SPORTS
DawsonNewscom
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
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Dawson romps in pair of regional wins
By Bob Christian
bchristian@dawsonnews.com
The Tigers looked to be firing on all
cylinders last week as they started the
second lap through region 7-AAA. The
team posted their highest score of the
season by defeating East Hall 87-52 at
home on Jan. 7, and promptly exceeded
that mark with a 90-41 drubbing of
Fannin County on the road Jan. 10.
Both games were a testament to the
fast-paced style of play instituted by
first year coach Eric Herrick, but the
game against the Rebels demonstrated a
depth of talent and ability rarely seen at
the high school level.
On the strength of 17 steals, the
Tigers turned what was a one-point
game after the first period into a 48-12
lead by halftime and an 80-24 blow-out
at the end of the third period.
Twenty-five team assists allowed 12
players to post points to the scoreboard,
with five hitting double digits, as every
member of the Dawson County roster
had an opportunity to take the floor.
“We communicated well and didn’t
put guys on an island playing defense,”
Herrick said. “We had five guys playing
the basketball at all times.”
Led by junior Ty Whitmire’s four
three-point shots, eight Tigers lit up the
net from beyond the arc as the team shot
52 percent from range, 51 percent from
the floor and topped off the night with
an 83 percent accuracy ratio from the
free-throw line.
The team’s 70 point run over two
periods is the most points the team has
scored in a two-period time frame and
matched or exceeded the final score in
12 games of the season, leaving assis
tant coach William Anglin in awe of
the performance.
“It was pretty remarkable,” Anglin
said. “It was a lot of fun to be a
part of.”
Senior Campbell Reed led the team
with 17 points, put together on a trio of
three’s and four from the floor. Junior
Tate Adkins along with Whitmire fol
lowed with 13- and 12 points, respec
tively, both doing their damage from
the outside.
The Gibson brothers, freshman Jaden
and senior Jasper rounded out the top
scorers as each posted 11 points and the
See Boys basketball 12B
It’s just one of those kinds of years’
Photos by Bob Christian Dawson County News
Senior D.J. Mitchell looks to the referee for the call as he pins his opponent during the Area Duals on Jan. 11 at
Dawson County High School.
Injury plagued season haunts Tigers in Area Duals
By Bob Christian
bchristian@dawsonnews.com
In the run up to the Area Duals wres
tling tournament hosted by Dawson
County High School on Jan. 11 the
focus for the Tigers’ head coach Aaron
Haynes was simply “getting everyone
healthy.”
Starting from the first match of the
season, in which the team experienced
two concussions, the Dawson County
Tigers have been battling injury at
nearly the same pace as they have been
battling opposing schools.
Just to reach the Area Duals, the
wrestling equivalent of a regional tour
nament, the Tigers fought through a
series of concussions, separated shoul
ders and cracked ribs. At times the
team was forfeiting more matches than
they were fighting.
“It’s just one of those kinds of
years,” Haynes said. “We just don’t
and haven’t had what we need.”
Down only two wrestlers at the
See Wrestling 12B
Junior Christian Harper throws his opponent on Jan. 11 at the Area 5-AAA
Duals hosted by Dawson County High School.
Lady Tigers
split pair of key
regional games
By Bob Christian
bchristian@dawsonnews.com
After handily defeating the East Hall
Lady Vikings on Jan. 7, the Lady Tigers
fell short against the Fannin County Lady
Rebels on Jan. 10 to split a pair of key
regional games in week nine of the 2019-
2020 basketball season.
Playing at home against the Lady
Vikings, Dawson County looked to be in
top form as they began the second rota
tion of regional action. Using the full-
court attack favored by head coach Steve
Sweat, the Lady Tigers forced several
turn-overs to open up a quick 10-point
lead.
“We have been working on the press in
practice,” Sweat said. “Trying to get the
little things down.”
The second period was marked by the
strong defensive play of senior Marlie
Townley. Snagging rebounds on both
ends of the court, Townley led the Lady
See Girls basketball 14B
LSU finishes off
historic season with
championship win
By Bob Christian
bchristian@dawsonnews.com
With so many story lines in play and an
extra week to build up the hype it would
have been no surprise if Monday night’s
NCAA championship game between No.
1 LSU and No. 3 Clemson failed to live
up to expectations.
Instead, fans of both teams were treated
to an instant classic of a football game
that will be remembered as one of the
best title games ever played.
After a rocky start, Heisman winner Joe
Burrow overcame the top-ranked defense
in college football and a 10-point deficit
to lead the LSU Tigers to their fourth
national championship overall and their
first since 2007.
The first quarter was unusual in several
regards for these two teams. Burrow
looked uncharacteristically inaccurate as
he was harassed by the front-four of
Clemson; the South Carolina Tigers opted
for trick plays and conservative calls as
they struggled to move the ball in the
See LSU 12B
Player of the Week!
Ty Whitmire
Dawson County junior Ty Whitmire turned
in a pair of brilliant performances from the
bench in critical regional matches with the
East Hall Vikings on Jan. 7 and the Fannin
County Rebels on Jan. 10. Entering the game
in the second period against the Vikings,
Whitmire dropped a beautiful three-point shot,
exhilarating the crowd and securing the Tigers’
lead. In four periods of play against the Rebels,
Whitmire turned in 12 points, 2 rebounds and
2 assists in Dawson County’s go-41 blow-out
victory.
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PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Marlie Townley
In back-to-back regional games, senior
Marlie Townley led the Lady Tigers
in scoring and rebounds. Townley
narrowly missed a double-double
performance as she led Dawson
County to a 63-40 victory over the
East Hall Lady Vikings with 18 points
and 9 rebounds on Jan. 7. She reached
double-double numbers with 24 points
and 13 rebounds in a heartbreaking
54S3 loss to Fannin County on Jan.
10. Furthermore, Townley racked up
six blocks in the two games further
cementing her dominating presence
under the net on both ends of the court.
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