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February 20, 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 A dedication for his school and his job I ’ve always believed work can only be so much fun. Why is that? Well, if it weren’t that way then it wouldn’t be called work. In my case, I enjoy what I do. I’ve wanted to be a newspaper reporter since my college days. I wasn’t one to change majors five times. I didn’t hesitate once I told my advisor that journalism was the path I wanted to take. I now work for a company that is a dream for someone who enjoys community publications. MainStreet Newspapers, which publishes The Banks County News, prints four other weekly papers as well. What could be better right? Well, as I said it’s still a job and while it may seem like a castle from the outside, there are many times when the days seem way too long and the hours of rest not enough. That’s just the way it is for me and for most people at their respective jobs. One person I know, however, I can honestly say has never shown signs of being the least bit tired of his job or the duties associated with it. In fact, he has to be the only person I know who’s this way. Banks County High School’s Kandy Parks seems to have more energy for his job than anyone I’ve known. I admire him for it and admit to being a little envious. Anyone associated in any way with BCHS knows about Kandy. In addition to his work duties at the school during the day, Kandy is the basketball manager for the varsity Leopards. He brings a new level of enthusiasm to the job which I doubt anyone could match. No matter how early I get to a basketball game, Kandy is already there. In fact, I don’t think he would even think about leav ing the campus on game day. As game time approaches Kandy is as excited as any of the players. He takes his job seriously and makes sure all of his pregame tasks are performed to perfection. As game time approaches for the varsity boys, Kandy is ready for action. He sits on the last seat of the BCHS bench so he can have quick access to the water cooler in order to keep the players provided with plenty of it. He can be seen passing around towels to play ers when they exit the game for a breather. Yes, Kandy is as valuable to the team as anyone. It wouldn’t be a BCHS basketball game with out him there. Those who have been around Kandy also know he is not shy when it comes to talking. He will fill you in on anything and every thing. I smile to myself because he is probably the only person I’ve known who even comes close to talking as much as my maternal grandfather used to. I could only imagine the conversations those two could have had. Recently, Kandy was recognized for being with the basketball pro gram for 20 years. That’s quite a track record for anyone and is something Kandy is definitely proud of. Here’s hoping Kandy will be with the BCHS program for the next 20 years. His dedication is something everyone who knows him admires. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at chris@mainstreetnews.com. High School Wrestling Mat Leopards to send four to state tournament BY CHRIS BRIDGES Battling in arguably the toughest area in the state, four Banks County High School wres tlers emerged from the 3-AA tournament last weekend to qualify for the traditional state competition. An Pham (130), Demetric Dempson (152), Jared Gregory (160) and Tremaine Mayfield (heavyweight) will represent the BCHS wres tling program this weekend at the Class AA state individual tournament at the Gwinnett Arena. Coach Kasey Hanley’s team was once again competing at less than full strength at area. “It’s been like that a lot this year,” the coach said. “We had hoped to send eight wrestlers to state but it didn’t work out that way.” Stephen Giles (119) and Jeremy Greenway (140) both finished fifth in their respective weight classes just missing a spot at state. The top four wrestlers from each weight class at area move on to state so Giles and Greenway will be alternates. “We came out and wrestled flat Friday night,” Hanley said “We wrestled better On to state: •An Pham (130), Dem etric Dempson (152), Jared Gregory (160) and Tremaine Mayfield (heavyweight) )f the area competition. Saturday morning but we had not scored enough points Friday to compete for the team standings during area. We were able to rebound to be in contention for third place.” Hanley estimated BCHS could have finished as high as fifth although since team trophies were awarded for the top three schools, that final standing was not clear as of Sunday night. See State Wrestling on page 3B BCHS Basketball: Looking to the Future SOARING FRESHMAN Banks County High School's Erika Evans made an immediate impact for the Lady Leopards this season as a freshman. Evans will be one of several returning players for coach Jerry King next season. Photos by Lyn Sengupta Lady Leopards turn thoughts to the future BY CHRIS BRIDGES erry King admits his Banks County High School Lady Leopards were playing their best basketball toward the end of the 2007-08 season. With that in mind, the first-year coach said he would have liked for his team to have been able to have played a little longer to continue improv ing on what it had been building. Despite a loss in the first round of the Region 8-AA tourna ment last week, King said he believes there is a foundation the returning players can build on for next season and beyond. Year in Review “We progressed a good bit this season, King said Sunday while reflecting on the season. “In the last six games the girls started to finally see our system work. Our transition game developed and we got to where we could change defenses and switch presses. The girls saw we could have some success.” The Lady Leopards were battling subregion foes close late in the season and finally broke through with a win