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THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 13. 2008 - PAGE 3B
Zach Gilbert struggles to maintain control of the ball as a Banks
County player defends against a layup Monday night.
Eagle Men On A Roll
As Regular Season Ends
The East Jackson Eagles ended
their regular season playing their
best basketball. Victories over
Union County Tuesday Feb. 5,
and over No. 6 Fannin County
Friday provided some momen
tum for this week’s region tourna
ment.
With a 16-9 (6-3) record, the No.
three seed Eagles demonstrated
that they could play with anyone,
and they ended the season in
style, whipping Fannin County
78-74 Senior night at EJCHS.
“It was back and forth," said
coach Brian Turner. “They led
early, we came back and took
the lead, they came back ... it was
a great game back and forth all
night."
Fannin jumped to an 18-12 lead
after one period, but the Eagles
went into the locker room at half
time up 33-31, then poured it on in
the third quarter to lead 60-49 and
made their foul shots in the fourth
to preserve the win.
“We came out in the third quar
ter and caused some turnovers,"
said Turner. 'They’re real big, but
I think our quickness hurt them a
lot in the third period."
The Eagles built a 10-point lead,
and a big crowd, swelled for
Senior Night and Rec League
Night (recreation teams played
during halftime) created the pro
verbial “sixth man" that urged the
Eagles on to a big win.
“Fan support has been really
good this year. Winning kind of
helps that," Turner noted. “There
were a lot of new people at
the gym Friday. Maybe they’ll
come out tonight and tomorrow
(Monday and Tuesday) and sup
port us."
Four Eagles were in double fig
ures. Brandon Rucker scored 17,
Kolby Gilbert 16, Brandon Garrett
15 and Standrick Stephens 13.
Zak Pearson added six, Terry
Cox four, Taylor Boswell three,
and Evan Williamson and Zach
Gilbert two apiece.
The Union County game,
a 58-49 win, was “an ugly, ugly
game," Turner said.
“I don’t know if it was the trip
up there or both defenses playing
well, but both teams came out
sluggish, not playing that well."
Union led 7-6 after one period
and the Eagles 18-17 at the half.
Then the Eagles led 36-31 after
three and stretched the lead out.
Kolby Gilbert’s 19 was high for
East Jackson. Rucker added 14,
Williamson nine and Stephens
and Garrett eight apiece.
Region 8-AA Tournament
Dawson Too Much For Lady Eagles
Eagles End First
Season At 9-17
The first year of play for the
East Jackson Lady Eagles is in
the history book.
Coach Amy Larimer’s squad
dropped a 51-44 decision to
Dawson County Monday
night in the first game of the
region playoffs.
The Eagles ended the sea
son 9-17.
“I am very proud of each
and every young lady in this
program," Larimer comment
ed. “The individual and team
improvement throughout the
year was astounding, and the
only thing we can do now
is look for areas of improve
ment and build on those as we
move into next year. Although
our seniors will be terribly
missed, I am excited about
our young talent and where
the future of the Lady Eagles
program is heading."
The Eagles kept it close most
of the way Monday night, but
Dawson’s defense forced a
number of late turnovers and
the Tigers came away with the
right to continue in tourna
ment play.
The Eagles led 13-10 after
one quarter and were down
by three, 21-18 at the half.
After three periods, they were
down 31-26.
Marley Pullian and Dane
Gaillard powered the offense
with 12 points apiece. Dynelle
Todman scored 10 and Autumn
Wilbanks added nine.
Gaillard and Callie Moore
had 12 rebounds apiece and
Todman six, while Terin
Gillespie led in assists with
three. Pullian, Gaillard,
Wilbanks, Todman, Moore
and Bralee Griffin each had a
pair of steals.
Mikki McGinnis tries to penetrate the Dawson County defense in Monday night’s 51-44 loss.
Dawson forced a number of turnovers, particularly in the fourth quarter.
