The GHSA basketball championships are just around the corner, and Jon Nelson takes you inside the action heading to Macon. Legendary Hebron Christian coach Jan Azar joins us to talk about leadership, building a team culture, and chasing another state title. Plus, 13WMAZ sports reporters Cecily Stoute and Sami Kostas preview the Middle Georgia teams and the electric atmospheres fans can expect during championship week.

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As the Georgia High School Association basketball championships approach, the spotlight turns to Macon and four days of intense competition. In this offseason edition of the Football Fridays in Georgia podcast, we shift from the gridiron to the hardwood to preview one of the biggest events on the high school sports calendar.

The episode begins with legendary Hebron Christian girls basketball coach Jan Azar. With 16 state championships and nearly 800 career wins, Coach Azar reflects on how her philosophy has remained steady over decades of coaching. She talks about teaching young athletes leadership, teamwork, and confidence while adapting to new challenges such as social media and NIL opportunities in college sports. Azar also explains how this year’s team discovered its identity after early struggles and why depth and effort from every player are central to her program.

Later, we head to Middle Georgia, where 13WMAZ sports reporters Cecily Stoute and Sami Kostas break down the local teams competing for titles. From Wilcox County’s championship pursuit to East Laurens’ historic run and the passionate communities that support them, they describe the loud, small-town atmospheres that make Georgia high school basketball unique. With packed gyms and devoted fan bases, the road to a state championship promises four unforgettable days in Macon.

 

Jon Nelson and Jan Azar in 2004