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PAGE 2B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS - WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 20.2008 Chase Crawford looks for an opening in the fell to Social Circle in the Region 8-ATournament Social Circle defense as the Commerce Tigers Wednesday night. — Indians Too Much For Tigers To Handle Cont. from Page IB Region 8-A tournament, 51-24, by Social Circle. Lakeview Academy ended up winning the tournament. “We probably looked as bad as they looked good," said Bridges, whose Tigers ended the season at 5-15. “We picked a bad time to play our worst game." In addition to not shooting well — a season-long problem for Com merce — the Tigers “didn’t do the things we talked about doing" on defense, giving up numerous sec ond shots. Taylor Gary’s nine points was high for the Tigers. Jake Flint added six, Torrence Wilcher four, Brandon Romans and Matt Ad ams two each and Cameron Bill ings one. Next Year Bridges will return two starters, Chase Crawford and T. Green, next season. Also coming back are Matt Adams, Drake Cash, Cameron Billings and Wilcher, who will all be seniors. “Hopefully, all of the freshman class will be back," Bridges add ed. The Tigers will get three and a half weeks of practice in late May and early June. “We’re going to work on our de fense. We’re going to change and try to press more. I think we’ll be a little quicker," the coach said. “We will continue to try to improve our execution. Basically, I had to throw so much at them because we changed so much that they were still learning at the end." Top Gymnast Skylar Arnston of Commerce was judged the first place all-around champion of the Mardi Gras Invitational gym nastics meet last weekend at Life University, Marietta. She placed first on the balance beam and uneven bars (where she scored a personal best of 9.70) and second on the vault. Her overall score of 37.175 was also a personal best. 706-354-1539 • Epps Bridge Pkwy. (Across from Super WalMart) Cont. from Page IB was a good feat for us." Two Tigers won area champi onships. They were Doug Mal- och at 112 pounds and Phillip Edwards at 145. Jon Cash, wrestling at 135, came close, losing 5-1 in the fi nals to Elliott of Jefferson and winning second place. “That’s as close as he’s wrestled him all year. He wrestled a great match," Love observed. Four other Tigers reached the finals as well. Thomas Sears, at 152, placed second. He was pinned by Jef ferson’s Jay Fowler, a return ing state champ, in the finals. Chase Bowen, 189, lost to a state runner-up from Social Circle in the finals to win second place. Addison Davis, 103, fell in the in a 10-6 decision to take second place. Terrance Martin, at 160, also won second. Finishing third were Casey Drinkard at 125 and Nick Arostegui at 130. Forth-place winners included Tyler Austin, 171; and Andrew Minish, 215. Dillon Desean finished fifth at 119 and Baxter Barnes, wrestling with a fractured foot, was fifth at heavyweight. JV team mem ber Cole Ledford filled in and placed fifth. “He wrestled well," Love noted. “Realistically, if we’d had every body healthy, I feel like we could have qualified 14," said Love. “We went with what we had and I couldn’t be more proud of them." — Sending 11 To State Banks County Sportsman’s Banquet at Banks County High School Saturday, March 1, 6:30 p.m. Free Bar-B-Que and stew meal Door prizes plus Grand Prize of One DeerHunting trip to Illinois Donated by Rut and Strut Outfitters Guest Speaker outdoor professional Joey Hancock No charge for the event-Need ticket to attend Tickets available at Shuler’s at Banks Crossing or Southern Outdoors 2 Miles north of Banks Crossing on Hwy. 441 —Even For 65 Minutes Against Hart Co. Cont. from Page IB ball to midfielder Abby Adams, who nudged it into the net with her left foot for the score. Roller made some lineup chang es after the first 15 minutes. “Defensive guard Kayla Sipes and sweeper Chelsa Kyst started marking and blocking Hart’s forwards from doing as they pleased," he said. “Midfielder Aubrey Cozzens dropped to de fense to help her sister, keeper Larisa Cozzens, on the back side and used strong kicks to get us out of trouble." Roller noted that Hart had the better team, but that the Eagles hustled and had some chances to score. “We just couldn’t finish the play," he