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Page 12A, Wednesday, December 22, 2021 —The True Citizen
©SPORTS
Spartans suffer to losses on the court
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Edmund Burke Spartans
lost the last two games of the
2021 season 65-49 to
Briarwood and 46-28 to Jen
kins County. Friday's region
opener found the Spartans up
13-11 after one period; good
ball movement and a great de
fensive effort lead the Spartans
to a early lead. “We moved
the ball well and played help
defensive," said head coach
Larry Keller, "but the second
period found our team defense
lacking.”
The Bucs scored 26 second
quarter points and lead 37-25
at the half. Center Andrew
Stapleton and Preston Myltand
did the damage, scoring 24 of
the points for Brairwood.
“We struggled in our rotation
on defense and couldn't get it
corrected until the half,” said
Keller. The Spartans played the
Bucs even for most of the game
except the second quarter. EBA
had balanced scoring with 10
Spartans scoring points. Parker
Oliver and Grant Mobley had 8
points each, and Harrison Mc
Clellan, 7. “Forty-five of our
points came from freshmen and
sophomores so the future looks
bright,” said Keller.
On Saturday, the Spartans
traveled to Jenkins County,
"I've always enjoyed going
over to Jenkins; they have a
great gym and the hospitality is
always first class,” said Keller.
The visitors weren't treated as
well on the scoreboard, though,
as Jenkins took an early 10-5
lead after one and doubled it
to 21-10 at the half.
“We struggled with their
pressure; turnovers came in
bunches,” said Keller. The
Spartans managed to play
better the second half, but not
enough shots on goal found
EBA on the short end of a 46-
28 score. Mobley led
EBA with 12 points, and
freshman Wyatt Carey made
his first three-pointer of his
career. “Wyatt has a shooter’s
mentality; he thinks everyone
is going in and that’s what it
takes to be a great shooter,”
Keller said. “William Hood
continues to improve as the un
dersized center had four points,
along with Owen Redd. The
effort at practice and games
continues to be excellent. As
long as Coach Salter and I don't
have to coach effort, we will
improve, and it will be fun to
coach this young bunch.”
The Spartans are off for the
holidays and will return to ac
tion Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. vs. John
Hancock.
Lady Spartans improve record to 8-2
FROM STAFF REPORTS
One win and a loss closed out
the year for the Lady Spartans
(8-2) as they head into the
holiday break.
EBA’s girls varsity basket
ball team defeated Briarwood
last week, 38-35, taking the
Lady Bucs’ undefeated record
in the victory.
“We emphasized controlling
the tempo throughout the game
all week, and our full court
pressure defense allowed us to
do just that,” said head coach
Daniel Hannah. “We struggled
throughout the game to score,
but we were able limit their
ability to score. Zaylie Baker
and Kelsey Jaquess did a great
job of being aggressive on the
offensive end. Zaylie and Leila
Eastmead both led us in steals,
several of which we were able
to convert into easy baskets.
Coach Montgomery and I were
both impressed by how we kept
our composure and were able
to run our offensive sets against
their length on defense.”
On the night, Baker and
Jaquess topped the leader-
board with 11 and 7 points,
respectively. Braelyn Reeves
had 6 rebounds, and Baker and
Eastmead each had 5 steals.
The girls did not fair as well
against Jenkins County.
“This game helped teach us
a lot about the importance of
controlling tempo,” Hannah
said of the loss 48-35. “We
struggled with their pressure
early on but got better at han
dling as the game went on.
I was impressed with how
freshman Carleigh Woods was
able to adapt to playing point
guard for us after not having
played that position much this
year. We didn’t convert many
easy opportunities for baskets
and struggled at the free throw
line, which led to us not scoring
enough to compete down the
stretch. Hopefully we learned
a lot about how to compete for
32 minutes. Kelsey Jaquess and
Zaylie Baker did a good job at
being aggressive on the offen
sive end. I’m excited about all
the experience we’re gaining
and think it’s going to lead to
us being ready to compete at
a high level in our upcoming
region games.”
Jaquess and Baker combined
again to bring the most points,
with 12 and 10, respectively,
and Baker had 7 rebounds as
well as 4 steals.
The Lady Spartans return
in the new year with a game
against John Hancock on Jan.
4.
Lady Bears pick up two wins, lose one
FROM STAFF REPORTS
Last week, Burke County’s
Lady Bears took out Jenkins
County 59-10 and Jefferson
County 58-17 but fell a few
points behind Lakeside, 50-46.
“We were able to dominate
in our games against Jenkins
County and Jefferson County,”
said head coach leslie Law
rence. “Our defense was stellar
in those two contests. We still
need to work on our consis
tency on offense.”
Alayla Denmark was a shin
ing star on both offense and
under the boards, and was one
of the lead scorers in all three
matchups. Against Jenkins, she
had 21 points, 13 rebounds,
7 blocks and 3 assists. In the
Jefferson game she posted 1
17 points, 14 rebounds and 3
steals.
