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— www.MainStreetNewsSports.com — 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.