, senior Esrael Yant took control of the offense with 18 points, followed by senior Malakei Owens with 10. It was the highest-scoring game, but the biggest thing that Godby is taking away from the matchup is how they stayed together and were able to finally close out.

That operation as one unit is the thing that's been missing for the Cougars these past four games and it's something they want to hold onto in these final two games before districts. Godby hosts Florida High on Monday before traveling to Wakulla on Friday.

A bright future

While both teams have seen success in the recent past on the local and state level, that era has passed on the south and west sides, ushering in a new generation of hoopers to write their own history. Butler's late-game heroics were an example of how younger players in this rivalry have taken a leading role on the varsity stage.

"Mekhi can be really good once he gets going," Gennie said. "I told him he was going to make his next shot and he came up for us big in the end. Mekhi played pretty well for us."

Godby has had to go back to the basics, according to Gennie, after graduating seven seniors last winter, but he sees the potential in the group that is there and the one behind them. Even in the JV game, beating Rickards by over 25 points and going eight deep on the bench, there's a lot to be excited about.

"We have a special group on both teams," Gennie said. "I'm really excited and coach Phillips is doing a great job with them. The main thing with them is to just keep them together 'cause they have great chemistry and that's a big part of their success."

Godby (10-12): 17, 11, 13, 16 - 57

Rickards (10-11): 12, 16, 13, 15 - 56

Godby: Yant 6 4-4 18, Owens 4 2-2 10, Staten 2 0-0 5, M. Butler 1 2-2 5, Shepard 2 0-2 4, Jackson 1 2-2 4, Rose 2 0-0 4, K. Butler 1 0-0 3, Knight 1 0-0 2, Harvey 1 0-0 2. Totals 21 10-12 57.

Rickards: Pompey 7 5-6 22, Davis 5 4-5 16, Plummer 2 3-4 8, Washington 2 0-0 4, Morris 1 0-2 2, Thomas 0 1-2 1. Totals 17 13-19 56.

3-pointers: Godby 5 (Yant 2, K. Butler 1, M. Butler 1, Staten 1). Rickards 4 (Davis 2, Plummer 1, Pompey 1).

Jack Williams covers prep sports for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at jwilliams@tallahassee.com or on Twitter @jackgwilliams. 

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Godby sweeps season series against Rickards in showcase of young talent