FebruaryTHE TOWNS 24, 2021 COUNTY THE TOWNS HERALD COUNTY February HERALD 24, 2021 Page 3B Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports ooolgofk[gmflq`]jYd\f]lÛÝÛ<¤eYad‘Ûl[`]jYd\³oaf\klj]Yef]l Indians... continued from Front Page Manchester, the Indians will Semaj Jenkins with 15 points, host a second-round game on senior Caleb Willis with 14, and Friday or Saturday of this week sophomore Frank Sherman with against the winner of a game 12. Lincoln County finished between Bowdon, the second the tournament with a 10-10 seed from Region 6, and Warren record, including 7-5 and in County, the third seed from third place in regular season Region 7, with details to be region play. They got to the determined following the first- tournament championship game round games. The third round of by knocking off Social Circle, the tournament will be held on the second place team with a Tuesday and Wednesday of next 10-2 record in regular season, by week, and the fourth on Friday a 48-43 score in the tournament and Saturday of next week. semifinals. Unfortunately, The Red Devils had won amid the celebration of the five of six games entering the region championship was a championship game with the heartbreaking occurrence in loss being by a 58-52 score to the second quarter for dynamic the Indians in Lincolnton. senior point guard Kabe Ellis They showed vast and his teammates and Indians improvement following a 1-4 followers. A collision following Region Player of the Year Kolby Moss. Photo/Lowell Nicholson The Indians celebrate the 2021 region title. Photo/Lowell Nicholson start against mostly larger a layup basket by Ellis resulted minutes of last week's game was tournament with an 8-18 record Lincoln opened the fourth was followed by Moss with classification teams with the in his suffering a separated quite a battle with the Indians following a 71-55 loss to Social quarter with an old fashioned 17, Crowder with 13, McClure final loss in the start being by shoulder injury and having to taking 2-0, 4-2, and 6-4 leads in Circle in the consolation game three-point play for a 45-29 with 6, Ellis – before his second just a 52-50 score to Banks leave the game. just over two minutes on baskets but with six of their losses deficit, but two baskets for quarter injury – and junior Kyle County, the ninth ranked His medical status for by junior Jake McTaggart and being by four points or less. four points each by Crowder Oakes with 4 each, and senior Class 2A team in the state future participation in basketball then a lead of 8-6 they would not This was the 17th victory in and senior Hayden McClure Aidan Berrong with 3 while with a current 18-8 record and this season is unknown at press relinquish on two free throws by a row for the Indians over the highlighted an 11-8 Indian leaders in assists were Berrong regular season champions of time with an appointment with senior Kabe Ellis at the 4:09 Tigers, beginning with a 54-51 advantage between the 6:49 and with 8 and Crowder, Moss, and Region 8-AA. an orthopedist scheduled for mark of the first quarter. win in Commerce on February 2:51 marks for a 56-37 Towns Oakes with 5 each. An article providing some Monday. Best wishes for a quick The Tigers would still 3, 2014. lead. After that, the Red Devils Leading in rebounds were comparisons and connections and full recovery are sent to Kabe hang tough through the first Indians 66, Lincoln would send the Indians to the McTaggart with 11, Crowder between this year's Indians from the Towns County Herald quarter, including trailing by County 52 – The first quarter foul line where they sank 10 of with 6, and Moss with 4, while team and the Indians 1975 and this reporter along with of just a 14-12 score at quarter's of the championship game 12 attempts, including six for leaders in steals were Crowder region championship team is course the same wishes from all end. The Indians achieved their between the Indians and Lincoln six by Moss, between the 2:23 with 3 and Berrong and Oakes incomplete at press time but is players, coaches, and followers slender lead through the first County was very similar to their and 48.6 seconds marks for a with 2 each. McTaggart not only planned for next week's Herald of Indians basketball. quarter on the aforementioned game just nine days earlier in 66-45 lead which became a 66- led in scoring and rebounds but as quite a number of Indian Fortunately for the six points by McTaggart, four Lincolnton. The Indians were 52 victory when Lincoln closed in blocked shots with 6 in a followers have had questions Indians, Ellis' teammates rose to by Ellis, and two each by senior leading by just a 7-4 score in out the game with a 7-0 finish. marvelous performance. about and expressed interest in the occasion for the remainder Aidan Berrong and junior Kyle that game and 8-7 in this one McTaggart led the Indians Scoring leaders for the the 1975 team. of the game, just as the 1975 Oakes. although with cold shooting in scoring with 19 points and Red Devils were freshman Indians team had done during The second quarter would