PSN Summer Break - M.L. King Lions and Forest Park Panthers Girls Basketball Teams

As the final dead week of the summer approaches, teams across the state are putting in some major work this summer and the M.L King Lions and Forest Park Panthers girls basketball teams are just a couple of the many that are participating in the many summer leagues being hosted around the state of Georgia. This week, both teams are taking part in the Clayton State University Women’s basketball’s summer league.

For Forest Park head coach, Steven Cole, being able to get back to work over the summer is a “big deal,” as he continued, “you get to develop your team, build team cohesiveness so it’s really important to get out this summer,” Cole said and jokingly saying he was ready to get out of the house like so many of us are. As for preparing for the upcoming season, Coach Cole said he wants his players to get stronger, so weight room workouts will be an area of focus when they return from the break.

For the M.L. King Lions, head coach, Vincent Gatling, said summer was a great opportunity for them to continue work on areas they started back during the season. “Last year we were fixing some mistakes in December and January that now we’re getting to fix in June.,” Gatling stated. Coach Gatling went on to say with younger players moving up from junior varsity and rising ninth graders entering the program, “it’s great to have the ability to get them integrated now.”

Last season, the Lions finished 16-6 overall, including post season play, while the Panthers finished 24-6 overall including post season play. The Lions lost in the opening round to Greenbriar and Forest Park, who won the Georgia High School Association Class 6A state title in 2020, lost in the GHSA 5A championship game to Woodward Academy. The Clayton State University summer league will continue through Thursday and both teams will have one more week of work before the dead week.