Welcome back, Seth Childers

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - Although he didn’t light up the stat book in a 57-54 win over cross-town rival P.K. Yonge, Gainesville senior guard Seth Childers made his presence felt with two clutch free throws with 3.8 seconds left.

However, the fact that he was even on the court was a miracle for the Hurricanes.

Childers’ junior season in the 2021-2022 school year ended after he a torn ACL in a 57-34 win over West Port (Ocala) on Jan. 21, 2022, right when the team was hitting its stride. The Hurricanes had won seven of their last 10 games, including five in a row from Jan. 7 to Jan. 19. At the time of his injury, he averaged 8.2 points per game and led the team with 4.8 assists per game.

After his injury, the Hurricanes trudged their way through with a 4-3 finish to the season, which ended with a 75-57 loss to Fleming Island in the 6A-District 3 final.

“The only silver lining through this summer was that some younger guys got to play,” Gainesville head coach Mike Barnes said, “but he went through his rehab 100% and was never down on himself. Continued to show up to everything even when he couldn’t participate and cheer on the guys. It says a lot about his character.”

The senior recovered just in time for the season to begin and has led the team to a 3-0 start to the season.

“At first, I was a little shaky,” he said. “A lot of nerves during the preseason and the first few games, but I’m getting back into the swing of things, and it feels good.”

Childers finished with seven points against the Blue Wave, but five of those came in the final quarter of play. He won’t be the team’s leading scorer by any means. That title will most likely go to either guard Theo Stephens, who led the game with 22 points, or forward Josh Hayes, who added another 13 points.

Stephens, who Childers said is one of his “best buddies on and off the court”, kept it simple and said it was great to have him back handling the ball.

And there’s no doubt that the Hurricanes play better with Childers handling the ball.

“We have high aspirations, and we fully believe we can make it all the way,” Childers said. “So, we’re going to come to work every day. Every single game we’re going to come ready to play.”

The Hurricanes’ path puts them in Palatka on Friday, where Childers will look to lead them to four-straight wins to start the season.