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Section
B
BCHS BASKETBALL
Lacey Saxorishoots for three points
during a recent'game.
" Photo by Justin Poole
Ladies must
shake off three
losses before
tourney, Friday
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County Lady Leopards need a
confidence booster.
After dropping the past three games, the
Lady Leopards are looking to the Prince
Avenue Christmas tourney this weekend for
a boost in the win column.
In the first round of the tourney, Banks is
scheduled to play Brookstone at 4 p.m. on
Friday.
However the tournament plays out, Banks
will host Rabun County in a rematch game
on Tuesday. Game tip-off is at 6 p.m.
Rabun County
Banks made the trip to Rabun last Friday
night for the 8-AA sub-region crossover
game.
Rabun got out ahead early going 16-4
over the ladies in the first quarter. The Lady
Leopards made it to double digits in the sec
ond quarter, but still trailed, 31-10.
With Rabun overpowering the ladies,
Banks’ attempts to rally were quashed as
Rabun took the 75-30 win.
Coach Jerry King said that the team just
never got started.
“We never got off the bus,” King said.
“Positives from the game was the good
job our managers Jordan Miller and Ann
Livingston did.”
Erika Evans led the failed Banks charge
with seven points. Samm Kennedy followed
with six points and Deasha Beasley rounded
out the top three scorers with four points.
Jackson County
Banks hosted Jackson County on Saturday
and was looking to halt the undefeated Lady
Panthers.
After falling behind 14-11 at the end of
the half, the Lady Leopards battled and took
the lead after Lacey Saxon pushed the team
ahead. Going into the fourth quarter, Banks
led 24-21. Jackson County responded in
force in the final eight minutes to push the
Lady Leopards out of the win, 39-27.
Saxon led the team with 15 points, fol
lowed by Lauren Kennedy with eight.
Jessica Grisham and Beasley each scored
two points.
Union County
The Banks offense kept the score close for
most of the game on Tuesday.
Breaking into the double digits in the first
quarter, Banks County trailed by five going
into the second quarter, 12-17. Union only
picked up 10 points in the second eight min
utes, while Banks added nine.
The Lady Leopards refused to yield, and
cut the lead to three points in the third quar
ter and Union County scrambled to main
tain their 38-35 advantage.
Unfortunately, the Union County defense
clamped down on the Lady Leopards in
the fourth quarter. Banks picked up eight
See Lady Leopards on page 3B
December 11, 2008
The Banks County News
Justin Poole, Sports Editor
706-367-2348, direct line
706-387-5418, FAX
justin@mainstreetnews.com
BCHS Basketball @ Prince Ave. Tourney, Friday, 4 p.m.
BCHS on three game roll, 70-62; 55-50; 60-37
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County High School
Leopards are on fire.
The team is looking to continue
the winning streak by grabbing anoth
er tourney win this weekend at the
Prince Avenue Christmas Tournament.
In the first round, Banks will play
Brookstone. The game is scheduled to
start at 5:30 p.m.
following the weekend tourna
ment, Banks County hosts Rabun on
Tuesday. Rabun County will be look
ing for payback after losing on Lriday
to the Leopards, 70-62. The game
starts at 7:30 p.m. following the Lady
Leopards’ game.
The Leopards chalked up three wins
against their past three opponents.
Banks has defeated Rabun County,
Jackson County and Union County.
Ruth said that the success of the team
all comes from the good chemistry
between the players.
“We are a basketball family and just
enjoy being around each other,” said
Ruth who also said that he is pleased
with the boys stepping up and backing
each other.
Rabun County
After shaking off the loss to Lakeview
on Dec. 1, Banks County practiced
hard and came out strong against
Rabun County on Lriday. The Leopards
walked away with a 70-62 win.
In the first crossover game between
the sub-region schools, Banks had a big
game, forcing 28 turnovers and only
giving up 13 turnovers, the Leopards
showed a great effort on the floor.
Coach Mike Ruth said the team ran
the floor, and drew six charges off of
Rabun.
