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PAGE 2B - THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS - WEDNESDAY. FEBRUARY 25, 2009
SPORTS NOTICES
East Jackson Girls Basketball
• County Rec Dept Holding Track
The Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department is opening a
track program for kids between the ages of seven and 14.
Anyone interested in participating should contact the Jackson
County Park and Rec office at 706-367-6350.
Commerce Youth Wrestling
Jacob Brewer (standing, rear) picks up an opponent
during a recent match. Brewer placed first at the Oconee
Winter Bash. Photo submitted by Amy Flint
Youth Wrestlers Nab Several Wins
The Commerce Youth Wrestling Club had several medal win
ners from recent events.
On Jan. 31, seven youth wrestlers traveled to Honea Path, SC,
to compete in the 2009 Team Bear Wrestling Tournament.
Medal placers include Charlie Ledford in second place; plac
ing third were Knox Allen, Cole Chancey and Dalton Flint; and
taking fourth place was Nick Patrick.
The East Jackson Wrestling Club also had a medal winner at
the tournament, Cole Burchett, who placed third.
Next on Feb. 1, 16 of the Tiger Youth Wrestlers competed in
the 2009 Oconee Winter Bash Tournament in Watkinsville.
Placing in this tournament were: Knox Allen, Jacob Brewer,
Matthew Flint, Tucker Flint, Tucker Maloch, Jackson Moon,
Trey Parr and Will Slater each with a first place win. Placing
second were Dakota Moon and Cade Tootle. Bryson Flint and
Levi Pate took third place while fourth place finishes were won
by John Bradley, Hunter Nunn, Dawson Thompson and Alex
Vandiver.
This past weekend, the wrestling club had members win in
south Georgia.
Heath Millwood won second place in 70 lbs. at the South
Georgia Challenge in Valdosta on Saturday.
Four members went to the Georgia Grind in Suwanee on
Sunday. The Georgia Grind is part of the USA Wrestling Tour
of America with over 350 wrestlers from 17 states competing.
Taking second place were Knox Allen at 95 lbs. and Chance
McClure at 160 lbs.
Jake Brewer won fourth place at 60 lbs. while Nick Patrick won
fifth at 80 lbs.
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1359 Historic Homer Hwy. • Homer, GA
Lady Eagles Season Ends With Rabun Loss
By Brandon Reed
The postseason came to an end for the East
Jackson Lady Eagles last Tuesday night, as they
lost in the first round of region tournament play
to Rabun County.
The Lady Eagles had hoped momentum from
a Feb. 16 victory over Oglethorpe County that
sent them to the first round would carry over to
their pairing against the Lady Wildcats.
But Rabun County took control of the game
right from the beginning, pulling out a 13-7 lead
by the end of the first quarter. Rabun outscored
East Jackson 13-5 in the second period to carry
a commanding 26-12 lead into the half.
The Lady Eagles added 10 points in the third
quarter, but Rabun countered with 14 to go 40-22
after three periods. East Jackson closed the gap
slightly in the fourth quarter, but Rabun County
cruised to a 55-35 victory.
Autumn Wilbanks led in scoring with 10 points,
while Kaitlin Hill scored six and Abby Adams
and Caroline Hicks scored five each.
Shelby Johnson pulled down six rebounds
while Hicks had five. Callie Moore, Wilbanks
and Hicks had two steals each.
“I feel that we made a number of individual
improvements this year, which are to be proud
of and built upon,” said coach Amy Larimer. “I
am optimistic for next year to be the turning
point for this program. I feel that with a couple
of strong seniors and a solid junior class we will
have the experience to have a much-improved
season. For that to happen we have to continue
to work hard.”
The Lady Eagles will face their next sea
son without several seniors, including Terin
Gillespie, Paige Williams, Autumn Wilbanks and
Kaitlin Hill.
“They provided great leadership throughout the
year,” Larimer said.
The Lady Eagles finished the year 9-18 overall,
and 4-8 in the region.