Lady Eagles Fall To Union And Fannin
— Soccer Eagles Look For First Win
Cont. from Page IB
Kevin Kesler at stopper and Michael Watson and freshman Victor Eguarte.
Miner also liked the midfield play of sophomores Tony Xiong and Eric
VanDeventer and that of junior Andy VanDeventer, and called the play of
forward Ila Vindyuu “phenomenal." Miner also praised Alex Love’s play
at left striker.
Medal winners for the Eagles at the Burnt Mountain Classic are,
left to right, Shane Moore, second at 125; Justin Griffith, second
at 112; Luis Verduzco, first at 140; John Lawrence, fourth at 189;
and Antonio Trejo, fourth at heavyweight.
Eagle Wrestlers Well Rested
As Area Tournament Nears
The Wrestling Eagles of East Jackson Comprehensive High School
had a week to rest up for this weekend’s Area Individual Tournament at
Morgan County.
“I’m looking for great things out of some of our wrestlers, maybe even
some area champions," said coach Tommy Palmer. “If we get mentally
tough and come out and wrestle, then having more than four or five
qualify for state wouldn’t be out of the question. Coach Collins has a
workout schedule lined up this week to get our guys prepared to take to
the mats this Friday."
The Eagles last wrestled in the Burnt Mountain Classic Tournament,
where 11 Eagles placed and the team finished fifth behind Carrollton,
Lumpkin County, Sequoyah and Buford.
“This is probably the best tournament that we’ve wrestled as a team,"
Palmer said. “Antonio Trejo and John Lawrence both did an outstanding
job in their weight classes. They both pinned their opponents to make it
into the consolation finals. This tournament gives us the confidence we
need going into the area this weekend."
Luis Verduzco was tournament champion at 140 pounds. Others plac
ing included Charles Hulett, sixth at 103; Justin Griffith, second at 112;
Zak Venable, sixth at 119; Shane Moore, second at 125; and Kevin Kesler,
sixth at 130.
Marley Pullian (2) looks for an open teammate. She scored
10 points in the lost to Fannin County.
The final week of the regu
lar season didn’t turn out quite
like coach Amy Larimer would
have hoped, but the East Jackson
Comprehensive High School
Eagles got a good warm-up for
the region tournament.
They dropped a 46-35 game to
Union County last Tuesday, Feb.
5, then fell 52-43 to top-seeded
Fannin County last Friday.
“I was proud of our perfor
mance against Fannin County,"
Larimer commented. “We made
a run right before halftime to
lead by five at the half. We came
out the third quarter and had a
hard time scoring but were able
to pick it back up in the fourth.
We played the entire game and,
once again, proved to ourselves
that we can compete with any of
the teams in our subregion."
The Eagles trailed 15-7, but
were up 28-23 at the half, and
were down 38-32 after three peri
ods.
Dynelle Todman and Autumn
Wilbanks scored 13 apiece to
lead the Eagles, and Marley
Pullian also hit double figures
with 10. Emma Turner added five
points.
Turner and Todman had nine
rebounds each, Emma Moore
grabbed six and Dane Gaillard
had five. Moore also had four
assists, and Turner and Todman
blocked five shots between
them.
In the Union County game, the
Eagles led 12-11 after one period
and 23-22 at the half. Union
County was up by one, 32-31
after three periods and pulled
out a 46-35 victory.
Todman led the scoring with 14
points, followed by Gaillard with
six. Turner had eight rebounds,
and Gaillard and Moore four
each. Terin Gillespie had four
assists and three steals, while
Pullian had four steals and
Turner blocked five shots.
“We were able to play with
them neck and neck for three
quarters, but then we allowed
them to stall and get wide open
lay-ups in the fourth to pull away,"
Larimer said. “We needed to turn
up our defense in a situation like
that. As a whole, we played well
but we have to know that we can
beat teams like that and go out
and do it, proving it on the court.
We have to be able to put them
away instead of letting teams
turn the tide on us."
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