Newspaper Page Text
— www.MainStreetNewsSports.com —
November 27, 2008
The Banks County News
Justin Poole, Sports Editor
706-367-2348, direct line
706-387-5418, FAX
justin@mainstreetnews.com
08-09 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
BCHS picks up 1st season win
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County High
School’s Leopard basketball
team has started strong.
The Leopards competed in
a scrimmage game against
Towns County on Nov. 18,
where the Leopards took an
82-53 win.
Banks County offi
cially opened its season
at the Jackson County
Thanksgiving Tournament
Monday night. The Leopards
faced Oglethorpe in the tour
ney and secured a 68-58 win
over the Patriots, moving
them into the second day of
the tournament.
Game stats were unavail
able as of press time for
the second round of the
tournament. Go to www.
mainstreetnewssports.com
for updates as they become
available.
Scrimmage game
Banks County really got to
warm up in the scrimmage
game on Nov. 18 against
Towns County. Coach Mike
Ruth said that it was a good
game as the Leopards really
got to play their pressure
defense and he was able to
rotate in every player for
some game time. The team
also took eight charges,
which according to Ruth is
an important element to the
play strategy.
The big night happened
for leading scorer Chase
Armour, who scored 23
points, Kane Duncan scored
10 points followed by Bret
Armour and Ryan Griffin
with nine points apiece. Trey
Martin scored eight points,
in only three minutes after
entering into the game late in
the fourth period. Rounding
out the top scorers, Kevin
Daniel totaled seven points.
Jackson Co. Tourney
Banks County faced
Oglethorpe in the first round
of the Jackson County
Thanksgiving Tourney on
Monday. Banks carried a
68-58 win over Oglethorpe.
The Leopards took the
court strong and stayed neck
and neck with the Oglethorpe
Patriots through most of the
first period until Oglethorpe
managed to pull ahead by
a field goal. Down by two
points going into the sec
ond eight minutes, Banks
County began stepping up
the aggression. Coach Ruth
said that the big quarter for
the Leopards was the second
period, because Banks was
able to score 18 points while
keeping Oglethorpe at nine
points. At the end of the
first half, Banks was hold
ing onto a seven-point lead
at 31-24.
In the third quarter Banks
could not stretch out its lead
as Oglethorpe fought to
catch up to the Leopards,
both teams picking up 14
points.
Going into the final
eight minutes, Banks was
up 45-38 over Oglethorpe.
As the clock ticked away,
Banks County just had to
stay ahead. The Leopards
went up 68-58, to win the
contest and secure a spot
in the second day of the
tournament. Banks County
was able to hit 10 of 13
free throws, in the fourth
period right in the crunch
time of the game. Overall,
the Leopards hit 14 of 25
free throws and forced 29
turnovers, with a third of the
turnovers in the first quar
ter alone. Oglethorpe was
able to force 21 turnovers on
Banks and Ruth said that the
guys realize that for Banks
County to win ball games,
See Basketball on page 2B
PUTTING IT UP
Chase Armour (13) puts one up during Monday’s game at the Jackson County
Thanksgiving Tournament. Armour scored a total of 16 points for the Banks
County Leopards on Monday. Photo by Justin Poole
Lady Leopards start season, pick up focus points
LEADING SCORER
Lacey Saxon lead the Lady Leopards over
Oglethorpe during Monday’s contest at Jackson
County. Photo by Justin Poole
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County High School Lady Leopards started
the basketball season with their first game last Thursday
evening.
The Lady Leopards traveled to Gainesville to compete
against the Lady Lions of Lakeview Academy.
Lakeview carried the win 53-36 over Banks County, but
the Lady Leopards noted some key points that will benefit
their progress this season.
Assistant coach Andy Brown said that the focus points for
the ladies are mainly around teamwork between the experi
enced players and the upcoming players.
Brown noted that Banks has to work to keep its momen
tum and keep the other teams from stealing the momentum
of the game, maintain communication between the girls
while on the floor and make smart decisions shooting and
passing when the Lady Leopards have control of the ball.
After dropping the season opener to Lakeview, the Lady
Leopards competed in the Jackson County Thanksgiving
Tournament Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, Banks
County competed against Oglethorpe. The Lady Leopards
will be seeing more of the Lady Patriots later this season
in sub-region contests. Banks carried Monday’s tournament
contest 43-17 over Oglethorpe’s Lady Patriots.
Lakeview
Lakeview rallied in the fourth period to secure the victory,
but for the first three periods the game was very close.
Banks had a one-point lead coming out of the first quarter
at 11-10, and was only five points down by the end of the
third quarter at 36-31.
“The game was full of spurts, with both teams going back
and forth for the first three quarters,” said Brown.
Brown said that the girls were aggressive early in the game
and made several steals but were unable to maintain that
aggression level through to the end when Lakeview adjusted.
Lakeview sunk a three-pointer near the end of the third
period, followed by some Banks’ defensive communication
trouble which allowed Lakeview to jump ahead five points.
According to Brown, once Lakeview grabbed the momen
tum Banks couldn’t get it back.
Senior Lauren Kennedy led the Lady Leopards scoring 11
points and seven rebounds. Erika Evans, Samm Kennedy
and Jessica Grisham scored four points apiece followed by
Deasha Beasley, Ashley Morris, Amy Sims and Lacey Saxon
with two points. Laura Pickens also scored a point for Banks
County.
Evans led the team in steals, taking away seven balls from
Lakeview, while Grisham lent four assists.
Jackson Co. Tourney
Banks County played conservatively during the first half
against Oglethorpe, Monday night. At the half Banks was up
17-10 over the Lady Patriots. By the end of the third quarter,
Banks had doubled its lead to 27-13. By the fourth period,
the Lady Leopards were running the clock on Oglethorpe.
The Lady Leopards picked up a 43-17 win and advanced to
play on Tuesday.
See Lady Leopards on page 2B
COVER
Jessica Grisham covers a Lakeview Lady Lion dur
ing the season opener. Photo by Justin Poole
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