Newspaper Page Text
March 19, 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
Coaches in
the stands
suffer setback
“The vultures who were circling
the program a few days ago are
no where to be seen now.”
— University of Georgia radio
basketball announcer Scott
Howard
•••
What a difference a few days
make.
Last week at this time the soci
ety of The Coaches in the Stands
had steadied its aim at University
of Georgia men’s basketball
coach Dennis Felton.
It was a foregone conclusion
in the minds of these coaching
“experts” that Felton’s time in
Athens had run its course. The
program was experiencing a down
year and the coach had to go. To
this group of “experts” no other
explanation was needed.
Heck, there was really no need
for the UGA team to even show
up for the SEC tournament. They
would only play one game, suffer
a humiliating defeat and make the
short drive back to Athens having
seen the basketball season come
to an end.
These “experts” — or perhaps
more accurately described by
Howard as “vultures”—had to
tuck tail and run after Sunday
afternoon. Of course, many had
already retreated to the confines
of their living room recliner with
six pack in hand even before
Sunday.
I imagine Saturday’s perfor
mance probably left each of those
in this know-all society speech
less. After weather tried to take
apart the Georgia Dome Friday
night, SEC officials were left
scrambling to figure out what to
do since Georgia’s second-round
game against Kentucky could not
be played late Friday night.
The solution — although it
was not an ideal one by any
means — was to have one team
play twice Saturday. That team,
which everyone assumed would
be the Wildcats from Lexington,
turned out instead to be UGA.
Felton’s Bulldogs then shocked
Mississippi State Saturday night
before continuing their shock
ing run through the tournament
Sunday KOing Arkansas.
Perhaps the biggest irony in all
of this was the fact the tourna
ment was moved to Alexander
Memorial Coliseum Saturday
and Sunday, home of the Georgia
Tech Yellow Jackets. Here you
had the SEC tournament being
played on an ACC court and
being one by said ACC’s team’s
big in-state rival. The irony
involved is so thick it would take
the sharpest steak knife to cut it.
All of this brings us back to
Felton. He was written off by the
Coaches in the Stands, those clue
less enough to think they know
how to run a major college bas
ketball program. Of course if any
of these had been on the bench
during the SEC tournament, UGA
would have certainly made a
quick exit.
Hats off to Dennis Felton for
putting it in the face of these
clueless “experts” who, in reality,
barely know the difference in a
full court press and a 2-3 zone.
They are off in search of another
carcass today.
Chris Bridges is sports editor of
The Banks County News. Contact
him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail
at chris@mainstreetnews.com.
Tuesday Baseball
Visiting Rabun stuns Leopards in subregion play
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
Banks County and Rabun County went toe-
to-toe Tuesday afternoon in a subregion base
ball battle with the visiting Wildcats leaving
town with a 4-2 win.
The setback was a disappointing one for the
Diamond Leopards who played well enough
to win at times. Rabun County scored all
three of its runs in the top of the fifth inning
and held off a normally powerful Leopard
offense for the win.
“These are the types of games we should
have throughout the rest of the season,” said
BCHS coach Joe Lord. “Our subregion is
very even. I feel like we have put in a lot of
time and effort to get better and the other
teams have as well.”
Senior Alex Gailey pitched the game’s first
4.1 innings recording six strikeouts before
giving way to Kasey Hudgins who worked the
final 2.2 in relief.
“I feel like Alex and Kasey both pitched
well,” Lord said. “We didn’t have much
offense but I actually think we swung the bats
OK. We had several hard hits that were either
right at them or hung up just long enough to
be caught. We have to focus in on doing every
little thing correctly because those things
make a big difference in a close ball game.”
At the plate, Zack Dale had a solo
home run in the
bottom of the fifth
after the Wildcats
had moved in front
3-2. Bill Redmon
walked with the
bases loaded in the
bottom of the sec
ond to account for the game’s other run.
Tyler Hulsey added two hits in Tuesday’s
contest while Chris Porter had one and also
scored a run.
The Leopards left seven runners on base
against Rabun County.
See Baseball on page 3B
On Deck:
•BCHS @ East Jackson,
Thursday, 5:30 p.m.
•BCHS hosts Lakeview,
Friday, 5:30 p.m.
SOLID
DEFENSE
Kyle Smith
has helped
anchor the
Diamond
Leopard
defense this
spring.
Photo by
Chris Bridges
BCHS Spring Sports: Soaring Into Track
SOARING LEOPARDS
(Top) Banks County High School's Justin Beasley competes in the long jump during a meet this spring. Beasley is one of the
key new additions to the Leopard track program. Jay Harn (below) is expected to be a state contender again this spring in the
wheelchair events. Photos by Lyn Sengupta
BCHS teams begin season with strong showings
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
While it’s still early in the overall scheme of
things, the Banks County High School track
teams are showing marked signs of improve
ment this spring.
