DecemberTHE TOWNS 18, 2019 COUNTY THE TOWNSHERALD COUNTY December HERALD 18, 2019 Page 3B Towns County Sports Towns County’s Leader In Sports ooolgofk[gmflq`]jYd\f]lÛÝÛ<¤eYadÛl[`]jYd\³oaf\klj]Yef]l TCMS: Lady Indians enjoying 6-2 season so far; Indians improve to 7-1 By Chad Stack Towns County Herald Staff Writer The Towns County Mid- dle School Lady Indians fell to 6-2 on the season after a loss to the Commerce Lady Tigers on Saturday, Dec. 14. After serving as the Lady Indians assistant coach and head Junior Varsity coach un- der Lady Indians Head Coach Brian Hunnicutt for two years, Rollie Thomas accepted the head coaching role at the mid- dle school this year. Thomas said bringing the high school system into the middle school will help to develop the girls, and they will know what is expected of them when they move on to the next level. Through eight games, Thomas said he is impressed with the team’s intensity, work ethic and their will to keep fighting no matter the score. The girls have adjusted to the new system really well, but Thomas said they still need to improve with ball handling. For several years, the middle school teams have played in the Smoky Mountain Region, though this year they McKayla Aston pulls up for a jump shot. Photo/Chad Stack Tanner Cunningham gets open under the basket for a layup at Commerce. Photo/Chad Stack are playing in the Tri-State a row before losing Saturday ing Commerce scoreless in the Seth Rutan with 12 points. After starting the season after press time. Region. to Commerce 42-23, falling to opening four minutes of the The Indians team con- 2-0, the Indians lost in overtime Following the matchup The Lady Indians started just 6-2 on the season. game. After their 18-0 run, the sists of 11 eighth-graders who to Hebron Christian Academy, in Tallulah, the Indians will the season 2-0 before a tough The Towns County Mid- Indians never looked back, and have been playing together handing them their only loss of host the Hiwassee Dam Eagles loss at Hebron Christian Acad- dle School Indians are only 7-1 they defeated the Commerce for a long time, Indians Head the season thus far. at home on Thursday, Dec. 19. emy on Monday, Dec. 2. after a big win over the Tigers Tigers 49-19. Coach Shea Taylor said, add- The Towns County Mid- The Lady Indians will tip off After dropping their first of Commerce on Dec. 14. Zane Floyd led all scor- ing that they are just having dle School teams traveled to at 4:30 p.m., followed by the loss to the Lady Lions, the Lady The Indians pulled away ers with 17 points in the first fun and playing the game of Tallulah Falls on Monday, Dec. boys at 6 p.m. Indians went on to win three in in the first quarter 18-0, hold- three quarters, followed by basketball. 16, for games that occurred Lady Indians... continued from 2B NASCAR 2019 but Young sank her second By Gerald Hodges/the Racing Reporter trey of the game at 1:07 for a 34-33 Lady Indians lead. The Lady Tigers came Truex Losing His Crew Chief up with a huge play when they Cole Pearn, crew chief missed a free throw at the one for Martin Truex Jr. for over five seasons has decided to leave NA- minute mark but corralled the SCAR in order to spend more rebound and sank a trey at 55 time with his family. seconds for a 36-34 lead they “This was an incredibly would increase to the final difficult decision,” Pearn stated, winning margin of 39-34 on in a team press release. “At the an old fashioned three points end of the day, I really want to play a 29.8 seconds. spend time with my family and The Lady Indians had actually see my kids grow up. several inside shots appearing Being on the road, you are away from home so much and miss a to be about to fall through the lot of time with your family. I net during the late Commerce don’t want to miss that time any- scoring run but the shots more. I want to be there for all found a way to either roll the things that my kids are going or bounce off the rim each to experience while they are still time, perhaps a few of those young. I love racing and there times influenced by defensive isn’t a better place to be than Joe Cole Pearn and Martin Truex Jr. in 2017 contact but they didn’t get the Gibbs Racing, but I don’t want to you barely see ’em. performance has never been