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Sports
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22,1992
Forsyth Central halts South Forsyth
as Bulldog’s wrestlers earn 44-28 win
By Mike Webber
Sport* Editor
Forsyth Central’s wrestling team dealt South Forsyth a
44-28 defeat Thursday at the old gym in Cumming.
“It was a good match for us,” said Forsyth Central coach
Nelson Hall. “I was pleased by our effort We came
through with some good matches against a South Forsyth
team which has improved considerably.”
South Forsyth coach John Allen was also pleased by his
team’s effort, which was considerably better than the loss
his team incurred the first time the two schools wrestled.
“We did do better this time around,” said Allen. “We’ve
consistently gotten better, and I feel that’s because we’re
wrestling good competition.”
South Forsyth sent four wrestlers into the North Metro
Takedown tournament this past weekend at Stone Moun
tain. Of those four, Steve Platt (135), Chris Wilkins (heavy
weight), Byron Carroll (125) and James Wright (135), Platt
came out with a fifth place finish in his weight division.
“I was pleased for him (Platt) and his showing,” said
Allen. “It was a perfect example of doing well against
good competition.”
South had met good competition last Thursday, which
came in the form of Forsyth Central.
Thursday’s match began in the 103-pound division
■I iH
[.Mike
Webber
Sports Editor
Another vote is
another chance
Now that all the votes have been cast
and counted, let’s consider the issue once
more.
The issue is, should Pete Rose be al
lowed to enter the hallowed halls of base
ball’s Hall of Fame?
That’s been a subject which has been
debated far and near ever since it was
discovered Rose, while manager of his
beloved Cincinnati Reds, had wagered
money on baseball games.
First of all, Pete Rose has a problem
that won’tdisappear. Thankgoodness it’s
a problem he can live with.
In the beginning, it was a problem he
wouldn’t face up to. Finally, it appears
he’s conquered.
There are some, most, who say he
doesn’t deserve a place in Cooperstown.
Furthermore, they say his records don’t
exist That’s a little like saying Richard
M. Nixon never existed.
I’m not about to go out on a limb, at
least not now, anyway, and say he should
be in the Hall. What I’m saying is, let’s
take a long look at the man who had more
base hits than anyone else, and let those
merits wear on the decision.
The pro-Rose people, be there few, say
that his ability and playing-day accom
plishments should be his ticket to the
Hall.
Even if Rose did bet on baseball, did
those bets have any bearing on even one
of those 4,256 hits?
Betting is against the law in Ohio.
True, gambling is a present threat to
destroy any sport, professional or ama
teur. Baseball nearly caved in once be
fore, in 1919, when the scandalous Black
Sox affair broke. There are those who
worry about the Pete Rose affair just be
ing the tip of another gambling iceberg.
I’ll go out on a limb and say it will be a
cold day before that happens.
If that’s true, then how come football
wasn’t destroyed by the betting line es
tablished by players Paul Homung and
Alex Karras?
Getting back to baseball, Ty Cobb, the
man whom Rose chased for some two de
cades, wasn’t a saint either. Neither was
Ferguson Jenkins, once convicted of
marijuana possession.
I’ll agree, that’s something that
shouldn’t be considered. And neither
should the merits, or problems, of any
other baseball player.
I was walking through thegrocery store
the other day, when I spied a magazine
cover. It was Pete Rose in full Cincinnati
uniform, all the way from that sleeveless
jersey to shiny black shoes.
It was a sight that brought back memo
ries. And good memories at that
Let’s not forget what a splendid base
ball player he was.
You could almost envision Rose at old
Crosley Field. There he was, crossing
second base while standing tall against a
sliding opponent, while relaying the ball
to first
For once, let’s get back to brass tacks.
Let’s take a look at society’s law, the
real law. You get caught breaking the law
and you pay a specific price. Sometimes
the fine is monetary. Sometimes the pun
ishment is time.
Are members of the Baseball Writer’s
Association of America turning a deaf ear
on the law of the land?
Once again, Pete Rose appears to be
standing tall in the face of a far greater
adversary.