said. Roller praised the play of strik er Brittany Blackwell and that of Sarah Daftarian, and said Katie McEver and Sadie Staples played well on defense in the sec ond half. The Lady Eagles will play at North Oconee Thursday at 5:00. The boys’ game will follow imme diately. Lions 1-Eagles 0 On Wednesday, Feb. 13, the Eagles came out on the short end of a 1-0 contest with Franklin County. “It was a very competitive game," said coach Emily Guner- son. “The wind was a factor for both teams. It was a defensive battle with Chelsea Kyst, Court ney Wainwright, Brittany Black- well, Katie McEver, Sadie Staples and Kayla Sipes playing solidly on defense." Gunderson said keeper Larisa Cozzens had 19 goal stops and praised midfielders Aubrey Coz zens, Abby Adams and Dakota Chandler for aggressive play on both offense and defense. For wards Bre Standridge and Jazmin Flores had several goal attempts. — Strange Ending To Eagles' First Season Cont. from Page IB “There was a lot of disappoint ment, and a lot of tears in the dressing room," the coach con tinued . “We felt like we were one of the better teams, but we didn’t get the job done." Nonetheless, Turner said he was proud of his team. “They should be proud of those 18 wins," he said. “And the com munity really stepped up behind them. We had a huge crowd Wednesday night, and I thank them for supporting us. “I’m extremely proud of what we accomplished the first year, and we’ve got a good core group coming back, including our two leading scorers, Kolby, Gilbert and Brandon Garrett. Standrick Stephens is also coming back. I’m really pleased with the group coming back. I hate to say good bye to the seniors, but they start ed this program, and that’s some thing they can be proud of and the community can be proud of for years to come." Garrett led the offense with 19 points; K. Gilbert added 12, Stephens and Rucker scored 11 each, Evan Williamson and Zak Pearson added four apiece, and Zach Gilbert scored two. Getting There Half The Fun Advancing to the second round was just as exciting — and had a better ending — as the Eagles out lasted Union County Tuesday night, Feb. 12, 63-60 in another nail-biter. This time, it was Union County’s three-pointer to tie that missed the mark. Union led 16-12 after one pe riod, 31-29 at the half and 48-43 after three quarters. The Eagles caught the Panthers and went up by one with under a minute left and Brandon Garrett was at the foul line. He missed the shot, but K. Gilbert got the rebound and put it in to put the Eagles up by three. “They took a three, and we fouled the shooter," said Turner. “They missed the first foul shot and made the next two, so it was 61-60. They fouled Brandon Rucker and he made both shots. Then they come down, shoot a three and miss, but the ball is out on us. They shoot long again and miss." Game over. Stephens scored 19 points, including five three-pointers, coming off the bench. Garrett added 16, K. Gilbert 12, Rucker eight, Pearson six and Z. Gil bert two. 4 Lady Eagles Earn Subregion Honors Four East Jackson Lady Eagles made the 8-AA North All-Subregion team. Dane Gaillard was named to the first team; Autumn Wil banks, Marley Pullian and Dynelle Todman made honor able mention. Other first-team members included Sarah Fulghum, Kay la Gowder and Leslie Bittenbinder, all of Union County; Amber Satterfield and Holly Cochran of Fannin County; Bristol Gibson, Rabun County; Katie Lebel and Amanda Daley, both of Dawson County; and Andrea Hunter, Banks County. Others receiving honorable mention honors included Kaley Sullivan, Union County; Rebekah Adams, Steph anie Anderson and Kelly Lance, all of Fannin County; Jamie Franklin, Jennifer Savage and Marina DeFoor, all of Rabun County; Katelyn Westbrook and Rachel Biddy, both of Dawson County; and Lauren Kennedy and Lacey Saxon, both of Banks County. Mike West of Union County was the “coach of the year" and Candace Williams, Union County, was voted most valuable player. East Jackson’s Dane Gaillard was named to the 8-AA North All Subregion team. New Ownership! )0UBLF New lAKr Name! go If c I u b Formerly Eagle Greens at Sandy Creek Operated by: Carey Pittman Class A PGA Professional & Seth Maxwell For a Limited Time! Charter Memberships Available For Membership Information & Weekend Tee Times 706-335-8100 3100 Ila Rd. I Commerce, GA 30530 jp