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Houston ißaUti TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2006 The Home Journal’s SANDLOT ■W IWU IWTT"" ON DECK High school Basketball Today ■ Tattnall at Westfield, 6 p.m. Chlck-fil-A Bear Brawl at Houston County Wednesday ■ Warner Robins girls versus Hawkinsville, 4 p.m. ■ Houston County girls versus Peach County, 7 p.m. ■ Hawkinsville boys versus Northside, 5:30 p.m. ■ Peach County boys versus Houston County, 8:30 p.m. Thursday ■ Campbell girls versus Perry, 7 p.m. ■ North Clayton girls (bye in first round) versus winner Peach County versus Houston County, 4 p.m. ■ Hiram boys versus Perry, 5:30 p.m. ■ Westside boys versus Warner Robins, 8:30 p.m. ■ Boys losers game 1 and 2 versus each other, 2:30 p.m. Friday ■ Winner between Hawkinsville versus Warner Robins girls ver sus winner Campbell versus Perry, 7 p.m. ■ Girls losers game 1 and 2 versus each other, 1 p.m. ■ Girls losers game 3 and 4 versus each other, 4 p.m. ■ Winner between Hiram ver sus Perry boys versus winner Westside versus Warner Robins, 5:30 p.m. ■ Winner between Hawkinsville versus Northside boys versus winner Peach County versus Houston County, 8:30 p.m. ■ Boys losers game 4 and 5 versus each other, 2:30 p.m. Saturday ■ Girls final, teams to be deter mined, 7 p.m. ■ Girls loser game 7 versus win ner of game 5 (for third place), 4 p.m. ■ Girls loser game 5 versus winner game 6 (for fifth place), 1 p.m. ■ Boys final, teams to be deter mined, 8:30 p.m. ■ Boys game 11, teams to be determined (for third place), 5:30 p.m. ■ Boys game 3 winner versus game 6 winner (for fifth place), 2:30 p.m. ■ Boys game 3 loser versus game 6 loser (for seventh place), 11:30 a.m. Note: Look for full bracket in Wednesday’s Houston Daily Journal IN BRIEF YMCA offers special sign-up promotion The YMCA is currently offer ing a special promotion where they are giving away one free month of gym membership to all new members. The center offers: gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, fit kidz, dance and much more. A family membership consists of an SBS joiner’s fee plus the first month of S4B. Under the promotion, you pay SBS arid the first month is free. The offer will expire Dec. 31. Winter Players Pass available for golfers A Winter Players Pass is now available for purchase at three northern state park golf locations. It’s valid for play at Arrowhead Pointe at Lake Richard B. Russell in Elberton, The Creek at Hard Labor in Rutledge and Highland Walk at Victoria Bryant in Royston. The card provides the holder with unlimited green fees at the three courses for three months and costs SIOO. The pass is avail able in limited quantities and for a limited time. It’s valid from December until February 2007. The pass can be purchased at any of the participating courses, online at www.GeorgiaGolf.com or by calling 1-800-982-3691. ~j| -g mml \ " I . JtiagßU * ]p, " * ENI Gary Harmon Houston County and Perry players wait for the outcome of a shot and the potential for a rebound, Saturday at Houston County. Lady Beans edge Lady Panthers By JOE SERSET Journal Correspondent “We just toughed it out,” said Houston County head coach Sid Baxley of his team’s 58-53 win over visit ing Perry Saturday night. “We played through a hor rible night of shooting free throws and did enough other things to win the game.” The Lady Bears shot 33 percent from the charity HoCo boys rally past Perry By JOE SERSEY Journal Correspondent After a 4-0 start, Perry has lost its last two games, but that second loss at the hands of Houston County Saturday night, 70-57, looked like a victory at half time, as Perry held a 31-27 lead. “We just didn’t play very R» ..aMP* ’ Bifjp. 18. yWmlgpy- « If' life WB ENI Gary Harmon Perry and Houston County players battle underneath. Sports stripe, hitting only eight of 33 free throws. “We played all right early,” Baxley said. “We could have put them away if we hit some free throws in the first half.” Houston County (5-2) made only one of eight in the first half and missed all six attempts in the second quarter as Perry (2-4) over came a seven point deficit (16-9) in the first quarter hard,” Perry head coach Brett Hardy said. “When you don’t give a whole lot of effort, you don’t get a lot of rewards.” The Panthers trailed early in the first quarter, but took advantage of the Bears’ press to come back and take a 20-14 lead after the first quarter. to take a 28-22 lead at the half. Perry head coach Katherine Bradley lamented the same thing. “We didn’t make free throws,” she said. “I don’t feel good about this loss tonight. I feel like we should have won.” Perry shot 44 percent from the line going 12 for 27, but it was turnovers See EDGE, page jB Houston County continued to press and while Perry still held its lead, the Bears, led by Lydel Jones’ 10 points, outscored the Panthers 13- 11 to get within four at the half, 