Also against Jenkins, Jalia
Johnson had 17 points and
3 rebounds while Tre’yonna
Jones contributed 9 points, 3
rebounds and 5 steals.
Dy’mon Webb secured 20
points against Jefferson as
well as 4 steals and 3 assists,
and Jones had 8 points, 10
rebounds and 4 steals.
In the Lakeside contest,
Lawrence said the girls came
out flat defensively and were
never able to get into a rhythm.
“We rely on our defensive
game to excel; however, in this
game, we allowed too many
drives to the basket, and those
hurt us,” she said. “We will
continue to work on that aspect
of the game and move forward
in our progression.”
Denmark had 18 points, 8
rebounds and 3 steals on the
night, and Jones added 7 points
and 8 rebounds.
Bears take a bite out of competition
FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Bears (5-2) gave their
fans an early Christmas present
as they won all three of their
games last week.
The week began on Tues
day with the Bears defeating
Jenkins County 57-44 and
going on to claim victory over
Lakeside on Friday with a final
score of 54-44
“The guys played well at
Jenkins County, giving us our
first road win of the season,”
head coach Purvis Dukes said.
“On Friday against Lakeside,
they came out and played a
good game against a solid
team and shot the ball well.
Tykevian (Heirs) made five of
seven from the three-point line
for a career high 18 points for
him. Every time we went up,
Lakeside pushed back in the
game, making several good
shots going to basket.”
Kinte Gross topped the lea-
derboard with 11 points and 4
rebounds against Jenkins and
had 7 assists and 5 steals. Dan-
tavian Allen had 9 points and
4 rebounds, and Edward Wim
berly contributed 8 points, 5
rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals.
Against Lakeside, in addi
tion to Heirs’ 18-point game,
Gross added another 9 points
and 8 rebounds. Senior Avian
Allen had 8 assists on the night.
On Saturday, Dukes said
the boys came out a little flat,
missing their first eight shots
and leading to a 2-point de
ficient after the first quarter.
“From that point on, I feel like
we played our best defensive
game ever,” he said. “For the
first time since I have been here
coaching, he held a team score
less for a quarter, and it was a
great team effort. We went on a
23-0 run. The kids are playing
solid and together.”
Gross and Hiers led the
pack with 15 and 10 points,
respectively. Isam Anthony
also contributed 9 points from
3 three-pointers. Gross pulled
down 7 rebounds; Allen had
another 8 assists; and Cassidy
Golden had 4 blocks.
The Bears resume regular
season play on Jan. 4, at Cross
Creek.
Continued from 5A
heart, mourning and hunger,
peacemaking and persecution.
Jesus highlighted these to of
fer both encouragement and
instruction on living distinctly
as his followers in the world.
We are encouraged to integrate
them into our lives and as we
do, we will receive the blessing
Jesus promised to his follow-
Rich
filled with wonder yet I gasped,
“Oh, goodness, NO!”
“I think you are,” he re
sponded with assurance. “You
looked me in the eyes and
spoke to me. You made me
feel good about myself.” He
brushed his cheek against his
shoulder and shrugged. “Most
people look away when they
see my wheelchair.”
I bought us cups of coffee
and we settled in for a two-hour
chat. He had never walked but
had learned to live indepen
dently. He was on his way from
Denver to home in Lake Tahoe.
They called his flight be
fore mine so I walked to the
ers. While we may not have
the impact of Dr. King, Gandhi,
or Nelson Mandela, remember
it was a poor widow who of
fered two small copper coins
that received the attention of
Christ because she gave all she
had. We are asked to give all
we have and if we do, we can
change the world.
Continued from 5A
gate with him. He showed his
boarding pass to the agent and
then, before he rolled onto the
plane, turned and cheerfully
called out.
“Good-bye, Ronda, my an
gel!”
The Bible says, “Be mind
ful to entertain strangers for
some have entertained angels,
unaware.”
Was Albert, I have often
wondered, truly the angel
among us?
Ronda Rich is the best-sell
ing author of Let Me Tell You
Something. Visit www.rond-
arich.com to sign up for her
newsletter.
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Let Us Help
Lively
rhymers,,
Before somebody suspects
I've contracted Alzheimer's.
Cause poetry ain't as easy as
failin' of a log,
After trying all night I'm in a
bit of a fog.
It's harder than it looks so
don't try it at home,
I assure that I'll certainly not
from now on.
Never again will I attempt to
write rhymes,
As you've already seen it's a
waste of my time.
Continued from 4A
So here is my vow with
words very solemn,
From here to eternity I'll just
write my weekly column.
I'll stick to my tales some tall
and some true,
Some tales about me and
some tales about you.
Cause those are the stories I
know how to write,
Till then, Merry Christmas to
y’all, and to y’all a good night.
I'm not a poet,
And I know it.
Never again,
Amen.