About The times. (Gainesville, Ga.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2023)
c SPORTS Bill Murphy Sports Editor | 770-718-3415 | sports@gainesvilletimes.com Unties gainesvilletimes.com Midweek Edition-April 19-20, 2023 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL LEE HEARD I For The Times Gainesville’s Jeremiah Telander makes a stop against Hughes in the 2022 Class 6A state championship game. GHSA approves instant replay in the state finals BY BILL MURPHY bmurphy@gainesvilletimes. com On Monday, the Georgia High School Association passed a motion during its executive session that will allow for instant replay dur ing the state-championship football games. Starting in 2023, all GHSA state championship games will be played at Mercedes- Benz Stadium. The idea grew traction after Sandy Creek was declared Class 3A state champion in 2022, after its quarterback was credited for a touchdown on a keeper, but was clearly stopped by Cedar Grove defenders well short of the goal line on the final play of the game. In 2017, Peach County had a potential go-ahead touch down catch late in the fourth quarter ruled an incomple tion against Calhoun during the state championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Per GHSA rules, coaches will not be charged a time out for an instant replay, while officials will have two minutes to review any play in question. Also, the state’s govern ing body for high school athletics amended its seat ing capacity requirements for state-semifinal football games. In Class 6A and 7A, sta dium capacity is a minimum 4,500. Last season, Gainesville faced Roswell in the 6A state semifinals at McEach- ern High, a neutral site, after it was ruled that the host school in North Fulton did not have adequate seating. Meanwhile, state semifi nal games in Class 4 A and 5 A will be played in stadiums that seat at least 3,000 fans. For Class 2A and 3A, sta diums will have to hold 2,500 fans. State semifinal games at the lowest classification will need room for 2,000 fans. ATU\NTA FALCONS SCOn ROGERS I The Times Cherokee Bluff’s Jacob Benjamin makes a stop against Appling County in the 2021 state playoffs in Flowery Branch. Cherokee Bluff’s HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL Bringing new energy MATT STOWERS I For The Times Chestatee High hired Alan Griffin as its new boys basketball coach on Monday. Chestatee hires Griffin as new boys coach BY BILL MURPHY bmurphy@gainesvilletimes.com Alan Griffin is thrilled about his new opportunity at his current school. On Monday, Griffin was announced as the new boys basket ball coach at Chestatee, taking the position previously held by Tanner Plemmons, who stepped down for another job March 31. The news was made public in a press release from Hall County ath letics director Stan Lewis. Griffin spent the 2022-2023 as an assistant coach with the Lady War Eagles basketball program, which made the Class 4A state quarterfinals. After building good relationships throughout the school, Griffin threw his name in the hat when the boys head coaching job came available. “I’m excited,” said Griffin, whose first head-coaching experience was eight seasons at Pacelli (2008-16), a Columbus private school. “Working with (girls head coach) Sutton (Shir ley) has been a blessing. We’ve been able to learn from each other. That group of girls is special and was great to coach.” At Chestatee, Griffin will cer tainly have a lot of talent to build around. On Monday, Griffin was able to meet with his rising seniors indi vidually to talk about his strategy, which includes Colton Wilbanks, who averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds a game this season. “Colton can stretch the floor so well,” Griffin said. “He’s long and athletic. We’re excited about build ing the offense and defense around him. Plus, he makes everyone around him better.” Also, the War Eagles will have point guard Josh Bull and Brock Moody as two of the other leading talents returning next season as they chase one of four playoff spots in the 11-team Region 8-4 A. Prior to arriving at Chestatee, Griffin was head girls coach at Gainesville for four seasons, high lighted by a Lanierland champion ship in 2020. At Pacelli, Griffin guided its pro gram to the state quarterfinals his final year in charge. “He has instant credibility with his past successes as a head coach, but he has also built some great relationships with a lot of our kids already which will help him hit the ground running,” Chestatee athlet ics director Matt Stowers said. “He will bring some stability and longev ity to our boys basketball program, which is exactly what we need.” HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYOFFS Benjamin earns prestigious honor Bears’ senior lineman picked as High School Man of the Year On April 12, Cherokee Bluff senior Jacob Benjamin earned one of the best hon ors possible for a high school athlete. The football signee to the United States Military Acad emy, who carries a 4.36 GPA, was named Atlanta Falcons High School Man of the Year at their annual awards show in Atlanta. The award is modeled after the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, spotlight ing achievement on the field and leadership at school and in the community. During his time playing football for the Bears, they won back-to-back region titles in 2020 and 2021. “(Jacob) is extremely gifted, driven, and humble,” Cherokee Bluff football coach Tommy Jones said. “In addition, he is commit ted to a standard on excel lence in everything that he does. I can’t remember another young man being named All-State in both foot ball and band in the same year. He is heading to fur ther his education and foot ball career at The United States Military Academy. Without a doubt, a great ambassador for Cherokee Bluff High School.” Compiled by Bill Murphy BOB WOODWORTH I For The Times North Hall’s Lilly Perry returns a shot against Heritage-Catoosa in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs Monday in Gainesville. NORTH HALL GIRLS ROLL IN FIRST ROUND OF STATE North Hall’s girls tennis program made it through the first round of the state playoffs against Heritage- Catoosa with no problem on Monday. In No. 1 singles, Ella Kate Canaday won in straight sets as it took a 3-0 victory in the first round of the Class 3A bracket. With the win, North Hall will host the Lovett/Druid Hills winner in the second round. Time and date is still to be determined. In the other two singles spots, Gabbie Jenkins and Lilly Perry won 6-0, 6-1 for the Lady Trojans. YOUTH BASEBALL Robert Sapp camp is coming soon The 42nd annual Robert Sapp Baseball Camp for kids ages 6-15 is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 29-June 2 at the Hog Mountain Sports Complex in Flowery Branch. Sapp is the former head coach at the University of Georgia and prior to that Middle Georgia College. He finished his career with a 915-210 career record. The camp is $150 and team rates for five-or-more players from the same spring/summer league of travel team attending. For more informa tion, contact Robert Sapp at 706-207-8010 or email rsbbcamp@charter.net. FRIDAY’S HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYOFFS Gainesville boys fall in BY DAVID FRIEDLANDER dfriedlander@gainesvilletimes.com Given the tough draw, Gainesville knew it would have its hands full with Blessed Trinity in their first-round Class 6A state soccer playoff match. Sure enough, the two teams battled each other in a tough end-to-end con test, with both teams unable to capital ize on some big-time scoring chances. Finally, however, Nick Apple was finally able to break through in the game’s 70th minute to lift the No. 4 Titans to a 1-0 victory over the ninth- ranked Red Elephants on Friday night first round at City Park Stadium. That goal proved decisive only because of outstanding play by both goalkeepers - Michael Roth for Blessed Trinity and Gainesville’s Wil- berth Orellana Torrez - including a ■ Please see SOCCER, 2C
