Newspaper Page Text
February 13, 2008
Section
b
The Banks County News
Sports Editor: Chris Bridges
Contact: 706-367-2745
www.mainstreetnews.com
First
&
Ten
★ ★ ★
chris@mainstreetnews.com
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Bright things
ahead for
Lady Leopards
I t’s confession time again. I
wouldn’t have made many
old-school journalism pro
fessors proud last Friday night as
I sat in the Banks County High
School gym.
You see, I admit that I was
cheering as hard as anyone for
coach Jerry King and his BCHS
Lady Leopards as they battled
visiting Dawson County during
Senior Night. A couple of times
late in the fourth quarter I even
left my chair and was standing
after a couple of late baskets by
King’s squad allowed the Lady
Leopards to remain in front.
At times, it has been a trying
experience for the BCHS var
sity girls this season. However,
those with any level of basketball
knowledge know that good things
are in store for this program.
The reasons are evident. First,
the man guiding and mentoring
the program is certainly the right
coach for the job. After working
for several seasons as an assistant
coach at Franklin County High
School, King was hired to lead
the BCHS program. A better hire
could not have been made.
I remember the first time I got to
see King coach this season. Even
though it was early and his players
were still finding their way in his
system, you could sense there was
something special being built. As
the season progressed, the team
began learning King’s system and
slowly, but surely, began to make
improvements.
While the team did not register
a subregion win until the final
regular season contest, the Lady
Leopards were very close to doing
so on several occasions. It always
seemed that something would
prevent the team from getting that
first magical win. However, the
team was playing well enough in
so many areas that you knew a
win was inevitable.
Several teams almost fell victim
to BCHS in recent games and
Dawson County finally became
that opponent Friday night. Given
a little extra inspiration from
Senior Night, the Lady Leopards
played a strong game again but
this time held on at the end to
record the victory.
Like many of the recent closes,
the game was not decided until
the final moments. The large
crowd on hand seemed to also
be energized by the effort being
given on the court by the BCHS
Lady Leopards. When it was over,
King’s squad stood victorious
50-46. It was the ultimate momen
tum booster going into this week’s
Region 8-AA tournament.
That’s why I couldn’t help but
cheer Friday night. I couldn’t
help but pull for the home team
who had poured their hearts out
in recent games only to see their
hopes dashed in the final min
utes or even seconds of a game.
That’s why when the final buzzer
sounded Friday night and the Lady
Leopards had the higher total on
the scoreboard, I couldn’t help but
be a fan and give them a hand.
When a team works like the
Lady Leopards have you have to
cheer them on, journalism ethics
or not. And you have to be happy
for a first-year head coach who
has this program moving in a posi
tive direction.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Region 8-AA Tournament
BCHS teams fall in opening round of region play
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School varsity
basketball teams ventured into the Region
8-AA tournament Monday with upsets on
their minds.
Unfortunately, for the Leopards and Lady
Leopards the stay in the postseason ended
after one game.
The BCHS Lady Leopards came close to
advancing against Rabun County before ulti-
mately falling 73-65. It was the best offensive
outing of the season for coach Jerry King’s
squad.
“If you had told me going in we would have
had two players score at least 20 points and
we would score our highest point total of the
season then I would have felt pretty good,” the
coach said. “However, Rabun County was on
fire in the second half. We kept scoring too,
but it seemed everything they threw up went
in.”
Andrea Hunter
turned in an impres
sive outing with
24 points while
teammate Lauren
Kennedy, return
ing from an injury,
scored 20.
BCHS led 31-26 at halftime of the region
tournament game played at East Jackson High
School in Commerce.
“Our girls played hard,” King said. “We
improved a lot as the season went on. I believe
we have a bright future ahead of us.”
The BCHS boys were unable to stop the
offensive onslaught by East Jackson and fell in
the opening round late Monday night.
See Region on page 3B
First Round:
•BCHS girls 65, Rabun
County 73
•BCHS boys 64, East
Jackson 98
Lady Leopards
close out regular
season with
subregion win
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
A fter coming close on several previous
occasions, the Banks County High
School Lady Leopards found the win
ning combination in subregion play Friday night.
Coach Jerry King’s squad defeated Dawson
County 50-46 in the regular season finale as
BCHS was not to be denied on this occasion.
The win helped send the team’s three seniors —
Andrea Hunter, Randi Seabolt and Allison White
— out with a win in their final home game.
“It was one of those games where I felt we
were going to find a way to win,” King said.
“It was a great
momentum
boost for us.”
Lacey Saxon
paced the Lady
Leopards with
14 points while
Hunter finished
with eight and
Erika Evans added seven. Lindsey McDuffie
scored five points before leaving the game with
an ankle injury while Jessica Grisham and Terri
Cregar both added three points.
