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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