Rose paid his price to society. Today
he’s a free man, except for one thing.
when Michael Gipson pinned Joe Fish in the second
period. It was a close match at the time, as Gipson led 2-0
when he pinned Fish.
Forsyth Central won its second straight match in the
112-pound category, when Jeb Miller captured a 17-2 vic
tory over South’s J. J. Gaines.
South Forsyth’s Shannon Stancil put his War Eagles in
to the victory column in the 119-pound division, pinning
Central’s Kenneth Yarbrough. The pin came in the third
period.
Central’s Jason Brown gave his Bulldog squad addition
al points in the 125-pound division, stopping South’s Car
roll, 7-0.
Scott Bruce, wrestling in the 130-pound division,
pinned South’s Jeff Reed in the second period. Central’s
Bruce had led 7-2 when the pin occurred.
Forsyth Central’s Steve Scroggins continued his team’s
strong move, pinning South’s Wright in the third period.
South Forsyth’s Wesley Pruitt won a forfeit decision at
140. Then the War Eagle’s Platt made it two striaght wins
for South Forsyth, pinning Central’s Lenny Davis in the
second period. There was 3:30 left in the period when
Platt, leading 11-2, ended the match by pinning his
opponentg.
Tallant shot is key
|porth Forsyth comes back, deals Otwell 40-39 loss
y ■ * ■■■.
North Forsyth’s Bth grade host girls basketball team,
thanks to Sarah Tallant’s free throw with :03 left on the
clock, dealt rival Otwell a 40-39 loss on Thursday.
The victory improved the Lady Wildcats to 3-5 for the
season Thursday. North Forsyth will have an opportunity
to even its record for the season next weekend, as they play
South Forsyth and Otwell on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s
games are scheduled for South, while Saturday’s match
“That was definitely a big victory for us,” said North
Forsyth coach Fonda Harrison. “That was a key free throw,
but the entire team played well.”
Tallant had converted her first free throw, but a lane
violation took away the point
“She (Tallant) really made a clutch shot” said Harrison.
Tallant’s free throw was the culmination of a comeback
effort by North Forgyth, one in which the Lady Wildcats
Progressing at a much slower pace
South Forsyth’s girls
earn passing grades
in baskeball games
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
It has been suggested that time
elapsed photography be used, when mak
ing a feature highlight film, in classes
involving the three-year progress of
South Forsyth’s varsity girls basketball
team.
During those first few frames, and pri
or to Friday’s game versus Union County,
three teams had combined for seven vic
tories in slightly less than three seasons.
Last year’s team won a school-record
three games. That mark was broken a
week ago when the Lady War Eagles beat
White County 64-35.
“I know at times it may not look like
we’re making progress,” said coach Doug
Fields. “But we are. It just takes time.”
Progress has been slow. Nobody knows
that better than Fields, who inherited a
1990-91 team thatfailed to win a game the
year before, the school’s first in
existence.
“We’re just now learning how to win,
what it’s like to win,” he said. “It’s taken
some time, but the winning is finally hap
pening. We seem to be developing a team
chemistry, something that’s necessary for
winning teams. We’re winning because of
a team effort, and not because of any one
individual.”
The chemistry Fields speaks of comes
from a list of players that includes names
like Jennifer Jones, Kassie Jones (no re
lation), Gina McKenzie, Amy Roebuck,
Rachel Fish, Shea Smith, Carmen Moss,
Deana Mathis, Anna McPherson, Sa
mantha Broxton and Amanda Wheeler.
To be sure, points have come at a more
rapid rate from some players. Jennifer
Jones leads the team in scoring, but Roe
buck, McKenzie, Fish and Kassie Jones
are others capable of hitting for double
digits. Jennifer Jones, a senior who is in
her first year at South Forsyth, boosted
school recognition during the holidays
when she was named an all-tourney se
lection to the North Gwinnett Christmas
Tournament
Jones, who had scored 21 in an opening
night loss to North Gwinnett, scored 10
Please see SOUTH, page 3B
Forsyth County News
Staff photo Porfirio Soiorzano
Please see central, page 2B Forsyth Central’s Chris Guy strains as he attempts to roll South’s Brendan Cronin
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Gina McKenzie, Rachel Fish and South have grasp on winning
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trailed for nearly three quarters. Otwell led 9-6 after the
first quarter. The Lady Bullpups controlled a 20-16 game at
halftime.
