Page 10 THE TOWNS COUNTY HERALD May 19, 2010 Towns County Sports Town’s County’s Leader In Sports www.townscountyherald.net • E-mail: [email protected] T Blue-White game a Towns County classic Hamilton ready to cut to the chase By Charles Duncan TOWNS COUNTY HERALD By Charles Duncan The clock is ticking to- TOWNS COUNTY HERALD ward Aug. 27th at Frank Mc- Ken Hamilton is getting Clure Stadium. defensive about his 2010-11 The Towns County Indi- Towns County Indians’ basket- ans’ spring practice and game ball team. are both history and Head Actually, he wants to Football Coach Kyle Langford make his team the most ag- saw exactly what he had hoped gressive defensive basketball to see when the Blue and White squad in Class A – straight lined up on Friday evening. from the mold of Ken Hamil- Langford and his coach- ton, the player, who once led ing staff witnessed 66 points the Indians in scoring as a se- Brandon Henderson breaks from the two squads. The In- Spring game barbeque nior in 2001. dians played with aggression, loose for a touchdown He’s satisfi ed he can ac- intensity and fi re in the belly. complish his goal. The focus now shifts to open- “I scored my share of ing night this fall against the points as a player, but I’ve al- Union County Panthers. ways believed in defense,” he Towns County High School Principal Roy Perren congratulates Ken “The clock is ticking but said. “Defense creates offen- Hamilton on his new professional duties. Hamilton takes over as the there is still a lot of work to be sive opportunities that other- Indians head boys’ basketball coach. Photo/Charles Duncan done between now and Aug. wise might not be realized. we head into next season.” ed to do,” Hamilton said. “I 27th,” Coach Langford told his “The best offense is a Much like the moments played here and I always want- players at mid-fi eld following great defense,” Hamilton said. when he got the hot hand ed to come back to Hiawassee the annual Blue-White scrim- “We’re going to get after people shooting during his playing and be the coach. I’m fi nally mage. “I’m proud of all of you, next year. We’re going to learn days, Coach Hamilton rallied getting the opportunity to do the effort you displayed and to put the defensive pressure a young Indian team to play that.” the heart and courage it took to on our opponents. If we can hard, aggressive basketball af- Hamilton patterns him- pull on that uniform. put our opponents in pressure ter stepping up at mid-season self as a coach after the likes of “From this day moving situations, we can turn that into from his duties as assistant Seth Vining, Mike Cottrell and forward, we’re a team,” he offensive opportunities.” coach. Chad Bridges. said. “When we go into that Turnovers and the points Hamilton knows his “I saw Seth Vining build locker room, everyone is on created off turnovers are some team like the back of his hand. Zach Stroud on the loose a dynasty at East Hall, I’ve the same page. Hard work, of the most exciting plays in It’s the benefi t of watching watched Mike Cottrell and also heart and courage are rewarded basketball, Hamilton said. these young men grow up on Chad Bridges at Commerce,” at the end of the day.” “We’re going to learn the basketball court as an as- Hamilton said. “I’m a fan of Coach Langford was the program and learn how to sistant and interim head coach. the college coaches, but I’m a well pleased. make the program work,” he “Right now we’ve got student of the really great high “All of our kids can get said. “We’re going to play up fi ve seniors and they’re all school coaches. lined up and they gave great ef- tempo basketball, the way it’s pretty good ballplayers,” he “Hopefully, one day, I’ll fort,” he said. “Our execution supposed to be played.” said. “We’ve got both big men, meet their stature,” he said. is going to get better, but we Hamilton said his team Brett Bradshaw and Bran- Hamilton said the key were pleased to see that they will run the court when it’s don Henderson coming back. to success is knowing when to had learned from those days of time to run and play the half- We’ve got the likes of D.J. admit you’re wrong and learn- spring practice.” court game when it’s appropri- Rogers and Bradley Swanson ing from the experience. Rising freshman quar- ate. that will make things happen “We’ll make mistakes, terback Jackson Noblet opened “Overall we’ll play situ- night after night. Corbin Gilfi l- I’ll make mistakes,” he said. up the scoring early with a 70- ational basketball. We’ll be ian is back and ready to make a “Even the great ones (like yard scoring strike to rising se- improved,” he said. “We’ll difference. Coach Vining) have made nior Billy Meier. It wasn’t long reach our goals. It’s my pro- “Devin Henderson is mistakes. The important les- before Noblet found the end Jackson Noblet on a breakaway keeper gram now and I’ll build it the something else as well,” he son derived from mistakes is to zone again, this time breaking way that I believe it should be said. “I’m very excited about learn from those mistakes and to