Both the Leopards and Lady Leopards are
posting impressive team totals and individual
performances at meets during the first portion
of the 2008 campaign, according to coach Rob
Moffett.
The BCHS boys finished second in a recent
tri-meet at East Hall scoring 47 total points.
The BCHS girls were also second with 50
points. The Leopards also tied for second dur
ing a four-school event at East Jackson last
week with 62 points, just seven off first-place
finisher Stephens County. The Lady Leopards
also turned in a competitive showing at the
event.
“The coaches are very pleased with the
progress so far this season,” Moffett said.
“We have improved with both meets and we
have been competitive with all of the teams
we have run against so far. The athletes are
excited with their times and they continue to
improve.”
In the East Hall meet, Justin Beasley was
first in the long jump and 200-meter dash and
third in the 100-meter dash. Jamail Jennings
was third in the long jump and second in the
200-meter. Chris Parks was second in both
the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter runs. Lyn
Hester was first in the discus and second in
the shot put. For the Lady Leopards, Dee Dee
Cannon was first in the 200-meter and third in
the 300-meter run. Dee Wiley was first in the
shot put.
See Track on page 4B
High School Tennis
Leopards
rebound to
record win
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
The Banks County High School
varsity boys tennis team took one
on the chin last week but like a
prize boxer, fought back in their next
match.
Coach Mike Ruth’s Leopards
bouned back from a loss to Rabun
County to defeat Dawson County last
Thursday. The veteran BCHS tennis
coach said he liked how his team
was able to recover and get back on
track.
“The loss to Rabun County was
tough,” Ruth said. “However, we
knew that match was going to be a
battle. It was a positive sign for our
team to be able to come back the next
time out and record a win.”
Following the 5-0 loss to Rabun
County, the Leopards reversed things
against Dawson posting a 5-0 victory.
Kyle Walker won 8-0 at No. 1 singles
whileTrey
BCHS 5 Martin
won 8-3
at No. 2
singles.
Garret
Hayes won by forfet in No. 3 singles
play.
In doubles action, the team of
Nathan Ward and Chase Minish was
8-3 while Viet Pham and Clay Carroll
battled back to win 8-7 in their first
time as a team. Pham and Carroll
trailed 4-1 at one point in the Pro 8
match.
Earlier in the week, BCHS traveled
to Rabun County and faced a Wildcat
squad which was loaded with experi
enced players.
“It was really a reverse of last
season,” Ruth said of the subregion
matchup with Rabun County. “Last
year we were the team with several
seniors and they were young. The
roles are reversed this time.”
The Leopards were swept in singles
play 8-5, 8-4 and 8-4. Rabun County
also won in doubles play 8-2 and 8-1.
Ruth said he believes Walker had a
chance to win going into the match
but knew it would be a tall order for
the other team members.
Dawson 0
See BCHS tennis on page 3B
Youth Wrestling
Patton claims state title for Banks County Wrestling Club
BY CHRIS BRIDGES
When the long day’s work was over, Mitchell
Patton stood tall for Banks County.
Patton claimed the state championship for
the Banks County Wrestling Club in the 8U
75-pound division during the recent competi
tion held at Parkview High School. More than
420 youth wrestlers competed at the event in
five classifications covering three age groups.
“It was a long and tough day of wrestling,
but a very rewarding one,” said Banks County
Wrestling Club coach Chris Sayne.
On his way to the state championship, Patton
defeated the wrestlers who were seeded first,
second and fourth in his weight class. Two
of those wins were by pin including the final
match. Patton also posted a 9-0 win and a 7-5
overtime victory in the semifinals.
Patton finished the season with only one loss
which was at the beginning of the campaign, a
2-0 overtime setback.
Joining Patton on the medal stand were
his brother, Michael Patton, and teammate
Matthew Dilbeck. Both Michael Patton and
Dilbeck finished fourth in the 10U division.
Michael Patton avenged an earlier loss, pin-
ning the fourth-seeded wrestler to advance
to the semifinals before falling in the match
for third place by two points with 10 seconds
remaining.
Michael Patton recorded 9-0 and 10-1 wins
during the tournament.
Dilbeck blanked the second-seeded wrestler
7-0 in the first round before losing in the semi
finals by a point. That match went down to the
final 20 seconds. Dilbeck was able to rebound
and won his consolation semifinals match 7-0
before falling 7-6 in the consolation finals.
Brandon Boling took seventh place, just one
away from making his way to the medal stand.
Boling earned one victory by pin and another
by a 9-2 decision.
Zachary Millwood finished sixth in the tour
nament, first year competing. Dylan Gouine
also wrestled hard in the tournament, his
coach said.
As a team, the Banks County Wrestling Club
finished fifth in the state in the 8U division.
Michael Patton has been invited to compete
for Team Georgia in the Dixie Duals.
See Wrestling Club on page 4B