Newspaper Page Text
BASKETBALL
MCHS vs. Wilcox Co., Toombs Co., Hawkinsville
Fri. 6:00 p.m. (FI); Sat. 5:00 p.m. (A) Tues. 6:00 p.m. (A)
RTCA vs. Thomas Jefferson, Bulloch
Thur. 6:00 p.m. (H); Fri. 6:00 p.m. (A)
TCHS vs. Swainsboro, Montgomery Co.
Fri. 6:30 p.m. (A); Sat. 5:00 p.m. (H)
VHS vs. Woodville, Wheeler Co., ECI
Fri. 6:30 p.m. (A); Sat. 4:00 p.m. (FI); Tues. 6:00 p.m. (A)
Wheeler vs. Treutlen, Vidalia, Wilcox Co.
Fri. 6:00 p.m. (H); Sat. 4:00 p.m. (A); Tues. 6:00 p.m. (H)
Treutlen vs. Wheeler Co., Portal
Fri. 6:00 p.m. (A); Tues. 6:00 p.m. (A)
December 8, 2021
®l|e Aiuance
Section B
Loran
Smith
Las
Vegas
There has always been a fascination
about the western part of our magnifi
cent country—
even with its
troubled constit-
uency — that
brings about an
emotional stimu
lation that ex
cites and mes
merizes.
Flying over the
Grand Canyon
into “Sin City”
has an enraptur
ing effect on your emotions—to see
from above this expanse of rugged land
scape, which the Colorado River took
six million years to carve—makes you
appreciate this natural wonder with en
croaching respect that a higher author
ity does oversee our world.
In the past, there have been a couple
of opportunities to fly up from Phoenix
via a private air charter. I’ll never for
get the genial pilot’s name, Ralph Gon
zalez, who appeared to be flying his
single engine Cessna over the mesa no
more than ten feet off the ground. He
whispered into my headset, “look be
low.” Underneath our plane, seemingly
within arms-length, there was a pack
of wild mustangs sprinting along at a
speed that would have overwhelmed a
western movie director.
Today those wild horses are over-
populating the West to the extent that
it is becoming a serious problem. Like
wild hogs on the southern border, ar
madillos Everywhere USA and extrem
ists in politics.
A few minutes later, our plane shot
out over the rim of the Grand Canyon
into the great expanse of wonder that
took your breath away. A photogra
pher friend, who had joined the char
ter, handed over his camera, and I took
a prized photo of the Canyon that will
be a keepsake forever.
Those recollections took prec
edent in my mind’s eye as our Delta
Airbus touched down onto the tarmac
of McCarran International Airport,
where you can find almost as many slot
machines as people, in unincorporated
Paradise, Arizona.
The Uber ride into Las Vegas strip
took us by a Baptist Church, which, be
lieve it or not, is not the “eighth wonder
of the world” out here. In my grand
children’s lifetime, they likely can come
here and find slot machine’s in the ves
tibules of those churches. For sure the
slots are everywhere else. I can happily
confirm that none of my family grocery
money was gobbled up by the one-
armed bandits or gaming tables.
With Las Vegas, I like the rocks,
the cactus and the neon lights; the
Please see Loran page 10B
Michigan
Orange Bowl
Miami, Dec. 31 7:30 p.m.
ESPN
RTCA Boys Get 2 Wins
Girls vs. Trinity
Robert Toombs Christian Acade
my's Varsity Girls Basketball teams
played Trinity on Tuesday, November
30. The Lady Crusaders lost to Trinity
Christian 46-22 but played hard and
never gave up.
Trinity was ahead by 12 points at
halftime, but mid-way through the third
quarter, the Lady Crusaders had cut the
lead to nine before Trinity pulled away at
the end for the win.