the left and down the side- built. I have to give a lot of this ball club. don’t make the same mistakes lines for a 70-yard scoring run. credit to those guys last year. “Being head coach of twice.” White was on top, 12-0. They respected me from Day the Towns County Indians is Not to be out done, Blue One. That’s an advantage as something I’ve always want- quarterback Zach Stroud pulled off a 70-yard scoring run of his own. In short order, Stroud and Clay Dotson Open attracts more than 150 golfers the Blue had the ball again and By: Jessica Keaton kept the wave rolling. TOWNS COUNTY HERALD Stroud hit receiver Aus- Local golfers came out tin Green for a 49-yard com- to enjoy the greens and sup- pletion. Running back Joseph port Young Harris College at Foster made a quick transition Joseph Foster races to the endzone Brasstown Valley Resort on from the 21-yard line into the Monday. The Clay Dotson end zone to knot the game at defensive unit, working both breaking loose on a 45-yard Open, consisting of two fl ights 12-12. Stroud and Noblet behind the scoring run. He followed that in the morning and afternoon, Then in a bold mid- White offense. up with a 45-yard touchdown brought out enthusiasts for a game move, Coach Langford Noblet got the fi rst shot. pass to huge wide out Brandon good cause: scholarships for turned his Blue squad into his He led his team 25 yards before Henderson. Young Harris College stu- Photos by Lowell Nicholson dents. “The Clay Dotson Open is named after Clay Dotson, our NASCAR 2010 long time friend of the college, By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter former History professor, and twice interim president who is, Johnson Errs, Wins himself, a great golfer,” Presi- dent Cathy Cox, decked out in Kyle Busch won Sun- 12. Truex-1434 Young Harris purple, said as The fi rst group of golfers fi nish the second fl ight during the annual day’s Sprint Cup Autism 400 Kyle Busch Is Dover she rode to the clubhouse just Clay Dotson Open golf tournament at Brasstown Valley Resort at Dover after Jimmie Johnson Nationwide Winner on Monday. The tournament is a scholarship fundraiser event for in time for the second fl ight Young Harris College. Photo Jessica Keaton was caught speeding on pit Kyle Busch dominated tee off, “He comes out and road late in the race, putting Saturday’s Nationwide Series enjoys this every year and is race at Dover, but a late-race low gross categories in each came out and played, area busi- him a lap down to the leaders. so respected in the fi eld that it fl ight. However, the focus “It’s phenomenal,” said altercation between Denny nesses that supported us with really helps us attract a lot of throughout the day was on the sponsorship. It’s been a great Busch. “We prevailed and Hamlin and , players.” took the limelight. students. day for Young Harris College that’s what it takes to win one The event named in Dot- “This is one of our big- of these races. Busch scored his fourth students.” son’s honor assisted in bring- gest fundraisers of the year for Dotson’s name was used “We weren’t the best car series victory of the season and ing out 151 golfers to both the 34th of his career by leading er-1521, 6. Menard-1404, 7. Young Harris College student with utmost respect. Along at the beginning, but at about morning and afternoon fl ights scholarships. Given this tough lap 260 we came on. We did all but 14 of 205 laps as the Biffl e-1239, 8. Logano-1228, with holding various positions 9. Leffl er-1204, 10. Scott-1181 combined. Complete with a economy, those scholarship at the college, he can be re- the right things at the right race ended with a green-white- complementary breakfast and checkered fi nish. He never was Almirola Gets Dover dollars are more important membered as not only a Young time.” lunch, the event turned into an than they have ever been,” Busch made it two- truly challenged and pulled Truck Win Harris College celebrity, but a took ad- all-day shindig benefi ting stu- Cox continued, as she stepped golfer who makes a difference for-three at Dover. He won away from the fi eld on the fi nal dent scholarships. Prizes also restart. vantage of Kyle Busch’s emp- out of her golf cart, “We really for the community by combin- Saturday night’s Nationwide were awarded for low net and want to thank all of those who race, and was leading Friday’s As Busch celebrated in ty fuel tank to win the Dover ing his love for education and Truck race, Victory Lane, Bowyer was 200 Truck Series race. James the links. when he ran out of gas. waiting in the Nationwide Buescher came back from a Johnson and Busch were hauler to meet with NASCAR spin to fi nish second, passing Yard sale venture benefi ts local soccer running 1-2 when they both offi cials. On the next-to-last Justin Lofton on the last lap. came into the pits for tires with restart, Hamlin knocked Bow- Both posted their best career really grown from this experi- 35-laps remaining in the 400- yer out of second place as the fi nishes in the truck series. ence.” lap race. Busch exited his pit