being prevalent in the first game their region championship be a whole new game for the and defensive excellence more victory in spite of the loss of Indians and Tigers, however, dominant in this one in your NASCAR 2021 top player Eddie Rushton for the as six different Indians entered reporter's view. entire tournament due to having the scoring column with leaders The Red Devils opened By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter the mumps. This time, the being senior Kolby Moss with the scoring with a trey for what Indians got the victory with a eight points and junior Collin turned out to be their only lead Christopher Bell gets first Cup win strong assist from Ellis himself Crowder with six as the Indians of 3-0 just 13 seconds into the Christopher Bell passed who had played a strong role used 21-5 dominance in building game. A trey by senior Kolby with less than two in the Indians leading 19-11 at a 35-17 halftime advantage. Moss got the Indians even at laps remaining in Sunday’s Day- the time of the injury at the 2:55 And they weren't through the 5:24 mark and a free throw tona Road Course race, and went mark of the second quarter. as eight more points by Moss, by junior Jake McTaggart got on to victory lane by 2.19-seconds While it is great to five by Ellis, and treys by them a 4-3 lead at 4:32 with a for his first NASCAR Cup Series seniors Colton Day and Hayden basket by senior Kabe Ellis at victory. celebrate the successes of the “This is the high of my life 1975 and 2021 Indians teams, McClure led them to a 54- 2:33 extending the lead to 6-3. The Devils matched the Ellis so far,” he said. “So incredibly the failure to win additional 28 lead entering the fourth thankful to be here for region championships does quarter on the way to the 74-45 basket for a 6-5 score and then Racing. I’ve prepared all of my not diminish great team victory. Fourth quarter scoring matched a deuce by Moss for life for this moment to race in the and individual successes by highlights included six points by the aforementioned 8-7 Towns Cup Series. Last year was a huge Indians teams between the two Crowder, five by Berrong, and a lead at quarter's end. learning curve for me, and I’m very championships and prior. Many trey by senior Liam King. Lincoln tied the score 9-9 grateful that I got the opportunity successes have been achieved Ten Indians entered the on a basket at the 7:27 mark to run in Cup. It definitely prepared in nearly 100 years since the scoring column during the game of the second quarter only to me to move to . first known basketball team with leaders being Moss with see the Indians take over the “Honestly, I didn’t think I was established in 1922 at the 18 points, Crowder with 12, game during the remainder of was going to get there, but Adam Hiawassee Academy which Ellis with 11, Berrong with 9, the quarter. A basket by junior (Stevens, crew chief) up on the pit Collin Crowder at the 7:27 mark box kept telling me I was going to evolved into TCHS. McTaggart with 6, Day with 5, get there. I didn’t believe it, but he There is the reality, and McClure and Oakes with got the Indians a lead of 11-9 (Logano) really struggled coming however, of Towns County High 4 each. and was the start of a 19-2 finish out of (Turn) 6 one time and al- School being one of the smallest Nine Indians provided for a 28-11 Towns advantage at lowed me to close the gap.” public schools in the state but at least one assist with leaders halftime. Five Indians entered Bell said capturing his first with great successes achieved being Berrong, Crowder, and the scoring column during the Cup win a day after won Bell gets first Cup win against much larger schools McTaggart with 4 each; Ellis quarter with McTaggart leading in his Xfinity Series debut was pen at all. This is awesome, I can’t followed by , Riley through the years, including with 3; and Day and Moss with the way with 11 points. “Unbelievable.” thank everybody enough watching Herbst, , , times when falling just short of 2 each. A long trey by McTaggart Logano had led 10 of the fi- and last week I had a terrible inter- , , and Chris- region championships. Ten Indians entered the just 18 seconds into the third nal 13 laps but on the next-to-last view. I want to apologize for every- tian Eckes. Indians 74, Commerce rebounding column with leaders quarter got the Indians on an lap, Bell closed the gap. As the two body, I just can’t thank everybody The race started under wet leaders entered the frontstretch chi- enough. This is just amazing.” conditions with teams having to de- 45 – Future looks at scores in this category being McTaggart 8-2 start for a 36-13 lead with junior Kyle Oakes and Moss cane of the road course, Bell pow- Gibbs becomes only the cide when the track was dry enough of games played by the 2021 with 11; Crowder, Day, and ered to his inside and came away sixth driver to win in his first series to switch from rain tires to slicks Indians will probably receive Ellis with 5 each; Moss with 4, contributing deuces before the the leader to start the final lap. start – matching a feat achieved or “dry” tires. Nemechek was the puzzled looks when viewing the and senior Jordan Lovelace and Red Devils embarked on an 11-2 “He had newer tires,” said by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale early leader – pacing the field for scores of the three games played Oakes with 3 each. Leaders in scoring run interrupted only by Logano. “One more caution lap Earnhardt in 1982 and most recent- the opening 14 laps until his No. 4 between the Indians and the steals were Ellis with 3 and Day a basket by Moss for just a 38- would have been enough to al- ly, , 15 years ago. suffered an oil pressure and Commerce Tigers. The Indians with 2 while McTaggart led in 24 deficit at the 2:08 mark. The lowed us to stay out front. I tried to He is also the youngest driv- fuel pick-up problem, leaving the took two decisive victories by blocked shots with 3. Indians struck back, however, get all I could out of that last restart, er to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series truck on the track and necessitating scores of 79-65 and 74-45 over Scoring leaders for with a coast to coast run for because I knew I was going to need road course event. At 18 years, 4 a caution. Later he ran out of gas Commerce on the Tigers' home Commerce were sophomore a deuce by Moss initiating a it, because he was going to catch us months, 16 days, he breaks the re- and at one point was a lap down to court while escaping with an Jackson Morris with 12 points 7-0 scoring run by the Indians pretty quick. cord most recently held by Cindric the leaders before racing back to the front in the closing laps. 80-78 victory on the Indians' and junior Shaquario Sherrod including a trey by Crowder for “We’ve made a lot of gains (20 years old). a 45-24 lead at 22.9 seconds, on our road courses. You can tell Cindric and AJ Allmend- home court in a game played with 8. Commerce has had we’re not quite good enough yet, inger crashed racing to the finish RETURNS TO RACING in between the two games at a tough year record wise, which became 45-26 entering but we maximized the day. I hate of the first stage, and Cindric was Two-time Daytona 500 win- Commerce. completing the region the fourth quarter. being that close, but congratula- left with a gaping hole in his front ner, Michael Waltrip announced These scores are simply tions to Christopher.” fender. He dropped to 34th in the plans to compete in the SRX Short- examples of the reality of Bell, 26, is the second con- field but still drove his way back to Track Series. sports of all types at any level Chatuge Shores Ladies secutive first-time winner in the the lead. SRX features sprint races with teams rising up in an Cup Series to start the 2021 season. He led a race-high 29 laps, with drivers from a variety of mo- unexpected manner to be a Golf League opens 2021 season Michael McDowell won last week- and had a Daytona sweep in sight torsports backgrounds competing challenge to an opponent as did The Chatuge Shores La- year and the weekly course fee end’s Daytona 500. until a caution with three laps re- in identically prepared racecars on Commerce in the middle game dies Golf League is looking is $27 which includes a cart. finished maining gave Gibbs a chance. They a variety of tracks, including pave- forward to a new golf season Membership requires an of- third, Kurt Busch was fourth and both pitted for fresh tires, and Gibbs ment and dirt. The SRX lineup al- between the two schools. The rounded out the restarted 10th, Cindric in 11th. ready includes , Tony Indians actually appeared to in 2021. ficial USGA handicap in the top-five. Gibbs on the first overtime Kanaan, , Bobby La- be taking control of their home Applications for mem- USGA system (called GHIN). Completing the top-10 were restart blew past a pack of cars and bonte, Willy T. Ribbs, , game but to their credit, the bership are now being taken Establishing a handicap is easy , A.J. Allmendinger, weaved his way in and out of traffic Ernie Francis Jr., Tigers exerted a strong challenge and all returning as well as new and the league can help with Michael McDowell, all the way to third. Another cau- and Helio Castroneves. toward the end of the game but members are welcome. Play that if needed. and . tion sent the race into double OT, “This is an awesome oppor- just short of victory, with this is every Tuesday at Chatuge For more information won Stage 1, and Gibbs this time drove inside for tunity and I’m genuinely excited to challenge possibly being a Shores Golf Course with a 9 the league web site is www. and led the most laps in the race the lead. get back in a racecar,” said Waltrip, deciding factor in the Indians a.m. tee time. chatugeshoreslga.com or (44). He probably had the fastest The remaining top-10: 3. who owns 17 victories across NA- rising to the occasion of an easy A fun group of ladies, the email chatugeshoresgolf@ car, but a series of bad-luck inci- , 4. Brandon Jones, SCAR’s top-three national tour- victory in the tournament game league has 20 members from gmail.com. Come out and join