"I'm very proud of how we competed
Tuesday night. Trinity is a tough and ex
perienced team, but our girls didn't back
down. Senior Elbe Graham and freshman
Kylie Acosta did a great job holding their
best player to only three points when she
normally averages 22 points a game. We
also did a great job on the offense and
defensive side of rebounding. Trinity
likes to run up and down the court and
we did great limiting their fast breaks. If
we're going to make it to where we want
to be this season, we have to be more ag
gressive offensively and take care of the
ball," said the Lady Crusaders Head
Coach, Jacob Wilkinson.
The Lady Crusaders' top scorers
were freshman Meredith Durden with 8
points and 11 rebounds, senior Elbe Gra
ham, sophomore Ansley Akins, and
freshman Kylie Acosta each contributed
4 points.
Boys vs. Trinity
RTCA's Varsity Boys Basketball
teams opened the season defeating Trin
ity Christian 87-74. Top scorers for the
Crusaders were junior JaShaun Powell
with 28 points and 10 rebounds, senior
MK McBride with 24 points, 8 rebounds,
12 assists and 7 steals. Senior Tyler Buggs
had 13 points, 8 assists and 8 rebounds.
Sophomores Drew Vaughn scored 13
points and Aaron Hankerson scored 12
points for the Crusaders.
Please see RTCA page 10B
Photo by Mike Branch
MK McBride goes in on a fast-break as the RTCA Crusaders battle Trinity at home.
The VHS Indians Wrestling Team
Indians Wrestle At Jeff Davis
The Vidalia Wrestling team went 7-2
in their matches over the weekend, taking
4th place in the Yellow Jacket Duals held
Friday and Saturday in Hazlehurst. Com
peting in a field with 25 other schools,
many in higher classifications, the Indian
grapplers made a great showing finishing
behind Brunswick (6A), Dade County
(2A), and Ware County (5A).
Vidalia’s wins came against Chat
tooga, Benedictine, Effingham Co., Wayne
Co., Jeff Davis, Dodge Co., and Fitzgerald.
Their only two losses in team competition
came to Dade and Ware County.
The Indians were led by Myikel John
son, who went 8-1 in the 106 lb. weight
class, and Deuce Hightower, who went
7-1 in the 138 lb. weight class.
Vidalia Head Wrestling Coach Bobby
Blount was excited about his team’s per
formance after the tournament. “The
coaches are very proud of the fight that
the Indians put up this weekend. This
tournament is a grind. Four matches Fri
day and five on Saturday. We got to see
some top AA programs early and that
helps us measure to see where we are and
need to be in February.”
The Indians continue their busy pre
holiday schedule with two dual meets this
week against Toombs County at home on
Tuesday and then at Swainsboro on
Thursday, before traveling to Effingham
County on Friday and Saturday for the
Rebel Duals.
Jacket Duals Team Results: 1st Place
- Brunswick, 2nd Place - Dade County,
3rd Place - Ware County, 4th Place - Vi
dalia, 5th Place - Screven County, 6th
Place - Effingham County, 7th Place -
Dodge County, and 8th Place - Toombs
County.
vmm.
12/8 - End of Course Testing Begins (though 12/15),
Wrestling @ Swainsboro
12/9 - High School Band Concert
:ball @ Woodville-Tompkins, Wrestling @ Effingham
•tball vs Wheeler, Wrestling @ Effingham
Exams (1st & 3rd Block) Half Day
Exams (2nd & 4th Block) Half Daj
BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT
JRTrippe SD Meadows
12/8-Wrestling @ Swainsboro, Basketball vs East Laurens
12/10 - Wrestling @ Toombs
12/14 - 7th & 8th Grade Finals (Through 12/17)
12/16 - Half Day; Basketball vs Jeff Davis
12/17 - Half Day; 1 st Semester Ends
12/15-2nd Grade Polar
Express @ VHS
12/16-Early Release
12/17-Early Release
mm
12/9-Santa Shop
12/10 - Grandparents Day, Santa Shop
(through 12/14)
- Early Release (SeeWebsite^nmes
arly Release (SeeWebsJ