against Dawson County in the regular season finale. A close opening round region tournament game against Rabun County followed before BCHS dropped a close contest. “I thought we were playing better by the end of the year,” King said. “I wish we had been able to get a region tournament win.” With the season now over, King will have the chance to oversee a compete offseason program with his players. Last summer King used the system that was already in place. “Last offseason we were really just trying to get to know each other,” the coach said. “Now, we will know how to break down our weak nesses. I will also take each player and build on their strengths. We will play against some good competition this summer.” One vital key to the future of the program, King said, is for the players to get stronger. Three players have suffered ACL injuries and King said a strong weight program will have cut down on those risks. “There’s always a chance of injury, but I believe if the girls are stronger they will be less likely to suffer injuries of those kind,” he said. In addition to a stricter weight program, King said his players will attend two team camps this summer as well as some jamborees. The return ing players will also be involved in team build ing activities and work through June. When the new season arrives next winter, BCHS will compete in a revamped subegion. The Lady Leopards will compete in the south part of the regon along with East Jackson, Jefferson, North Oconee and Washington Wilkes. King said BCHS will play everyone in the subre gion twice and have crossover games with every one once. Rabun County and Union County will play BCHS in two crossover contests. King will have to replace seniors Andrea Hunter, Allison White and Randi Seabolt but a solid nucleus does return. Hunter was recently named to the all subregion team and scored 24 points in the final game of the season. Freshman Erika Evans was running the point by the end of the season which allowed King to move Lauren Kennedy down low. In the region tournament game, Kennedy, who was an honor able mention all subregion player, scored 20 points against Rabun County. Lacey Saxon, another honorable mention all subregion player, also returns. King has also already begun working with the younger players at Banks County Middle School as several eighth graders competed for the fresh man and junior varsity teams this season on occasion. “I feel confidence with what we have coming back,” the coach said. “We took the first steps this year and want to continue the process.” Experience to be ally for Leopards next season BY CHRIS BRIDGES Overall youth and inexperience proved to be two factors that worked against the Banks County High School varsity Leopards for most of the 2007-08 season. For veteran coach Mike Ruth, a season of experience this win ter should pay dividends down the road. “We had just three seniors this year,” the long-time BCHS coach said. “We had a couple of juniors but many nights we were playing four and five sophomores on the floor at one time. Our point guard was also a sophomore and when that is the case you are going to experience some growing pains.” Despite taking their lumps this season, Ruth is excited about the nucleus which returns next sea son. The coach said the players are already eager to begin offseason work and are looking forward to summer camps. “The coaching staff as a whole feels pretty good about what we have coming back,” Ruth said this week. “We will be playing on the south side of the region which will probably be the tougher side.” See BCHS boys on page 3B DUSTIN WORLEY High School Baseball Diamond Leopards set for new campaign at on- BY CHRIS BRIDGES Excitement abounds for the 2008 baseball season at Banks County High School. The Diamond Leopards are looking to build on the momentum made from qualifying for the postseason last spring and the team will begin play at the new BCHS baseball com plex, which is located on campus. A slew of returning starters should also help make things fun to watch for fans of the Leopards this season. “We’re really excited about the upcoming season,” said coach Joe Lord. “All the players and coaches have been working really hard and we look to build on what we were able to accomplish last year. We’ve increase our win total for three years in a row and we look to continue that streak.” Everything gets started this Friday as BCHS will host a preseason srimmage against Flowery Branch at 5:30 p.m. A field dedica tion ceremony will be held at 4:30 p.m. “Needless to say, we are thrilled to be at our new facility,” Lord said. “It’s one of the nicest in the state and we are really proud of it.” The work in building the Diamond Leopard program actually dates back numerous sea sons. Lord said he believes several years •Friday, Field dedication, 4:30 p.m.; preseason scrimmage vs. Flowery Branch, 5:30 p.m. of hard work, offseason workouts and summer play should pay divi dends now as the team begins using its new complex. “We still have our work cut out for us, but I don’t think we are flying under the radar anymore,” the coach said. “We do have a lot to prove. I feel like we turned a corner last year and we want to keep moving forward. We have players who love baseball and are willing to put in the time and effort it campus facility takes to get better.” The subregion schedule will provide some what of a new setup this spring. BCHS is set to play each subregion opponent three times in 2008 for a total of 15 games. “I like this setup,” Lord said. “I think when the dust clears, your best teams will be the ones sitting on top. We’re on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday/Tuesday, Thursday region schedule. I think that benefits us. We should have a good bit of pitching depth and that should work in our favor.” See Diamond Leopards on page 2B