Sports

Landon Bonner (2) brings the ball up the floor in transition during a first-round playoff against Toombs County on Feb. 22. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Landon Bonner (2) brings the ball up the floor in transition during a first-round playoff against Toombs County on Feb. 22. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Youth to power War Eagles basketball this season

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Putnam County boys basketball has high aspirations this season after losing in the second round last year. However, the War Eagles will be without their all-time leading scorer Eren Banks, who graduated in May and is now on scholarship playing basketball at Georgia Southern.
Sophomore wide receiver Dillon Bell threw a touchdown pass, caught five passes for 90 yards and a score while also recording one rush against Tennessee in Knoxville Saturday. Head coach Kirby Smart looks on with a smile during Bell’s post-game interview. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

Sophomore wide receiver Dillon Bell threw a touchdown pass, caught five passes for 90 yards and a score while also recording one rush against Tennessee in Knoxville Saturday. Head coach Kirby Smart looks on with a smile during Bell’s post-game interview. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

Bell helps lead Bulldogs past Volunteers on Saturday

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Georgia’s Dillon Bell had himself a game against Tennessee in a 38-10 win on Saturday. Bell, a sophomore offensive weapon for the Bulldogs, completed one pass for an 18-yard touchdown. He also had a rush for four yards while adding five receptions for 90 yards and a score. “Great competitor.
Junior defensive back Javon Bullard recorded six tackles and a pass deflection in Georgia’s 38-10 win over Tennessee. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

Junior defensive back Javon Bullard recorded six tackles and a pass deflection in Georgia’s 38-10 win over Tennessee. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

Georgia, Georgia Tech set to renew Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Georgia (11-0, 8-0) and in-state rival Georgia Tech (6-5, 3-2) will renew Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate this Saturday. The No. 1 Bulldogs are coming off a 38-10 dismantling of then-ranked No.
Carly Cannon was a mainstay on last season’s girls’ basketball team for Gatewood, but now as one of just two seniors on the roster, her experience has become even more valuable. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Carly Cannon was a mainstay on last season’s girls’ basketball team for Gatewood, but now as one of just two seniors on the roster, her experience has become even more valuable. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Lady Gators basketball starts season with even record

Trey Norris
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
The Gatewood girls’ basketball team jumped out to a 1-1 start this season after posting a 52-44 win over Edmund Burke on Nov. 14, followed by a 57-49 loss on Nov. 16 to Westminster School of Augusta.
Loran Smith/Columnist

Loran Smith/Columnist

Smith: Facing Tennessee

Loran Smith
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Although Georgia and Tennessee competed in football in the early 1900s, the two teams did not play each other from 1937 to 1968. Over the years I have been asked about that but don’t know exactly why there was no competition between the two schools.
Mark Winslette attempts to pin an opponent during a match last season. ARELLA CASH/File photo

Mark Winslette attempts to pin an opponent during a match last season. ARELLA CASH/File photo

Putnam wrestling to be led by experience

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
The Putnam County wrestling team began its season this past weekend at Gainesville High, and War Eagles’ head coach Joe Hutsell said he has high expectations for this year. He predicted this senior class is going to have a special year with a lot of goals they’ve set in place.
Pictured left to right, starting with the back row: Bennett Haley, Finn Hoskins, Jackson Sanders, Colton Cheek, Huck McLaulin, Jackson Robbins, William Benner, Perry Atkinson, Cooper Craine, Carson Lingle, Harrison Harper, Crofton Smith, Chason Sheppard, Connor Mitchem, Ford Rocker, Talon Jones, Bo Wooten, Blake Brannen, Joe McMillian, and Brady Haley. CONTRIBUTED

Pictured left to right, starting with the back row: Bennett Haley, Finn Hoskins, Jackson Sanders, Colton Cheek, Huck McLaulin, Jackson Robbins, William Benner, Perry Atkinson, Cooper Craine, Carson Lingle, Harrison Harper, Crofton Smith, Chason Sheppard, Connor Mitchem, Ford Rocker, Talon Jones, Bo Wooten, Blake Brannen, Joe McMillian, and Brady Haley. CONTRIBUTED

Gatewood Middle School completes perfect season

News Staff
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
In what bodes well for future varsity squads, the Gatewood Middle School football team recently completed a remarkable season, cruising to a perfect 7-0 record.
Lake Oconee Lodge Soccer Shoot contestants, families and volunteers. CONTRIBUTED

Lake Oconee Lodge Soccer Shoot contestants, families and volunteers. CONTRIBUTED

Lake Oconee Elks held annual Soccer Shoot

News Staff
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
On Saturday, Oct. 28, Lake Oconee Elks Lodge 2849 held its annual Soccer Shoot at the Greene County Recreation Center for kids ages 4-15 for Greene, Putnam, Morgan, and Hancock counties.
With support from teammates Ethan Whatley (16), Mark Little (6) and Jason Clemons (80), Putnam County senior Alan Hill (21) makes a run around the Thomson defense in a game played earlier this season. CHARLES JORDAN/File photo

With support from teammates Ethan Whatley (16), Mark Little (6) and Jason Clemons (80), Putnam County senior Alan Hill (21) makes a run around the Thomson defense in a game played earlier this season. CHARLES JORDAN/File photo

Putnam can’t weather Purple Hurricanes’ storm

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
In the first round of the playoffs, No. 2 seed Fitzgerald defeated No. 3 seed Putnam County 38-7 last Saturday, eliminating the War Eagles from the Class AA postseason for the third consecutive year.
Senior running back Kendall Milton (2) had the breakout game of his career against Ole Miss in Athens, rushing for 127 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. ZAK ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed

Senior running back Kendall Milton (2) had the breakout game of his career against Ole Miss in Athens, rushing for 127 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries. ZAK ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY/Contributed

Milton, Bulldogs run away with win over No. 9 Ole Miss

Lance McCurley
Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Georgia put on its best ground game performance of the season last Saturday against No. 9 Ole Miss. The No. 1 Bulldogs (10-0, 7-0 SEC) rushed for a season-high 300 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-17 win over the Rebels (8-2, 5-2). They also averaged a season-high 8.6 yards per rush as a team.
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