dents may have cost him the race. 5. , 6. Harrison Bur- ing series. “I still love racing and last week. throughout the tri-county area. the fun (socially distanced, of Twice he had lengthy pit ton, 7. , 8. Brandon I still want to compete. SRX is a stops. Each time he went in first, but Brown, 9. Justin Haley, 10. Jeremy great platform and all of us want to At any rate, the first 10 Membership dues are $30 per course!). NT(Feb24,F4)SH came out back in the field and had Clements. win. We might have gray hair and to work his way back towards the RHODES GETS maybe even no hair, but when we Benton MacKaye Trail Association hikes for March front. He was involved in contact SECOND CONSECUTIVE put that helmet on and go race, the The following hikes hikers for either or both of the Pilvinsky. For more informa- twice, from other cars, and on lap TRUCK WIN desire and talent is still there. You are sponsored by the Benton hikes listed. tion contact hikeleaderMP@ 61, was bumped by Denny Hamlin Ben Rhodes has had two want to see a show? We’re gonna MacKaye Trail Association. March 2 (Tuesday) - The bmtamail.org. and spun out. He finished 21st. perfect race outings at Daytona. He put on a show.” The current social distancing Benton MacKaye Trail Asso- March 5 (Friday) - The Top-10 leaders after 2 0f 36: won the Truck Series opener on the Racing Joke: Denny was 1. Hamlin-104, 2. Logano-92, 3. oval last week then came back to alone in an elevator when a girl and health rules are used by ciation sponsors a strenuous Benton MacKaye Trail Asso- Harvick-83, 4. Bell-82, 5. Elliott- win Friday night on the infield road stepped in with a phone pressed to hike Leaders. 8.2 mile on the backcountry ciation sponsors a 4 mile easy 79, 6. McDowell-75, 7. Preece-74. course. her ear. March 1 (Monday) - Trail at Fort Mountain State hike on the Laurel Ridge Trail. 8. Kurt Busch-65, 9. A. Dillon-64, Rhodes, 23, of Louisville, “I have to go,” she told the The Benton MacKaye Trail Park. This trail travels around Hike starts along the Chatta- 10. Keselowski-54. Ky., crossed the finish line .320- person on the other end. “There’s a Association sponsors a mod- the edge of the park and pass- hoochee River and ends with TY GIBBS WINS IN FIRST seconds ahead of , cute guy standing here.” erate to strenuous 8 mile hike es below the summits of both nice views of Lake Lanier and XFINITY START when a caution came out, freezing Before Denny could react, on the Duncan Ridge Trail Cohutta and Fort Mountains the Buford Dam. Hike leader Ty Gibbs turned in a stun- the field with a half-lap remaining the girl turned to him and said, from Mulky Gap to Sarvis down to the lake . Hike leader Howard Baggett. For more in- ning performance in his first Xfin- in overtime. “Sorry for lying, I just wanted to Gap and return. Excellent Mike Pilvinsky. For more in- formation contact hikeleader- ity Series start. The 18-year-old “Unbelievable, I don’t even end that conversation.” winter views. Hike leader formation contact hikelead- [email protected].\ held off reigning champion Aus- have words for it,” Rhodes said. “I Racing Trivia Question: Steve Dennison. For more [email protected]. March 5 (Friday) - The tin Cindric on the Daytona Road don’t even know what to say, this What year was NASCAR found- information contact hikelead- March 3 (Wednesday - Benton MacKaye Trail As- Course. He took the lead on a re- is so cool. I just have to thank my ed? start in double overtime and held team. ThorSport Racing gave me Last Week’s Question: [email protected]. The Benton MacKaye Trail sociation sponsors a moder- off Cindric by 1.726 seconds at the a truck that handled this year and , who started this March 1,2,3 - The Association sponsors a mod- ately strenuous 8.3 mile hike finish line. we were fast. Rich (Lushes) is a re- year’s Daytona 500 has one 500 Benton MacKaye Trail As- erate 5 mile Loop hike at Fort using Hemp Top and Jacks “The family is everything ally good crew chief. It’s good to victory. What year did he win? sociation sponsors two day Mountain State Park includ- River Trails. We will start to me, they do so much for me,” be paired up with him and all of the Answer. He won the 1990 Daytona hikes from Fort Mountain ing parts of the Gahuti Trail, hiking from Watson Gap and Gibbs said. “I just can’t thank them guys on my team. I’m just thrilled. 500 driving for Bob Whitcomb. State Park campground Mon- Gold Mine Creek Trail, Lake enter the Cohutta Wilderness enough, this is just amazing; this is I don’t know what to say. I’ve been Gerald Hodges/the Racing day, Tuesday with overnight, Trail and Big Rock Nature Hike leader Steve Dennison. a dream come true. It’s all the man on cloud nine all week, so it’s above Reporter is a syndicated NASCAR weather permitting. You are Trail. Hiking poles are rec- For more information contact above, I’m sorry I’m a wreck. I that. I’m just so happy.” writer and author. You may e-mail welcome to join us as day ommended. Hike leader Mike [email protected]. didn’t think this was going to hap- John Nemechek was third, him at: [email protected].