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About The Commerce news. (Commerce, Ga.) 1???-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 20, 2016)
PAGE 2B THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS • THE COMMERCE NEWS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2016 The next level Banks County High School pitcher/first baseman Cody Parker recently signed a letter of intent to attend and play baseball at Toccoa Falls College. Parker (bottom row, left) is pictured with (front, right) Toccoa Falls coach Nate Bowen, (top, left to right) Banks County wrestling coach Kasey Hanley, his mother Leann Parker, his sister, his father Chris Parker and Banks County baseball coach Tom Kelly. Parker signs with Toccoa Falls Banks County High School senior Cody Parker recently signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Toccoa Falls College. Parker started for the varsity Dia mond Leopards at pitcher and first base in 2015. Banks County head coach Tom Kelly called Parker an “outstanding individual and very deserving of a chance to play at the next level.” “I’ve had the privilege of know ing Cody since this summer, and I can tell you that he has a love for the game,” said Kelly. “That’s something that can’t be taught. First and foremost, he cares. He tries to get better every day and he truly loves the game” Parker said he’s ecstatic at the chance to continue his baseball career and noted that he feels blessed to have an opportunity that most are not afforded. “I’m just happy that I get the opportunity to keep playing,” said Parker. Parker said he was drawn to Toccoa Falls because of the kind ness and Christian values of the coaches and players. “I just felt at home there,” he added. Toccoa Falls coach Nate Bowen said he looks forward to getting Parker on the diamond and into an Eagle uniform. “I’m super excited to get Cody up at Toccoa Falls,” said Bowen. “From the first time I met him, I knew he was going to be a great fit for us and our mission as a Chris tian school. He’s very competitive on the field and I’m super excited to have him.” BCHS Boys’ Basketball Ravaged... Cont. from IB recover in the coming weeks, but players with more serious injuries are likely done for the season. And missing personnel makes the Leopards’ goal of another state tournament berth more difficult than ever before. “That’s the plan, but we are going to have to really fight our way in there,” said King. Banks County improved to 34 in region play on Saturday as the Lady Leopards knocked off Fan nin County 5836 at home. King credited Gabby Kennedy for stepping up in multiple games as of late. At forward, Kennedy has helped the Leopards rack up points and boards in their latest contest. “Gabby had a good game,” said King. “She played really well. I thought we had a great defensive effort as well. Kennedy led the Banks Coun ty scoring effort with 15 points on Saturday. Taylor Parson added 10, while Kulia Beasley posted nine. Mallory Parson added eight points. On Friday Banks County fell 65-36 to 7-AAA opponent West Hall. The Leopards hosted East Hall on Tuesday but details were unavailable at press time. Banks County will travel to Daw son County on Friday (7 p.m.) and head to North Hall on Saturday (6 p.m.) BCMS Girls’ Basketball Lady Leopards improve to 12-4 The Banks County Middle School girls’ basketball ‘A team’ improved to 12-4 on the season last weekend with a 38-18 home win over Gainesville on Saturday. Josie Gilmer led the Lady Leopard scoring effort with nine points, while Jewel Ayers tallied eight. Gabbyt Stanley tallied six points. “Our team had the opportunity to play this game on the high school court which was a great experience for us,” said Leopard coach Steven Shedd. “I believe the girls were a little nervous start ing out the game but the team played hard and was able to pick up a decisive win.” CHS Swimming Swim Tigers take seventh at Forsyth Winter Classic Leopards improve to 7-0 in 7-AAA BY CAMERON WHITLOCK The Banks County boys’ basket ball team has gone toe-to-toe with every single team in Region 7-AAA and emerged with an unblemished record. Following two region wins last weekend, the Leopards improved to 7-0 in 7-AAA play and remain alone at the top of the standings with only six games remaining in the regular season. On Friday the Leopards knocked off West Hall on the road in a 62-54 comeback win. Kamhal Wiley’s huge third quar ter helped push the Leopards past their region rival as he racked up 17 points, 12 of which came in the third quarter. Banks County fell behind early and was forced to play