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PAGE 2B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS - WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 15, 2008
EJCHS Volleyball
Sports Shorts
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East Jackson head volleyball coach Tim Thomas talks to members of his
team during a recent match. Photo by Brandon Reed
Lady Eagles Look For Postseason Success
By Brandon Reed
The East Jackson Lady
Eagles volleyball team
starts area tournament
play this week after wrap
ping up regular season
play last week. The eighth-
seeded Lady Eagles were
scheduled to host Greene
County Tuesday with
the winner going on to
face top-seeded Athens
Academy at Jefferson on
Thursday. Results were
unavailable at press time.
On Thursday despite
losing 0-2 to Lakeview
Academy in sets of 15-25
and 18-25, coach Tim
Thomas said it was a great
night for the team.
“We scared Lakeview to
death," he said. “We led
them in both games but
let them come back. (The
team) played the best we
have all season long."
Next was a match later
that night against West
Forsyth that saw the Lady
Eagles fall 0-2 in sets of
6-25 and 8-25.
“We played hard against
West Forsyth but were
never in it at all,” Thomas
said. “They're just way bet
ter than we are and we
couldn't compete with
them. But even in that
match, the girls never
gave up. I was very proud
of their efforts Thursday
night."
Thomas said the Lady
Eagles’ JV team finished its
season on a strong note,
despite losing 1-2 to West
Forsyth.
“The third game was a
nail-biter, but West Forsyth
eked out the win," he said.
“The JV has just been
incredible all season,
which tells us the future
of our program is bright.
Assuming they do well in
spring tryouts, we'll prob
ably be moving a few of
them up next year."
Up next was a play date
Saturday at Rockdale
County. It turned out to be
a rough day, as the Eagles
fell to Morgan County,
Rockdale, Newton,
Heritage and Alcovy.
“Saturday was terrible,"
Thomas said. “There were
some bright spots though.
Marie Manders continued
to do a great job setting
for us and has learned
how to play balls off the
net extremely well. That's
a tough play to make, but
she's made it look easy
the past week or so. Emily
Sipes filled in some at
setter Saturday, and she
did a good job there too.
Elizabeth Brooks contin
ues to improve in blocking
and had some big plays.
She was already strong on
the back row, but she's far
better on the front row now
than she was in August.
We're very proud of the
progress she's made."
Thomas said the team
took three of their JV girls
along, all of whom per
formed well.
“Abby Adams served
better than anyone else
on the team," he said. “At
one point we ran off about
eight straight points with
her serving. She's one of
those we're looking at to
potentially move up next
year, and if she continues
to improve she could be
a valuable addition to the
varsity squad."
Thomas pointed to var
sity regulars Emily Sipes
and Jenna Dukes as also
serving well Saturday.
But, Thomas said, the
negatives outweighed the
positives on Saturday.
“Our receivers didn't
move to get in front of the
ball, and we couldn't serve
consistently," he said. “We
got out-hustled, and we got
beat by a couple of teams
that we should have just
destroyed.”
EJCHS Cross Country
Eagles Hold Their Own At Mountain Invit.
By Brandon Reed
The East Jackson Eagle
cross country team held
its own in the Mountain
Invitational last Tuesday
at Unicoi State Park in
Helen.
The boys finished ninth
out of 33 schools that com
peted, finishing behind
Flowery Branch, North
Hall, West Hall, North
Oconee, Gainesville,
Chestatee, Murphy and
Elbert County.
Meanwhile, the girls
placed 13th out of 26
teams, finishing behind
Flowery Branch, Chestatee,
White County, Greater
Atlanta Christian, Athens
Christian, North Hall,
North Oconee, Dawson
County, Creekview, North
Forsyth, Pickens County
and Buford.
A total of 229 boys com
peted, while 186 girls par
ticipated in the meet.
For the boys, Brandon
Banks finished 24th overall
with a time of 18:01. Other
finishers included Terry
Miller with an 18:24; Kevin
Kesker at 18:27; Erick Van
Deventer with a 19:41; John
Kesler at 19:45; Chris White
at 20:48, and Andy Van
Deventer with a 22:07.
For the girls, Sherri
Blalock finished 12th with
a time of 21:06. Other run
ners included Kassie Mull,
22:23; Amanda Anderson,
23:56; Hope Boggs, 23:59;
Dakota Chandler, 27:44;
Skyler Cozzens, 28:06, and
Alexis Powell, 28:10.
The Eagles were slated to
take part in the Buford City
Open Meet Tuesday after
noon. Results were unavail
able at press time. Check
www.mainstreetnews-
sports.com for updates
throughout the week.
Next up for East Jackson
is a trip to Gainesville for a
meet at Riverside Military
Academy on Saturday.
DISCOVER FUN AT
FUNOPOLIS FAMILY FUN CENTER
Laser Tag, Bumper Cars, Arcade
Games, Food and much much more!
HOURS: Mon.-Thurs. 4 p.m. - 9 p.m. (Until April)
• Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m. -11 p.m. • Sun. Noon - 9 p.m.
