Sports

Putnam County point guard Eren Banks (1) brings the ball up the court against Northside-Columbus in a game earlier this season. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

Putnam County point guard Eren Banks (1) brings the ball up the court against Northside-Columbus in a game earlier this season. LANCE MCCURLEY/Staff

BASKETBALL: War Eagles topple Social Circle, continue region play

Lance McCurley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
The Putnam County boys’ basketball team played on Dec. 31, in the Big South Showcase at Newton High School in Covington. The War Eagles (9-2, 2-0) defeated Social Circle 74-68 in the neutral site New Year’s Eve matchup.
Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart displays the Peach Bowl trophy after the Bulldogs secured their trip to Los Angeles to face TCU. TONY WALSH/UGA Athletics

Georgia head football coach Kirby Smart displays the Peach Bowl trophy after the Bulldogs secured their trip to Los Angeles to face TCU. TONY WALSH/UGA Athletics

Georgia to play TCU for national title

Lance McCurley
Thursday, January 5, 2023
The Georgia Bulldogs are headed to the College Football Playoff title game for a second-straight year. The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs will face No. 3 Texas Christian University (TCU) on Jan. 9, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. Georgia defeated No.
Junior point guard Carly Cannon provides a dependable, veteran presence to an overall young Gators team. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Junior point guard Carly Cannon provides a dependable, veteran presence to an overall young Gators team. IAN TOCHER/Staff

BASKETBALL: Lady Gators riding high after 8-2 start

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
The Gatewood girls’ basketball team is off to a hot start under head coach Jordan Camp. The Lady Gators finished the first part of their 2022-23 season with an 8-2 record and will return to action on Jan. 5, at Thomas Jefferson Academy. Gatewood’s latest contest was Dec.
Eren Banks (1) pulls up for a shot earlier this month against Butler. ARELLA CASH/Staff

Eren Banks (1) pulls up for a shot earlier this month against Butler. ARELLA CASH/Staff

BASKETBALL: War Eagles split games at Screamin’ Devils

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Putnam County played in Warner Robins in the Screamin’ Devils holiday tournament last week, where the War Eagles (8-2, 2-0) went 1-1 against Southeast Bulloch and Westside (Macon). Putnam opened with an 86-47 win over Southeast Bulloch after leading the Yellow Jackets 50-20 at the half.
The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs have taken the last three weeks to prepare for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes for their matchup on New Year’s Eve.

The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs have taken the last three weeks to prepare for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes for their matchup on New Year’s Eve.

Peach Bowl preview: Bulldogs prepare for Buckeyes

Brendan Koerner
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs have taken the last three weeks to prepare for the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes for their matchup on New Year’s Eve. The two elite teams will meet in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta for the College Football Playoff semifinal Peach Bowl game.
Strong defense against Zy’Quan Grant of Butler came from Putnam’s Eren Banks (left), Keyni Crawford (4) and Payton Ellison (0). ARELLA CASH/Staff

Strong defense against Zy’Quan Grant of Butler came from Putnam’s Eren Banks (left), Keyni Crawford (4) and Payton Ellison (0). ARELLA CASH/Staff

BASKETBALL: War Eagles open region play with back-to-back wins

Lance McCurley
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Class 2A’s sixth-ranked Putnam County War Eagles (7-2, 2-0) knocked off Laney and Butler last week to open its Region 4-AA play. Putnam traveled to Augusta for a road test against Laney last Tuesday and came away with a 77-62 win.
Gatewood sophomore Walker Roberts (3) makes a strong offensive move with the ball as his Gators teammate, Blake Callaway, follows the play. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gatewood sophomore Walker Roberts (3) makes a strong offensive move with the ball as his Gators teammate, Blake Callaway, follows the play. IAN TOCHER/Staff

BASKETBALL: Gators rout Buccanners on way to 6-2 record

Ian Tocher
Thursday, December 22, 2022
The outcome was never in doubt on Dec. 17, when the Gatewood Gators won 74-40 at home versus the Buccaneers from Briarwood Academy.
Brendan Koerner, Koerner's Corner

Brendan Koerner, Koerner's Corner

KOERNER: Transfer portal turned free agency

Brendan Koerner
Thursday, December 22, 2022
For most college football programs, the end of one regular season marks the immediate beginning of another. In years past, schools would decide on staff changes and focus on pursuing important recruits. Now, most of that has changed due to the transfer portal.
During a timeout, PCHS head coach Derrick Arrington (left) and assistant coach David Levester encourage the Lady Eagles to regroup.

During a timeout, PCHS head coach Derrick Arrington (left) and assistant coach David Levester encourage the Lady Eagles to regroup.

BASKETBALL: Three up, three down for Lady War Eagles

Arella Cash
Thursday, December 22, 2022
The Putnam County High School Lady Eagles basketball team recently faced a tough week of competition that resulted in three losses and dropped them to a 3-4 record on the season so far. It started on Dec.
Loran Smith, Columnist

Loran Smith, Columnist

SMITH: A Heisman trophy winning story

Loran Smith
Thursday, December 22, 2022
Long after this year’s Heisman celebration was over and all constituents were preparing to return home, I sat in the media room at the Marriott Marquis last weekend and reflected on a personal experience with Georgia’s first Heisman winner.
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