After an unusually tough start to the regular season, the South Atlanta Hornets are finally on the right track.

Since Derrick Favors’ freshman season (2005-06), South Atlanta had not lost more than four games this early in the season.

But the Hornets’ mark of just 5-5 to end 2011 wasn’t a surprise for head coach Michael Reddick with the graduation of Nick Jacobs, Dominique McKoy and Rashuad Bell.

“Me and my coaching staff understood that we weren’t going to be the best early, but we had potential,” Reddick said. “Even the games we lost we were always in them.”

(The Hornets fell to defending champion Greater Atlanta Christian and runner-up Buford by double digits but not by more than 10 points to each of the other three opponents.)

“When we started the season we were only hitting on about 40 percent,” Reddick said. “We had to be at a minimum of 65 percent and to compete with the top teams we had to be hitting at about 85-90 percent.”

Recently, South Atlanta has overcome its consistency issues, winning its last eight games for a 13-5 record and 5-0 mark in sub-region 6B-AA.

“When we walk in the gym opponents aren’t shaking like they used to,” Reddick said. “Since 2001 we’ve walked in with Vincent Banks, Sylvania Watkins, Derrick Favors then Nick Jacobs. So when we came through people will get a little scared before the jump ball.

“But with this team they don’t see that,” Reddick said. “This is a different type of team. We play a different style—more 3-point shots and we try to play a little quicker. We just have to really play smart.”

Therefore, the Hornets’ success stems from the shooting of senior James Arnold and versatility of junior Naquavious King.

“Naquavious has the most potential out of everybody,” Reddick said. “He can do it all—shoot it, handle it and make difficult shots. One of those kids who will take a shot and you say ‘no, no’ but it goes in and you just clap and say ‘good shot.’”

Last season, South Atlanta finished 28-3 and 10-0 in its sub-region but lost to Buford in the Elite Eight.

“This year, we are truly more of a team,” Reddick said. “We must play together and we can do well. We want to be our best three weeks from now.”