Baldwin’s Janaye Walker scored her 1,00th-point Jan. 30 in a 69-19 victory over Westside-Macon.
A week later, the program honored Walker after the Bravettes topped Swainsboro in the regular season finale.
Walker eclipsed the 1,000-point mark with a layup against Westside last week. In the moment, she knew the shot was good as it sunk through the bottom of the net and her teammates cheered her on.
“It was a great moment,” Walker told The Baldwin Bulletin. “I’m glad I got it out of the way, though.”
The Bravette junior ended the regular season with an impressive stat line. She’s averaging a team’s third-best 13.3 points per game and is Baldwin’s leading rebounder at 10.7 boards per game.
As a sophomore, Walker averaged 12.9 points and 12.3 rebounds per game as well. She also made a huge impact for Baldwin as a freshman two years ago, averaging 4.9 points and 9.3 rebounds.
Baldwin head coach Kizzy Walker is extremely impressed with how her talented post player handles herself on the court. She also pointed out that the junior is close to 1,000 rebounds as well.
“I don’t know if it carried over from last season because (Janaye) has always been a dominant player,” the coach said. “She came in and always had no trouble scoring, so it was easy for her to score 1,000 points as a junior. Next year, she will have 1,000 rebounds, and I’ve never given that award.”
Walker becomes the second Baldwin player this season to reach the 1,000-point club. Senior point guard Madison Ruff, the Bravettes’ leading scorer, accomplished the feat a few months ago.
Walker has bigger visions for her career as a Bravette, though. The 6-foot-1 post player wants to win a state title before she graduates from Baldwin High.
Walker and the Bravettes came close last season, losing to region rival Griffin in the Class 4A state championship game. Baldwin finished the 2023-24 season ranked No. 1 overall in Class 4A, with a 22-2 overall record. The Bravettes also cruised through region play, winning all 12 games as they swept Griffin.
So, winning a state championship has been in the back of Baldwin’s players’ minds for several months. The Bravettes now need to finish the drill in the Region 2-4A tournament and state playoffs.
Walker knows nothing is given and that her team has to earn its right to get back to the title game.
“We can’t get overconfident,” she said. “We know we need to keep working hard towards our goal.”
Janaye Walker agrees.
“We’re trying to go for it all,” she said. “All the way to Macon, but this time, (come back) with a win.”