On Friday, the final segment of the “A Week in the Life of Cobb Basketball” series followed two student-athletes as they navigated a typical gameday, providing insight into both their athletic and academic routines.
Shekinah Hurst, a junior Team Captain and shooting guard for the Pebblebrook Falcons, started her day early. She balances basketball with participation in the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts (CCCEPA), demonstrating talents both on the court and in music. Pebblebrook High School, located in Mableton and part of the Cobb County School District, supports a range of athletic programs that benefit from community donations and hosts performing arts presentations through its center for excellence. The school features multiple gym facilities, including one added in 1997. Dana Giles serves as principal at Pebblebrook High School (https://www.cobbk12.org/pebblebrook/).
“I’m out of bed and go to check on my sister to see if she needs anything. She just had surgery, so I sit with her in case she needs anything. Once I am done with her, I go back to my room and finish some homework I started last night,” Hurst said about her morning routine.
Will Griffis is a senior center for Lassiter High School’s Trojans. Standing at 6-foot-5, he averages 7.7 points and 7 rebounds per game while also serving as President of his school’s National Honor Society chapter and Fellowship of Christian Athletes group.
“Once I get to school, I take some time for my daily Bible reading. I read one of the Psalms to get my day started right,” Griffis said.
Both athletes balance academics alongside athletics during their school days—Hurst starts hers in piano lab working on “Standing in the Need of Prayer,” while Griffis begins with Statistics before participating in a pep rally where he addresses classmates about upcoming games.
“We’re having a pep rally today to celebrate both winter and spring sports. The basketball team had a 3-point contest and a dunk contest, then one of my teammates and I spoke to everyone about our upcoming games,” Griffis noted.
“It’s Honors Literature 3. We watch a few chapters of The Great Gatsby movie, then we proceed to read the book and do assignments,” Hurst described another class period.
Hurst participates in Sources of Strength—a program supporting teen mental health—and Griffis gives presentations on prison basketball programs’ impact on recidivism rates among incarcerated individuals.
“I have to go to the gym to take yearbook pictures for Sources of Strength. Sources of Strength is a program where teens help their peers address mental health issues by coming together, helping each other, and doing activities together,” Hurst explained.
“I have a presentation in class for a year-long project update. It’s about prison basketball programs and the effects they have on maximum security prisons’ recidivism rates. Recidivism is repeating criminal behavior after being released from prison. I’m conducting a survey on individuals at a South Carolina prison and analyzing results,” Griffis said.
During lunch periods, both players focus on preparation—Hurst eats with friends while Griffis watches game film with teammates: “During my lunch period, I go to watch game film with my teammates. It’s just a part of preparing for tonight’s game.”
After classes end, Will gets extra practice time before tending an Achilles injury: “It’s time for after-school shooting. I took more time shooting free throws but also worked out with my ball-handling and finishing.” He adds: “I go into the training room for treatment and icing. I iced my Achilles which has been injured this year so I’ve had to continue managing it.”
Hurst ends her academic day singing before joining her team: “It’s my last class of the day. It’s Vocal class and singing. Once I’m done here it will be time to head to the locker room for my pregame meal.”
Her mother provides chicken-and-cheese quesadillas as pregame fuel; meanwhile at Lassiter High School gymnasium Will joins his team for walkthroughs before traveling by bus to an away game after eating subs from Jersey Mike’s.
At Pebblebrook High School—which serves students from Mableton—the girls’ basketball team plays at home that evening (https://www.cobbk12.org/pebblebrook/).
“It’s game time!” Hurst declared before tipoff.
Despite efforts from both teams led by these student-athletes—Pebblebrook losing against South Cobb while Lassiter fell short against Woodstock—both coaches recognized individual contributions:
“Shekinah provides us with a calmness,” said Pebblebrook Head Coach Shani Jones after their loss.“Her ability to remain cool under pressure helps guide the development of our young team.Tonight,she helped pace us versus pressure with her trustworthinessand determination.”
Griffis finished his night scoring 13 points along with seven reboundsand two blocks; however he would trade personal statsfor victory:“It’s game time.Tonight isan important region opponent.”
Both students ended long days returning home between 10:15 p.m.and10:30 p.m., readyto recover overthe weekend.The series aimedto highlight dedication required throughouta high school basketball seasonin Cobb Schools,focusing attentiononthe unseen effortsof student-athletesand coaches alike(https://www.cobbk12.org/pebblebrook/).