North Forsyth caught Otwell after three quarters. The
game was tied 26-26 as the teams entered the final period;
North Forsyth won the third period in 10-6 fashion.
“That was a good period, offensively and defensively, for
us,” said Harrison, speaking of North Forsyth’s third
quarter.
The Lady Wildcats displayed balanced scoring for the
game. North’s offense countered with 20 inside points, and
another 20 from the perimeter.
“Balanced scoring really makes a big difference,” said
Harrison.
It was also a game in which Harrison received strong play
from each of her seven players.
“I was pleased to see everybody pitch in and help,” said
Harrison. “That was our first game in which everybody
contributed. Seeing everybody play really made a big dif
ference, because each and every player can take credit
with the victory.”
North Forsyth also countered with some heady play from
guards Heather Hugueley, Michelle Tallant and Tisha
Jones, who solved the problem of Otwell’s press. As a result
of some smooth ball handling by the trio, North Forsyth
scored some easy baskets.
“Otwell had a good press, but we were able to beat it,”
said Harrison. “They dropped back in the fourth quarter,
and that gave some of my players a chance to rest ”
Hugeley led North Forsyth with 12 points. Michelle Tal
lant and Tisha Jones, North’s other two guards, scored 6
and 2 points, respectively. Erica Smith led all inside play
ers with 12, while Sarah Tallant and Jeannie Cronan hit for
4 each. Forward Christina Francis didn’t score, but Harri
son credited her with a strong defensive effort
Amber Davis led Otwell with 12, while teammate Cyndi
Adams had 10. Paige Bales scored 6 for the Lady Bullpups,
while Anne Daigh had 5. Lisa Croy and Susan Montgomery
rounded out Otwell’s scoring with 2 each.
Staff photo - Porflrlo Solorzano
Union Co. JV’s
win close calls;
South Forsyth
boys fall 38-37
By Mike Webber
Sports Editor
South Forsyth’s junior varsity girls and
boys each gave Union County a run for
their money Friday night
Tracey Tipton’s Lady War Eagles
dropped a 35-29 decision to the Lady Pan
thers and then Don Hutchins watched as
Union County dealt his South Forsyth boys
a 1-point, 38-37, defeat
The downfall of both South Forsyth
teams can be attributed to one tough quar
ter, offensively speaking.
South’s boys lead 9-7 after one quarter.
The War Eagles, thanks to a strong second
period, one in which they outscored the
Panthers 14-6, led 23-13 at halftime. The
third quarter was a completely different
story, as Union County won that period in
16-7 fashion. Still, South Forsyth held a 30-
29 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Phillip Bennett led South Forsyth with 8
points, while teammate David Schmidt was
right behind, with 7. Parker McFarland
scored 5 for the War Eagles, while Ryan
Crooks and Trey Thomas had 4 each. Wes
Hall and Trey Meadows rounded out South
Forsyth’s scoring with 2 each.
William Nation led Union County with
15.
South Forsyth’s girls fell to a Union
County team that displayed balanced scor
ing. The Lady Panthers, which scored 10
points in each of the first three quarters,
posted 9 in the fourth period. South For
syth, which displayed balanced scoring by
hitting for 8 in each of the first two periods,
managed only one field goal (2 points) in
the third quarter.
South Forsyth, which trailed 20-16 at
halftime, found itself behind 30-18 entering
the fourth quarter.
“We just had a bad period,” said Tipton.
“But the girls played hard against a good
basketball team.”
Amanda Wheeler led South Forsyth with
7 points. Carey Thompson hit for 5, while
teammates Adena Shoemake and Jeese Es
tes scored 4 each. Selena Samples and
Anna McPherson rounded out South’s
scoring, hitting for 3 and 2, respectively.
Kelly Owen and Allison Dyer led Union
County, as they scored 8 each.
1B