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PAGE 4A
BANKS COUNTY NEWS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2023
Lady Leopards win Jaemor Jingle Jam Tournament
The Lady Leopards won the Jaemor Jingle Jam Tourna
ment after going against the West-Oak Lady Warriors and
the Chattahoochee Lady Cougars.
Against West-Oak, the Lady Leopards triumphed against
the Lady Warriors with a score of 64-40.
The next day, the Lady Leopards won against the Lady
Cougars to win the tournament with a final score of 61-29.
Coming up, the Lady Leopards will be participating in
Buc’s Holiday Invitational at Panama City, Florida, from
Thursday, Dec. 28 to Saturday, Dec. 30.
On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the Lady Leopards will return on
the East Jackson court for the kickoff of the region tour
nament.
FIRST GAME
Dining their Thursday match, the Lady Leopards kept
the game close in the first half, winning the first 16 minutes
with a final score of 21-16.
Senior Carley Segars was a leader on the court with the
most points earned during the first half with 13 points total,
and Segars was also a shining example on defense with
rebounds.
Senior Addison Hoard was also a defensive powerhouse
with a multitude of successful rebounds and steals.
The Lady Leopards brought the heat in the second quar
ter, keeping a lead of over 20 points throughout the rest of
the game.
As the last buzzer sounded, the Lady Leopards had a sur
plus of 24 points with a final score of 64-40.
Hoard once again emerged onto the court as a major
contender on offense with 12 points scored. Segars also
excelled in steals and rebounds in the second half.
Segars was the highest scorer for the Lady Leopards
with 17 points total, followed by Hoard with 16 points. Re
ese Murphy, Ryleigh Murphy, Valentina Torres, Ella Kate
Shedd, Marleigh Dale, and Lexie Ayers also made major
contributions in points, including three-pointers from sis
ters Reese Murphy and Ryleigh Murphy.
During Friday’s championship match against the Chatta
hoochee Lady Cougars, the Lady Leopards dominated the
court throughout the entirety of the game.
The team finished the first half with an eight-point lead
of 23-15.
Again, in the second half the Lady Leopards showcased
their defensive and offensive prowess and won with a 32
point lead of 61-29.
Segars was once again a major offensive driver, along
with Reese Murphy and Ryleigh Murphy, who scored 10
and 11 points in the second half, respectively.
Ryleigh Murphy and Shedd also combined their offen
sive efforts in the second half to make three successful
three-point attempts in a row, two from Ryleigh Murphy
and one from Shedd.
Emmie Chitwood, Maggie Irvin, Maddie Hicks, Torres,
and Hoard also had great defensive and offensive drives on
the court against the Lady Cougars.
The Lady Leopards thus emerged victorious during this
year’s Jaemor Jingle Jam tournament, holding their earned
trophy high for their parents, friends, and spectators to see
as they cheered on.
Segars was also the recipient of the Jaemor Jingle Jam
MVP award for the Lady Leopards for her outstanding
work on the court during the tournament.
She was presented the award by Athletic Director Nata
sha Savage.
RECAP
Last week, the Lady Leopards took on the Prince Avenue
Christian Lady Wolverines and the Commerce Lady Tigers
for a rematch.
The Lady Leopards won against the Lady Wolverines
with a final score of 60-36. During their rematch against
the Lady Tigers, the Lady Leopards triumphed after their
first loss against Commerce with a final score of 59-44.
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The team crowds around Carley Segars as she holds up the Jaemor Jingle Jam championship trophy for the spectators to see.
Segars received the Jaemor Jingle Jam MYP award.
Marleigh Dale is surrounded by West-Oak players as she at
tempts to make a layup.
Emmit Chitwood looks for an open teammate on the court.
Maggie Irvin gets a shot at the net while both teams try to
catch up on the court.
Ella Kate Shedd attempts to perform a layup during the
match against West-Oak.
Leopards are runners-up at Jaemor Jingle Jam
By HANNAH CAUDELL
The Leopards basketball
team earned the runner-up
spot in the Jaemor Jingle
Jam tournament after win
ning against the West-Oak
Warriors and falling to the
River Ridge Knights.
The Leopards will be
traveling to Panama City,
Florida, for Buc’s Holiday
Invitational. They will be
competing in the tourna
ment from Thursday, Dec.
28, to Saturday, Dec. 30.
On Wednesday, Jan. 3, the
Leopards will make their
region tournament debut at
East Jackson.
AGAINST
WEST-OAK
Against West-Oak, the
Leopards won with a score
of 63-36 to advance to the
final round. During Fri
day’s match, the Leopards
kept the score close with
the Knights throughout the
game, but ultimately lost
with a final score of 63-46.
During their first match
against West-Oak, the two
teams were neck-and-neck
in the first quarter, finishing
out the first eight minutes
with a small win of 15-14.
The Leopards achieved an
impressive feat during the
first quarter, as all of the
players scored three-point
ers to make those 15 points.
Luke Dale was the final
three-point shooter, who
was able to pull the Leop
ards ahead.
The Leopards began to re
ally pull ahead in the second
quarter as they finished out
the first half with a 12-point
lead of 34-22. As the buzzer
to end the first half sound
ed, Dayden Rogers was able
to make a final three-point
shot.
The Leopards were able
to maintain that lead for the
remainder of the game, end
ing it with a 27-point lead of
63-36.
Kolby Watson earned the
most points for the team
with 21 points, followed by
Antonio Gonzalez with 10
points. Hunter Youngblood,
Aaron Scott, Caden Watson,
Webb Samples, Dale, and
Rogers also contributed in
points.
On Friday, the Leopards
went up against the River
Ridge Knights. During the
first half of the game and the
third quarter, the Leopards
kept it close, never losing
more than 10 points to the
Knights on the court. How
ever, in the final quarter, the
Leopards fell by 17 points
with a final score of 63-46.
Kolby Watson once again
led the Leopards in points
with 13 points earned, fol
lowed by Hunter Young
blood with 12 points, all
of which were earned from
three-point attempts. Scott,
Dale, Gonzalez, and Caden
Watson also contributed
with points.
Scott and Caden Watson
were also defensive pow
erhouses during the game,
with both contributing in
steals and rebounds. Caden
Watson also showcased his
skill after stealing the ball
from the Knights and im
mediately scoring twice,
rushing the net before either
team could catch up.
After the match against
River Ridge, the Leopards
were presented with the
runner-up trophy for their
efforts, and Kolby Wat
son was named the Jaem
or Jingle Jam MVP for the
Leopards. Kolby Watson
was presented the award by
Athletic Director Natasha
Savage.
Kolby Watson (left) shakes Natasha Savage’s hand (right) af
ter he receives the Jaemor Jingle Jam MVP award.
Luke Dale stands near the
edge of the court to attempt
a three-point shot while
playing against River Ridge.
During the tournament. Dale
was able to make four suc
cessful three-point shots for
the Leopards.
Caden Watson, Aaron Scott, Antonio Gonzalez, and Hunter Youngblood stay on the heels of
a Knights player as he tries to pass the ball to another teammate.