In the first quarter, Banks jumped
ahead 23-14. In the second eight min
utes, the Leopards outscored Rabun
again by adding 18 points to the board
to move ahead 41-29.
Losing a little momentum scoring
only 13 points in the third quarter, to
Rabun’s 14 points, cut Banks’ lead to
54-43. Banks County then scored 16
points in the fourth quarter, to Rabun
County’s 19 points, but it was too late
for the Wildcats as Banks took the 70-62
victory.
“Our kids were really fired up to go
play,” said Ruth. “Our team played as hard
as I have seen them play in the past three
years for an entire ball game.”
Chase Armour scored 22 points to lead
the Leopards offense. Kane Duncan put up
14 points followed by Quinton Lovelace
scoring nine points. Kevin Daniel shot
for eight points, ahead of Kasey Hudgins
scoring six. Bill Redmon and Ryan Griffin
each scored five points.
Jackson County
In a rematch between the Jackson County
Panthers and the Leopards, Banks County
once again came out on top with a 55-50
win. Banks hosted the competition on
Saturday.
See Basketball on page 3B
PUTTING. IT l UP ^ ^
Kane Duncan goes for a lay-up during Saturday’s game against Jackson
County. The Leopards won 55-50. K Photo'by"Justin Poole
WRESTLING
BCMS BASKETBALL
Mat Leopards make top 10
BY JUSTIN POOLE
The Banks County var
sity grapplers placed inside
the top ten at the Panther
Invitational.
Up next for the Mat
Leopards is the Choo-Choo
Classic at Morgan County
this weekend.
Banks County was one of
24 teams that competed in
the championship match of
the Jackson County Panther
Invitational Tournament.
The Mat Leopards scored
117.5 points; made a third
and fourth place finish in
two weight classes.
Nathan Holloway placed
fourth in the 135-pound
class, behind Matt Kolar
of Lakeside, Cain Linch of
Jefferson and title winner
Adam Pollard of Alcovy.
Demetric Dempson
placed third in the 171-
pound class, pushing out
Andrew Smith from Gilmer
County. Johnny Smith of
West Laurens was the run
ner-up behind title winner
Zac Crosby of Jefferson.
Taking the win overall at
the Invitational was wres
tling powerhouse Jefferson
scoring 321.5 points, well
above second place Gilmer
County’s 169 points.
White County, 136.5, was
third with Morgan County,
127, and Commerce, 124,
rounding out the top five.
West Laurens placed sixth
scoring 123 points. Host
Jackson County, 120.5,
took the seventh place seat
followed by Banks County
and Alcovy, 111.
Ware County rounded out
the top ten at 93.5 points.
BCMS girls
undefeated, 4-0
The Banks County Middle School girls’ A
team remains undefeated.
The girls hosted Lakeview on Saturday foi
a huge 52-18 win.
The middle school ladies are 4-0 in the
season and are scheduled to play Stephens
County on Tuesday, Dec. 16. The game is ai
home and starts at 4:15 p.m.
Coach Steven Shedd said that the girls
started slow, but responded well during the
second half.
“I am extremely proud of the way the girls
played in this game,” said Shedd. “The)
never did panic at any time and were able tc
pull out the big win.”
Down 7-0 in the first period, Banks Count)
had a number of breakdowns in the offensive
and defensive sides. Banks pulled togethei
and at halftime took a 19-14 lead.
According to Shedd, he challenged the
girls to play with more focus during the sec
ond half. Meeting the challenge, the middle
school girls outscored Lakeview 33-4 in the
final two quarters, for the 52-18 win.
McKenna Rylee led the charge for Banks
County, scoring 16 points. Taylor Kenned)
was the second leading scorer with 11 points
followed by Sabrina Porter with nine.
Morgan Cox picked up seven points while
Kaitlyn Duncan added three. Gabby Grisham
Toni Mullins and Hannah Turner each scorec
two points apiece for the Banks team.