Autumn Wilbanks, shown here from earlier
action, led the Lady Eagles in scoring against
Rabun County with 10 points.
Photo by Brandon Reed
Commerce Girls Basketball
Lady Tigers Season Ends After Bump By Social
By Justin Poole
The Lady Tigers’ 08-09 season is over after they
got bumped out of the region tournament by
Social Circle.
After a regular season plagued by injuries, the
Commerce Lady Tigers finished 6-17 overall
and 5-11 in region play. On the positive side,
Commerce earned a mention on the All-Region
team. Honorable mention went to Jessie Flint,
while Commerce head coach Eddie McCurley
received the Coach of the Year honor.
Final Game
Commerce fell to Social Circle last Tuesday,
54-25, doomed by a slow start.
According to McCurley, the Lady Tigers were
concerned about Social Circle’s Jaleesa Williams
who has been a big threat every time Commerce
faced the Lady Redskins this season.
While Commerce worked vainly to box Williams
in, Social Circle grabbed an 18-2 lead by the end
of the first period, and that was pretty much it
for CHS.
“We did not do a good job keeping an eye on
[Williams] and by the time I got a timeout, she
had already hit four three-pointers,” McCurley
said.
In the second period, Commerce picked up 12
points but trailed 30-14 at the half.
The Lady Redskins bettered their first-quarter
effort during the third, outscoring Commerce
20-2. Commerce managed seven points in the
final period.
Lauren Jones led Commerce with seven points
followed by Jessie Flint with five. Shekia Moon
added four while Logan Brown, Allie Morgan and
Jessika Kyle each scored two points and Skylar
Beasley and Erica Greene had one apiece.
“We just didn't have enough firepower the last
half of the season to stay competitive in the
region with all the injuries we sustained,” said
McCurley.
“We had a hard time anticipating and spent
most of the time reacting to what was happening
on the court,” he continued. “When you don't do
a good job of anticipating you are always going
to be one step behind. We will work hard on that
over the summer and next season.”
The team will lose only two seniors to gradua
tion, Shekia Moon and Lauren Jones.
Looking ahead, McCurley said the CHS pro
gram will continue to improve.
“I am excited about the upcoming ninth grade
class. They work hard and are eager to learn. We
are still not where we want to be as a program,
but I knew it would take several years. We will
continue to push hard and try to get stronger
physically and mentally.”
Recognizing assistant coach Barry Cook and
middle school coach Bobby Patman for their
work this season, McCurley is confident the pro
gram can improve.
“We have a dedicated staff with the same goals
of taking the Commerce girls program to another
level,” he concluded.
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Commerce JV Basketball
JV Tigers End 9-7 Season On A Win
By Justin Poole
The Commerce High School Junior
Varsity boys ended their season 9-7 last
week after defeating Athens Christian
56-44 in the home closer.
Commerce took a commanding lead in
the first quarter, 17-5. Athens Christian
rallied and by the third quarter had
drawn to three points, 40-37, but the JV
Tigers held on through the final quarter
to the win.
Coach Rob Brown said Commerce
played a solid game.
“We handled the ball well against
their pressure and did a good job on
the defensive end,” Brown said. “Tyler
Adams played his best game of the
year.”
Adams led the scoring with 12 points
f ollowed by Marquese Butler and Thomas
McMillan with 10 apiece. Chase Klugh
added eight, Tyler Gamble and Travaris
Glasper scored five apiece, and Kentrell
Williams, Colton Davie and Jonathan
Leffew scored two points apiece.
“This group of guys has been a pleasure
to coach,” said Brown. “They worked
hard all year and did everything they
were asked to do. They got better as a
team and as individuals as the season
progressed, which is all I can ask for.”
The team averaged 43 points per game
and made 54 percent from the free
throw line. Glasper led the scoring with
132 points, while Klugh scored 122 and
Butler 101.
For local news headlines and sports updates go online to
www.CommerceNewsTODAY.com