Check out our
Halloween decorated
Mini-Golf
- it is haunting! Vote
for your favorite hole!
Where The Fun Begins
And Never Ends!
V
Discover a new place to celebrate a safe
Halloween - spend it at Funopolis!
Funopolis is sponsoring a two-hour event on Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31 from 6:00 '
p.m. - 8:00 p.m.. Children under 12 (who meet the height requirements) and ,
dressed in costume will receive free rides on Tornado, Pirate Ship (our new
kiddie ride!), mini carousel, bumper cars, bumper boats, climbing wall, Spider
( zone, inflatables and mini golf. Treats will also be handed out at each ride. Kids '
under 16 must be accompanied by an adult and during these two hours any f
accompanying adult can play mini golf and drive child, as needed, free. Please
remember socks for inflatables and spider zone and closed-in shoes for the \
‘ climbing wall.
For those over 12 years of age:
On Halloween from 4 p.m. -
6 p.m. or 8 p.m. - 10 p.m.
2-Hour Wristband
$15.00
Includes unlimited bumper cars,
bumper boats, go karts, mini-golf,
Spider zone, Tornado and one session
of Laser Tag and one bucket of
balloons for water wars.
Add one $3.00 game card for games.
One coupon needed per person.
No cash value or substitutions.
Good only on Oct. 31 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
or 8:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m.
www.funopolisfamilyfuncenter.com
40155 Hwy. 441, Commerce, GA 30529 • 706-335-3866
Located at 1-85 - Exit 149, go east 8/10 mile (just past Walmart) behind Car Wash
The Commerce Wrestling Club will hold a registration meeting in the elemen
tary school gym on Monday, October 13 at 6 p.m. Any K-5 student interested
in joining the club can attend and get information about joining. For more
information, contact Coach Love at the high school at 706-335-5942. Pictured
are the members of the 2007/08 Wrestling Club, front row (L-R): Cade Tootle,
Heath Millwood, T.J. Trudnak, Eli Stowe and Hunter Nunn; middle row: Garrett
Ash, Charlie Ledford, Wade Slater and Gavin Oglesby; back row: coach Jason
Lord, Dalton Flint, Chase Forrester, Knox Allen, Jay Stowe, Cole Chancey,
Nick Patrick and coach Kelly Slater. Photo submitted by Amy Flint
The ProThrow pitching camp was held at the Banks County Recreation
Complex last weekend. Area youth received instructions on pitching form
and correct structure from a former professional pitcher. Pictured are for
mer Colorado Rockies pitcher Jason Johnson, left, demonstrating a pitch to
Photo submitted by Jerry Loftice
Youth Night," if you play Hag Football, Tackle
Football or Soccer and wear your jersey, or if
you cheer for either Flag or Tackle and wear
your uniform, you will get into the football
game for free. All coaches, who wear their
coach’s shirt, will also receive free admission
to the game. All parents must pay the usual
admission fees.
All participants should meet at 7:15 p.m. at
the flagpole end of the stadium (opposite the
scoreboard). A brief ceremony introducing the
teams will be conducted before the game.
Colton Davis a Commerce freshman.
Sports Notices
Basketball Sign-ups Ending
The Commerce Parks & Recreation
Department will end its registration this week
for youth basketball for ages 9-12. Late night
registrations will open be Thursday, October
16 until 7 p.m. and the final day will be Friday,
October 17 until 5 p.m.
Commerce Youth Night
The home football game Friday against.
Wesleyan has been designated as "Commerce
CHS Cross Country
Commerce Prepares To Race At Banks County
By Justin Poole
The Commerce Tiger runners are pre
paring for another run at Banks County.
The Tigers will be at Banks County on
Thursday, and are looking to improve run
times from September.
Cross country coach Mark Hale said,
“Banks is a tough course, but we ran there
earlier this year, so I have been telling my
runners that I will be looking for improve
ment on their times from that meet."
Commerce’s last race was the Mountain
Invitational at Unicoi State Park last
Tuesday.
The runners set season bests at the invi
tational, including Ethan Thomas who led
the Commerce boys. Thomas finished at
22:02, followed by Zach Scannell finish
ing at 24:43, Cody Nation at 27:15 and
Johnathan Leffew at 27:30.
For the Commerce lady runners,
Hannah Duckett also set a personal best,
finishing her run in 25:14.
“I thought several of our runners really
improved at the Mountain Invitational,"
said Hale. “It is the biggest meet we
will run this year in terms of numbers.
It is exciting when there are so many
people competing in a race. Zach prob
ably had the biggest drop in his time.
Ethan and Hannah continue to run
consistently well."
Customer
Appreciation Week
Lower Than Usual
Prices On Entire
Selection of
SAS Shoes,
Sandals & Handbags
Today
Through
October 25
Come In & See All
Our New Styles
New from SAS
Weave for Women
also shown is the Hold Me handbag
SAS FACTORY SHOE STORE
TANGER FACTORY OUTLET CENTER
800 STEVEN B. TANGER BLVD.
COMMERCE, GA
(706) 335-9576
Store Hours: Mon. thru Sat. 9-9 • Sun. 12- 6