from behind for much of the first half. “We came out a little flat for what ever reason,” said head coach Mike Cleveland. “We really didn’t shoot the ball well early and they shot it really well.” The Leopards went into the Locker room down 33-27, but the whole team rallied to regain the lead by the end of the third. Banks County outscored the Spartans 21-7 to make up lost ground and then some, taking a 4840 lead at the start of the final period of play. “We made a few adjustments at halftime, then came out and made a few shots,” added Cleveland. “I thought we played really well in that third quarter.” Cleveland called Wiley a “differ ence maker” after controlling the game on both sides of the ball in the second half. “He absolutely dominated that third quarter,” said Cleveland. “He did offensively and defensively. He was a difference maker no doubt.” Zezmon Steeple and Zac Orr added 13 points each, while Trevae Cain contributed 11. On Saturday, the Leopards knocked off Fannin County 7344 at home. “We played well against (Fan nin),” said Cleveland. “We shot the ball well and played good defense from the from the get go.” Cain led the Leopards with 17 points. Steeple added 16, while Orr tallied 13. Grant Rylee added 12 points. With a 17-2 record and sole con trol of the region, Cleveland knows that every team the Leopards face for the remainder of the season is likely to give Banks County their best shot. But the Leopard head coach takes that as a complement. “We’re going to get everybody’s best shot,” hed added. “That’s part of being a good team. That’s prob ably a little bit different than other Banks teams in the past have dealt with. Everybody is going to want to beat you when you’re at the top. But that’s also a complement as well.” Banks County hosted East Hall on Tuesday but details were unavail able at press time. Banks County will travel to Daw son County on Friday (8:30 p.m.) and head to North Hall on Saturday (7 p.m.) “This region is so tough, I don’t think anything is set in stone yet,” said Cleveland. “We have a lot of work to do in order to lock up this no. 1 seed.” The Commerce High School swim team traveled to Cum- ming last weekend to compete in the annual Forsyth Winter Classic. Commerce, with only four swimmers, placed seventh out of the 14 girls’ teams at the event. The Tiger relay team of Samantha Davison, Jessie Pritchett, Kate Massey and Anna Hardy finished third out of 26 teams in the 200-yard medley relay. The same group finished second in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with a group-best time of 1:50.22. Massey had a big day in For syth, setting two personal bests and qualifying for state in her fourth event. Massey swam a first-place, state qualifying time of 5:33.15 in the 500-yard freestyle and finished fifth in the 50-yard free style. Hardy took seventh in the 50-yard freestyle and 17th in the 100-yard freestyle. Davidson was seventh in both the 100- yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. Pritchett finished 13th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a personal best time of 1:23.12. Commerce head swim coach Lisa Langston commended the girls for their efforts on Satur day. “This was a really great meet,” she said. “The girls did an amazing job. They had a lot of competition.” Langston also credited Com merce Middle School swimmer Katherine Garrison for her efforts this season. “(Garrison) has done an amazing job this season improv ing her times with every meet,” said Langston. “Although, at this meet, she swam exhibitions against high school swimmers she didn’t let that intimidate her. Garrison finished sixth in the 100-yard freestyle and second in the 100-yard backstroke. The Tigers will attend the “last chance meet” next week end at Frances Meadow Aquat ic Center in Gainesville. The meet will be the final opportu nity for swimmers to qualify for the state meet at Georgia Tech in February. Sports news submission deadline is Monday at noon Athlete of the Week! sponsored by: HYMAN BROWN INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. SOUTHERN TRUST INSURANCE COMPANY Cade Ridley Wrestler Commerce High School Ridley (285) was one of 10 Mat Tigers to go undefeated in the Class A state duals last weekend. HYMAN BROWN INSURANCE AGENCY, INC. 11 State Street • Commerce (706) 335-3900 Get Ready for WHITER! Keep your system running at peak efficiency- have your system maintenance done. Air Technology 706-968-2184 O HEATING • COOLING • AIR QUALITY • ELECTRICAL 4»* 49 Service Call Same day service, satisfaction guaranteed No overtime or weekend charges ever