green fl ag waved. The fracas also had his “It looks like we’ve had stall fi rst, and Johnson tried triggered a nine-car accident best career fi nish in fourth, giv- a great turnout. I’m looking at to pass him on pit road, but and an 11-minute, 43-second ing Turner Motorsports second all the stuff and it looks like NASCAR said Johnson was red fl ag. and fourth. sput- we’ve sold a lot,” Barrett said, speeding. After the red was lifted, tered on the fi nal restart but scanning the tables, “Some of “Evidently I got out of Bowyer drove from pit road fi nished fi fth. the items were donated by us the pits a little quicker than and slammed into the side of Top-10 points leaders af- and some were donated by normal,” said Johnson who Hamlin’s car, causing it to ter 6 of 25: 1. Almirola-920, 2. members of the community. wound up 16th. “I didn’t want spin. NASCAR immediately Bodine-893, 3. Peters-848, 4. We really thank Bank of Hia- Kyle to beat me out.” parked Bowyer and sent him to Hornaday-795, 5. Crafton-772, wassee for putting up a tent for Johnson led 225 laps, the the garage. 6. Carmichael-765, 7. Sau- us.” most of any driver, but went “(Our team has) had a ter-761, 8. Starr-737, 9. Skin- Coach Barrett smiled as from hot to cold. The one mis- frustrating year, bringing home ner-734, 10. White-733 her enthusiasm grew. take in the pits probably cost a lot of torn-up racecars,” said Weekend Racing: The Cup “Soccer is a great sport, him the win. He dropped from Bowyer, “It is what it is. I don’t cars and Camping World in general, for all kids because second to fourth in points. have a beef with Denny. We’ll Trucks will be at the 1.5-mile you run and keep in shape. It’s , Matt be fi ne. I got one taken from . It a great sport for girls because By: Jessica Keaton again this year, so we’re hope- it’s something that they can Kenseth, , Da- me. Just a little payback.” will be a regular points race for Ryan Newman drove TOWNS COUNTY HERALD fully going to Disney if we actually get scholarships in,” vid Reutimann, Greg Biffl e, the Trucks, but the Cup teams through the crash and fi nished Saturday morning, the raise enough money.” she said. “Right now, the most , , will compete in their annual , and Joey Lo- second to Busch, with Jamie Towns County Recreation The team consists of scholarships offered for fe- gano were the top-10 fi nishing McMurray third. Reed Soren- non-points All-Star race. Department Girl’s Traveling girls, between the ages of 9 males is in soccer. So, a lot of drivers. son was fourth, followed by Fri., May 21, Camping World Soccer Team, also known as and 10, from Hayesville, Hia- our girls are serious enough to Jr. turned Braun Racing teammate Jason Trucks, race 7 of 25: Starting the Blizzard, held their yard wassee, and Blairsville, which play soccer in college.” in poor practice times, and nev- Leffl er. time: 7:30 pm ET: TV: Speed. sale fundraiser on the square. includes Brooke Barrett, Alys- Behind Coach Barrett, With items including clothes, er got the race-day handling he Kevin Harvick was sixth. Sat., May 22, Sprint Cup All- sa Hunter, Hannah Whitehead, Alyssa Hunter and Brooke needed. He fi nished 10-laps Brad Keselowski fi nished sev- toys, books, purses, trinkets, and Laney Bennager. Barrett scurried around the Star race, Starting time: 7 pm and even more, visitors to the “We’ve gone to several greenery, tossing and kicking down in 30th position. enth to hold on to the points ET: TV: Speed. lead by 11 over Busch. Greg sale could expect to go home tournaments and every one a soccer ball around the tables. Top-12 Chase con- Racing Trivia Question: tenders after12 of 36: 1. Biffl e was eighth, with rookies with treasures. Each treasure we’ve been in, we’ve placed. They wore their black, white, Harvick-1768, 2. Kyle and Colin Braun What is ’s car purchased contributes to help- We’re going against coun- and red jerseys that whipped Busch-1699, 3. Kenseth-1642, rounding out the top 10. number in Cup series? ing the girls with tournament ties like Gwinnet and DeKalb in the wind as they ran laps 4. Johnson-1637, 5. Ham- Top-10 points lead- Last Week’s Question: Which entry funds. that actually have 2,000 girls around the gazebo. To them, lin-1618, 6. J. Gordon-1605, 7. ers after 11 of 36: 1. Brad Cup team does Jeff Burton “The entry fees are any- to choose from and won. We our local town square posed as where from $165 to $500 per Biffl e-1581, 8. Burton-1569, Keselowski-1766, 2. Kyle drive for? Answer. The No. 31 pick four girls that play soccer an Olympic fi eld, full of hope tournament. We pay for our out of our three counties’ Rec- and cool grass. Through this 9. -1531, 10. Ed- Busch-1755, 3. Harvick-1702, Richard Childress . wards-1487, 11. Martin-1475, 4. Edwards-1546, 5. Allgai- own travel expenses and uni- reation team and we’ve only fundraiser, they are one step You may contact the Racing forms,” Coach Amy Barrett been together for a year,” Bar- closer to fi nding their futures. Reporter at: hodgesnews@ said, “We made it to nationals rett continued, “The girls have