“Down the stretch, we were able to find a way
to score points when we had to,” King said. “We
also had some key defensive stops. I thought our
bench played really well. It was also a big night
for our seniors. We’ve been playing hard. It was
only a matter of making plays when we needed
to.”
Twenty two of the team’s 50 points were
scored from players coming in as subs. It was
an overall balanced scoring effort as 11 play
ers scored at least two points Friday. King said
Evans, McDuffie and Cregar each played well
off the bench.
A key stat in the win was the team’s 10 suc
cessful free throws in the fourth quarter.
The game remained close throughout with
the lead going back and forth. Dawson County
held a 10-6 advantage after the first quarter with
BCHS taking a 25-22 lead into halftime. The
Lady Tigers had moved back in front 37-34 after
the third quarter.
BCHS scored 25 points in both the first and
second halves.
Seabolt, White, Lauren Gibbs, Brittany Cook
and Samm Kennedy all scored two points in the
win, with many of their baskets coming at key
points in the game with the score being close.
‘Down the stretch, we
were able to find a way
to score points when we
had to.’
— Coach Jerry King
BCHS Basketball: Regular Season Finale
SENIOR CONTRIBUTION
Banks County High School senior Allison White, playing in her final home game,
helped the Lady Leopards record a subregion win against Dawson County High School
Friday night. Photos by Lyn Sengupta
Friday night’s win helped the team erase the
memory of a 61-31 setback against Fannin
County from earlier in the week.
The Lady Leopards started the contest with
Fannin County slowly falling behind 17-3 after
the first quarter and 31-13 at halftime.
Saxon was the team’s leading scorer with nine
points followed by Evans with eight and White
with five. McDuffie contribiuted four while
Hunter scored three and Seabolt finished with
two.
BCHS was able to stay close with Fannin
County earlier this season.
The BCHS junior varsity Lady Leopards
recorded a 34-30 win against Dawson County
Friday night behind a nine-point performance
from Chelsea Abercrombie, Madison Franklin
and Katlin Parks.
Ashley Morris, Deasha Beasley and Laura
Pickens each scored two points in the win for
coach Andy Brown’s team.
The BCHS JV led 19-8 at halftime and con
tinued to hold a 24-18 advantage after the third
quarter. Brown’s squad was able to hold on in
the game’s final quarter for the win to close out
the 2007-08 season.
Leopards fall
to Dawson on
Senior Night
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School
accomplished one goal against
Dawson County High School last
week.
The Leopards managed to slow
down the Tigers’ usual onslaught of
baskets from 3-point range.
However, in the end, visiting
Dawson County still managed to
spoil senior night for the Leopards
by establishing an inside presence
and recording a 79-52 win. Veteran
BCHS coach Mike Ruth said his
team continues to play hard, but
seems to be lacking confidence at
this point.
“We are especially lacking confi
dence on the offensive end,” Ruth
said after breaking the game down
and conducting practice Sunday
afternoon. “I hate it we couldn’t get
a win on Senior Night. However,
people have to remember just how
young we are are.”
With just three seniors — Dustin
Worley, Heath Jones and Chris
McDuffie — on the roster this sea
son, it has been a definite youth
movement for Ruth and his coaching
staff. Many players are as young as
sophomores and many are seeing
significant minutes at the varsity
level for the first time.
See BCHS boys on page 3B
CHRIS MCDUFFIE
20 years of dedication
LEOPARD MANAGER
Kandy Parks was recognized last Friday night as serving as the Banks
County High School varsity boys basketball manager for the past 20
years. Photo by Lyn Sengupta
Middle School Basketball
BCMS teams cap successful campaigns
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The curtain has fallen on the 2007-08 basketball
season at Banks County Middle School but the
players and coaches are still reflecting on the suc
cess enjoyed this winter.
For the second year in a row, both the Leopards
and Lady Leopards finished as runner-up in the
Leopard Invitational and posted an impressive
number of overall wins. Standout performances by
several players helped pace the success enjoyed on
the court.
Coaches Steven Shedd and John Bertrang have
also helped shape the BCMS basketball programs
into winners and are helping make the teams at
Banks County High School successful down the
road.
Shedd has been at BCMS for eight years. He
coached the boys teams for three seasons before
working with the girls for the last five.
“Coaching is extremely rewarding for me,” Shedd
said. “I guess my love for coaching comes from my
dad and my love for sports in general. My dad
coached me when I was very young and I think
I picked up a lot of his coaching traits along the
way.”
In addition, Shedd said he believes without ath
letics as an influence, he would not be the person
he is today.
“The best way I can explain coaching is that it
is just fun,” the Lady Leopard coach said. “We
always try to keep the fun in basketball. I really
enjoy working with the girls and building relation
ships. I think of our team as one big family and the
girls on the team are like my own daughters during
basketball season. There is a great sense of accom
plishment to see things come together and for them
to experience success as a team.”
See BCMS on page 2B