better judgement calls. look back in 20 years and think “I didn’t want to look than the last two seasons. about everything I missed with back at my life and miss those The rest of the lineup with Henson led the scoring my wife and kids while I was moments. For me to get the op- Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola and for the Lady Indians with 16 gone. They are what is most im- portunity to work in racing has the rookie Cole Custer will be points and was followed by portant to me.” been just a dream come true and under pressure to be more on par Floyd, Sophia Shook, and Pearn and Truex saw a then to have the success we’ve with Harvick. Young with 6 each. multitude of successes together had just blows my mind. When Hendrick Motorsports Henson also led in as- over five seasons. Together they you’ve achieved more than showed flashes of getting back sists with 6 and rebounds with won the 2017 NASCAR Cup Se- you’ve ever dreamt, you look at on track with Chase Elliott 8 while Floyd followed with ries Championship and went on the other things in life you’ve clearly the best road racer in the 2 assists and other leaders in to qualify for the Championship been missing and I just felt like series right now. Elected NMPA 4, a total of four times. Their 23 it was time.” Most Popular Driver for the sec- rebounds were Young with 6 wins since the beginning of the Pearn’s resignation wasn’t ond straight year, Elliott looks to and Floyd and freshman Sarah 2016 season are the best among something his team expected to go from playoff driver to a true Shook with 5 each. Sophia all driver and crew chief combi- happen this off-season, especial- championship contender. Shook took the lead in steals nations in that time span. ly considering Pearn and Truex Alex Bowman won his with 5 and was followed by Following the 2018 season, had arrived at Joe Gibbs Racing first race in 2019 and William Sarah Shook with 3. Truex and Pearn joined Joe Gibbs as a packaged multi-year deal at Byron captured five poles, second The Lady Tigers were Racing after Furniture Row Rac- the end of the 2018 season. only to six for Harvick. Byron led in scoring by junior Bryan- ing closed. He led Truex and the And racing goes on for the got stronger as the year went on na Sanders with 13 points and No. 19 team to a runner-up finish other teams. and it would appear he’s a likely in the 2019 NASCAR Cup Series Team Penske, which did candidate to become a first-time sophomore Lauren Massey points standings. not have a driver in the champion- winner in 2020. with 9. Junior Kennedi Henson passes to a teammate. She led Towns In the 2019 playoffs alone, ship battle at Homestead, returns While there are plenty of County with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. Photo/Chad Stack Pearn, Truex and the No. 19 team the strong lineup of former cham- other changes with Richard Chil- won three times and found them- pions Brad Keselowski and Joey dress Racing, Roush-Fenway Winter Hiking is wonderful in North East Georgia selves only finishing outside the Logano, along with Ryan Blaney. Racing, Richard Petty Motor- top-seven once in 10 races. It would be surprising not to see sports and JTG Daugherty Rac- Those dramatic displays Favorite Local “I cannot say enough good one of them in the championship ing, next year’s main storyline of colorful autumn leaves have Wintertime Hikes things about Cole and what he race in 2020. will center on Johnson’s last at- fallen and the familiar chill of The area surrounding has meant for my career,” Truex One of the more interest- tempt at a record-breaking eighth winter is in the air. But don’t Hiawassee and Young Harris said. “I appreciate his hard work ing lineups is at Ganassi Racing, NASCAR Cup Series title. pack away the hiking boots is prime for hiking and back- and dedication to our race team where former series champion Racing Joke: During the just yet, or you’ll miss out on packing adventures. Here are a over the past six years going back Kurt Busch elevated the overall off season Kevin goes to the doc- one of the best times of year few of our favorite local win- to when he was my engineer at performance of the team. Kyle tor for his yearly routine physical. to hit the trail! Winter hiking tertime hikes.