![\"Lowndes](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/D5KVD5GGYFDN3DJIKUNYKDKIII.png\")
Lowndes senior leads from the sidelines after ACL injury ends basketball career(WALB)Academic success pays off<\/p>\nLOWNDES COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) \u2014 A Lowndes High School student-athlete thought she had months left in her high school basketball career before it was cut short by a knee injury in a game on Jan. 10.<\/p>\n
Senior Gabrielle Mays tore her ACL during the Vikings\u2019 game against crosstown rival Valdosta. Mays attempted to change direction and awkwardly twisted her knee, ending her senior season immediately.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was devastated about it, obviously,\u201d Mays said. \u201cI tried to hold my emotions together while talking to the doctor, but when I left, I kind of broke down for a second. It was just a sad moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
From player to sideline coach<\/p>\n
Mays has been on varsity basketball for two years and varsity soccer since her freshman year, all while maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. The point guard now leads her team from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my family, and I\u2019ve always loved being around them\u2014 whether I\u2019m playing or not,\u201d Mays said.<\/p>\n
The senior has stepped into a coaching role during games, offering encouragement and tactical advice to her teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur coaches actually talk about that a lot. How they can\u2019t physically be the ones out there to play, so now that I\u2019m on the sidelines trying to help the team out, I\u2019m giving them words of encouragement but also telling them where we need to fix errors and do the right things so we continue to win games,\u201d Mays said.<\/p>\n
Lowndes senior leads from the sidelines after ACL injury ends basketball career(WALB)Academic success pays off<\/p>\n
Mays\u2019 classroom performance has secured her future beyond high school sports. She will attend Georgia Tech in the fall to pursue a degree in business administration with hopes of working in sports after graduation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went on a campus visit [to Georgia Tech] over the summer, and when I was touring the school, I just loved the environment of it,\u201d Mays said. \u201cI always wanted to be in a big city, not a small town. While the school is in Atlanta, it\u2019s also in its own space. I just loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The student-athlete credits hard work for her academic success while competing in two sports.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes a lot of work. Having to overload my schedule, taking AP and dual enrollment classes while still having practice,\u201d Mays said. \u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work in both. I think I\u2019ve always looked for academic and athletic validation because I want to succeed in everything I do, so I\u2019ve just tried to be the best in everything I\u2019ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mays will undergo knee surgery in February. She said she plans to support her soccer team from the sidelines during the spring season as well.<\/p>\n
Congratulations to Gabrielle Mays for being recognized as this week\u2019s Valdosta State Scholar Athlete!<\/p>\n
If you know an outstanding student-athlete, click here<\/a> to nominate them.<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error that needs correction? Let us know.<\/a> Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n To stay up to date on all the latest news as it develops, follow WALB on Facebook<\/a> and X (Twitter)<\/a>. For more South Georgia news, download the WALB News app from the Apple Store<\/a> or Google Play<\/a>. <\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WALB. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n