31-27. “We got out of our press and went to a 2-3 zone,” said Houston County coach See RALLY, page jB Third time does it for Northside By MATTHEW BROWN Journal Sports Writer The third time is the charm. All those seasons and all of those games in the history of Northside High School football in Warner Robins, and only three are state championship games. In 2001 it was a loss to Parkview. Last year it was the memorable heartbreak er to Statesboro High. But in 2006, with Marist School in McConnell- Talbert Stadium, somebody had to say it, and leave it to senior linebacker Deonta Jordan to provide it. The monkey is off their backs. Northside 30, Marist 6. It ends the Eagles’ first state title campaign in school history with a per fect 15-0 record. So several can argue that this is the greatest team in Northside history, but none can argue that Dec. 15 was the great est night for the program. “It’s probably the best moment,” said Conrad Nix, a high school football head coach for 32 years, 20 at Northside. “We won’t say the best team and that kind of stuff, but certainly they’re the team that won the state championship. I just praise God and thank Him for the athletes, for the way they went about doing their business this year. Nobody anticipated the success we’ve had. It’s a credit to them. Our coaches did a tremendous job. I’m so pleased with ‘the Hornets beat Windsor By JOE SERSEY Journal Correspondent Westfield’s football play ers finally joined the bas ketball team only to fall victim of the flu. Last week, seven players missed basketball practice during the week, but the walking wounded kept it together long enough to stagger away with a 60-42 win over visiting Windsor Friday night. “This is something a lot of people don’t know,” said Westfield head coach Jake Walls. “Some of the play ers were (suffering) from dehydration. I could see it in their eyes that they were tired.” With the football players joining the varsity squad, Westfield fields when of the tallest teams in the region. “We have a chance to be pretty good,” Walls said. Lady Eagles snap Warner Robins' win streak; Demons dominate From staff reports Northside’s girls hand ed Warner Robins its first defeat of the year with a 53-35 win Saturday at the home of the Demonettes. The Lady Eagles improved to 5-1 with the win while Warner Robins is now 7-1. Two big keys for Northside, which led 29- 20 at the break, were Janay Wilson and Brittany Holder. The first scored 19 points while the second had 14. Symone Wilkerson was the leader for the Demonettes with 10. Cherie SECTION B whole thing.” “It really hasn’t hit me yet,” said Jordan only moments after the clock ran out of time. “But by (Saturday) it will.” And for all of those who have worn the blue and white uniforms, who tried and tried to get this team to this level but couldn’t quite make it, this was a night for all to celebrate. “I’ve seen a lot of my old buddies right here who played with me in 1975,” said offensive line coach and former Northside play er Mark Stewart during the post-game celebration. “We about had a chance to win then, but it’s to finally win one for coach Nix and all of us.” Nix himself made it a point to say this was not just a win for him, but for all of Northside High. Not to worry though, for there were plenty of other people, not just Stewart, who would say that Eagle football wouldn’t be what it is today without Nix. “We’re thankful * and proud for coach Nix,” said Jason Respert, also an offensive assistant and former Northside player speaking on behalf of all alumni. “We were just lit tle small blocks, but he’s been the constant through the years. He’s the reason Northside is Northside. You think of Northside football, you think of coach Nix. He’s definitely estab lished the standard around here. See TIME, page 2 B Inside 1 Lady Hornets beat Lady Knights; Westfield squads fall to Central Fellowship - page 3B “We have one senior, five juniors and six sopho mores on the team.” Thanks to the flu, two play ers missed the game. Had they been there, they would have seen the Hornets survive a seesaw first quarter to take a one point lead into the second eight minutes. Nash Murph scored eleven of his game-high 19 points in the first half to lead the Hornets to a 30-22 lead at the midpoint. “The key was getting the ball to Nash Murph,” Walls said. “We were trying to take advantage of a mis match. He had a five or See HORNETS, page 3B White was next in fine. She had eight. Over on the boys’ side, the Demons made short work of the Eagles 75-32. Kenny Fluellan with 15 points and 12 rebounds had the double-double to lead the squad, while Pierre Miller had 11 and Braxton Dugger 10. Northside’s girls will next be in action at the Jones County tournament. That started Monday. Warner Robins’ girls, Northside and Warner Robins’ boys will compete in the Houston County-hosted Bear Brawl that begins Wednesday.