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— 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 m TangerTown Centre midnight madness MOST STORES OPEN THANKSGIVING NIGHT AT MIDNIGHT & stay open until 10pm on Friday, November 28th. Commerce, GA * 1-85, Banks Crossing, Exit 149 * 706-335-3354 * Visit www.tangeroutlet.com for extended holiday hours and special offers.