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PAGE 2B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2007
Eagles Win 2, Await Rematch With Panthers
East Jackson junior Zach Gilbert scored eight points, and had
six rebounds against West Forsyth, as the Eagles defeated the
Wolverines 51-34. Photo by Brandon Reed
Panther Runners Tapped
For All Region Accolades
By Brandon Reed
The East Jackson Eagles came
out swinging last week, looking
to rebound from a disappointing
loss to the Jackson County Pan
thers. They did just that, as they
defeated both Oglethorpe County
and West Forsyth.
The run started with a home
stand against the Patriots.
East Jackson jumped out to an
early lead. Oglethorpe battled
back, staying close through the
first half. The two teams ex
changed leads, but in the fourth
quarter, the Eagles pulled away to
a 74-61 victory.
“We really played better offen
sively, as far as distributing the
ball,” said Coach Brian Turner.
“That was one thing that we had
talked about after our loss Sat
urday (to Jackson County). We
were forcing too many shots. I
don’t think we were actually play
ing selfishly, but it seemed that
way. Against Oglethorpe, we had
21 assists. I think we got a little
more continuity as far as the of
fense goes, as far as looking for
the open man and taking the
open shot, and not forcing quite
as many.”
Four players hit double digits
in scoring, with Kolby Gilbert
leading with 16 points. Brandon
Rucker scored 15, Standrick Ste
vens 12, and Zak Pearson 11.
Terry Cox added nine, Zach Gil
bert four, Cody Gibbs three, and
Klint Kesler and Tory Lamb each
scored two. Gilbert and Pearson
had seven rebounds apiece and
Stevens had four assists.
Turner said he was pleased that
several of his players stepped for
ward, especially with the loss of
freshman Brandon Garrett, who
may be out up to two weeks due
to a broken hand.
“We were looking for some
scoring, and we found it,” Turner
said .
Next up was a rematch with
the Wolverines of West Forsyth
in Cumming Saturday. Just as
they had before, the Eagles came
home with a victory, this time win
ning 51-34.
In the first quarter, the Eagles
built a 16-5 lead, but the Wolver
ines fought back to take the lead
25-24 going into the half. In the
second, East Jackson’s defense
surrendered only nine points,
leading to the Eagles’ victory.
“A lot of it was our pressure,”
Turner said. “We had a good ro
tation going with people staying
fresh and staying in the game, and
people doing their job. I thought
that was key for us.”
Rucker led in scoring, with 13
points. Pearson scored nine, while
Kolby Gilbert and Zach Gilbert
scored eight each. Terry Cox add
ed five, Stevens four, and Taylor
Boswell and Tory Lamb scored
two apiece. Pearson led the team
in rebounds with ten, and Stevens
had the most assists with four.
Turner says his team has been
balanced, scoringwise.
“We had ten people score in
the game,” he said. “That’s really
what we’re about. We don’t have
the player that can score 20 or 30
points a game, night in and night
out, but we have four or five right
there at double figures every night.
After Tuesday’s game, we focused
back on our defense for Saturday.
We really came out hard on de
fense, forcing some turnovers.”
With the two victories, the Ea
gles now find themselves with a
4-2 record, having lost only to the
Panthers and to the undefeated
North Oconee Titans. Turner says
this is a good start to the inaugural
season for East Jackson.
“Of course, we want to win
every game. Really, the loss Sat
urday to Jackson County might
have been the best thing that hap
pened to us. I think it showed our
kids that we have a lot of work to
do if we want to be as good as
we think we can be by the end
of the season, when region play
gets here. We’ve got to work for
it. Maybe that loss woke us up a
little bit. We’ve had some good
practices, and I expect this week
to be a good week as well.”
On Friday, the Eagles will travel
to Stephens County to face the In
dians. Turner says he expects to
face an athletic team.
“They’ve got off to a rough start,
but they’re Stephens County,
they’re going to be athletic,” Turn
er said. “We know that. They’ve
always got athletes up there. We’re
going to have to go up there and
play well.”
Then on Saturday, East Jackson
makes the trip to Jefferson for a
rematch against the Panthers.
“Hopefully we’ll play them a little
better, and keep them off the free-
throw line this time,” Turner said.
“We’ll see what happens when we
go over there.”
Several East Jackson runners
have been named to the 8-AA
Cross Country All Region teams
for 2007.
For the boys, Kevin Kesler was
named to the first team, while
Andy Van Deventer, Eric Van
Deventer and Josh Kesler were
named to the second team.
Brandon Banks was named to
the third team.
For the girls, Sherri Blalock
was named to the first team,
while Jamie Dove was named
to the second team, and Alexis
Cont. from Page 1B
right along. We’ve just got to con
tinue to get better, and continue
to drill these fundamentals with
these guys, and just keep work
ing at it.”
Caputo says he’s seeing good
work from many of his athletes.
“Justin Griffin has been doing
a real good job, he’s a junior,”
Caputo said. “He’s done real
well for us. Luis Verduzco is do
ing well for us also. John Law
rence has, as a first year wres
tler, been doing a jam up job for
us. The guys are really starting
to do a good job.”
Caputo says he’s happy with
Powell to the third team.
“I am proud of all of the folks
that competed for East Jack
son this first season,” said East
Jackson head cross-country
coach Bob Roller. “The honor
for those that made the 8-AA
All Region Team is well de
served for the hard work they
put forth throughout the fall.
Coach (Carly) Parr and I are
proud to be Eagles, and we are
surrounded by a great group of
kids and supporters of the pro
gram.”
the improvement his athletes
are showing.
“I’m pleased with how well
we’re progressing,” he said. “Of
course, I’m never going to be
satisfied. We’re really pleased
with how the kids are starting to
come around, and some of the
younger kids are really starting
to get better.”
The Eagles were scheduled
to take on Banks and Stephens
counties at Banks County Tues
day afternoon. Results were
unavailable at press time. East
Jackson will next play host to
Blessed Trinity Friday.
Honor a Loved One With A
Commerce Library Brick
The Commerce Public Library is selling bricks to be engraved
in honor of or in memory of your loved ones. The cost is $50.
The bricks will be used in the upcoming library expansion, and
the proceeds will help pay for the expansion.
Printing on the brick is limited to three lines of 13 spaces each
(including letters, punctuation and spaces).
For information, call 706-335-5946
— Wrestlers Are Improving