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March 26, 2008 Section b The Banks County News Sports Editor: Chris Bridges Contact: 706-367-2745 www.mainstreetnews.com First & Ten High School Soccer Cooley's Leopards wrap up postseason berth ★ ★ ★ chris@mainstreetnews.com BY CHRIS BRIDGES March Madness a great time for underdogs I ’ve always been a fan of the underdog. If there is a team that is a 30-point underdog in athlet ics, then you can bet I will be pulling for them. I am not an Appalachian State fan per say, but when the Mountaineers upset Michigan last September in foot ball, no one cheered louder than I did. Through the tape trading network I obtained a copy of the game and have watched it from start to finish several times in recent months. When Boise State upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a couple of seasons ago, I can still recall seeing the winning play in overtime unfold. The Broncos used every trick play in the book that night and it showed the powers-that-be of college foot ball that the so-called non-BCS schools could compete if given the chance. This fall when Georgia Southern’s football team roll into Athens to face a University of Georgia team which could very well be ranked No. 1 in the coun try, I will be hoping against hope Chris Hatcher’s Eagles can be this season’s Appalachian State. All of this brings us to this past week as the 2008 version of the NCCA basketball tournament began in earnest. Perhaps no where in sports does the “little guy” have such an opportunity to compete with the big boys in col lege athletics. Even after the first couple rounds when many of the would- be Cinderallas have been sent home, we still have some vying for the glass slipper. Davidson is still alive after upsetting Georgetown in the second round this weekend. Western Kentucky, note the Western in the front of the name, is still alive for the national title. The Hilltoppers, who in theory, should not still be practicing at this point, are preparing for their Sweet Sixteen contest later this week. The NCAA tournament has long used a tagline of “They call it March Madness...” This tourna ment has been no exception has great games have already been on display for fans. There have been plenty of upsets as well as some near upsets (how about tiny Belmont almost knocking off mighty Duke in the first round?). I’ll continue to ride the under dog bandwagon as far as it will go this year. Hopefully, one of the Cinderalla candidates can make it to the Elite or against all odds the Final Four. (Remember George Mason from a few sea sons ago?) I guess I’ll always be a fan of the underdog. To me, it just seems American to pull for the little guy. The little guy doesn’t always win but when he does it seems like it has been a victory for all of us. While I’m waiting for the Sweet Sixteen matchups to begin, I think I’ll relive the Appalachian State win against Michigan. It was a day for the underdog in all of us. Chris Bridges is sports editor of The Banks County News. Contact him at 706-367-2745 or by e-mail at chris@mainstreetnews.com. BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School boys soccer team knows it has qualified for a postseason berth. Now the Leopards are trying to finish as high in the area standings as possible. Coach Chris Cooley’s team is currently 3-1 in area play with the lone setback com ing to North Oconee High School in a close 1-0 game on the road. BCHS added its most recent area victory last week by defeating Lakeview 6-0. “Going into the Lakeview match our goal was to keep them scoreless,” Cooley said. “The reason for that was because it could be used in a tiebreaker scenario for area stand ings.” The top four teams from area will qualify for the postseason with the No. 1 team play- ing No. 4 and No. 2 meeting No. 3. The win ners of those matches will move onto state after meeting each other to determine No. 1 and No. 2 seedings for the AA state tourna ment. “At this point we could finish second or even first,” Cooley said. “It is also possible there could be a three-way tie.” BCHS has played all of its area oppo nents except for Athens Academy whom the team will meet March 31 on the road at 7 p.m. Cooley said the Athens Academy squad looked very strong in a recent 4-0 win against Oglethorpe County, a team which the Leopards defeated 1-0 earlier this month. “Right now we have to keep working hard and try to finish as high in the area as we can,” Cooley said. “We want to get the best seeding possible.” SOCCER SUCCESS Luis Contreras (9) and the Banks County High School varsity boys soccer team have already qualified for the upcoming area playoffs. Photo by Lyn Sengupta BCHS Spring Sports: On The Links High School Tennis BCHS team records win cs. Dawson BY CHRIS BRIDGES The Banks County High School Lady Leopards tennis team put a victory in the record book last week against Dawson County. Coach Lisa Hulsey’s team recorded a 5-4 win winning two- of-three singles matches and both doubles events. Krista Dodd won at No. 1 doubles against Jessica Abe 8-4 while Maria Enslen took an 8-2 win against Marissa Shaw at No. 2 singles. In dou- BCHS 3 ble splay, Brittany Dawson 2 Cook and Megan Whitey won 9-7 against Krista Morgan and Kalie Gerrells while Lauran Taylor and Taylor Seabolt posted an 8-0 victory at No. 2 doubles against Julie Long and Stephanie Baker. The Lady Leopards were also involved in a close match against Rabun County falling 3-2. Enslen posted an 8-4 win at No. 2 singles against Kaley Rasmussen. Taylor and Seabolt also won at No. 2 doubles 7-4 following a tiebreaker. “The season has gotten off to a great start and I truly feel that the team has done a fabulous job,” Huley said. “We are looking for ward to the rest of our season.” The BCHS Lady Leopards are scheduled to compete at Rabun County Thursday at 4 p.m. and will host Towns County Monday at 4 p.m. The BCHS girls will travel to Dawson County April 3 before taking spring break. LINING IT UP Banks County High School senior Dustin Worley tries to work some magic with the putter during a recent Leopard golf match at Hammers Glen. Golf is one of several spring sports that are keeping BCHS athletics and fans busy this time of the year. In addition to action on the links, Leopard faithful can take in baseball games, soccer matches and tennis matches. Worley and the BCHS golf team will compete against Jackson County and Clarke Central Thursday on the road. Photo by Randy Crump/Rudeseal Photo Inside •The Banks County High School boys tennis team records win against East Jackson High School. — Page 3B High School Baseball Leopards get back on track in subregion with 13-2 win BY CHRIS BRIDGES After suffering disappointing back to back to subregion losses the Banks County High School baseball team was looking to take out some of its frustration on an opponent. First-year program East Jackson High School played the part last Thursday as the Diamond Leopards made the short trip for the subregion contest and came alive for a 13-2 win. The game was still competitive late as BCHS held a 7-2 lead going into the seventh inning when it pushed six more runs across. The Leopards benefit from their offensive weapons in the contest as Tyler Husley had two homeruns. Justin Gibbs and Zack Dale also sent pitches flying out of the park. Bill Redmon contributed two hits. “It was an important win for us because we played well on the road which is going to be a big key for our team,” BCHS coach Joe Lord said. Jeff Smith went six strong innings in earning the win. Kasey Hudgins closed the door put ting East Jackson down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. The BCHS varsity Leopards stepped out of subregion play Friday for a contest with Lakeview Academy. Playing against a team Lord said is “solid with a winning tradition,” BCHS fell 8-6. “They play hard and play the right way,” the Leopard coach said. “We haven’t seen any left-handed pitching until this game and that’s all we saw against Lakeview. It will benefit us down the road.” See Baseball on page 4B