Page 4B February 7, 2018
f porter
By Richard Dumas
forsyth@mymcr.net
Four Mary Persons
wrestlers have advanced
on to compete in the
double-elimination
AAAA state txadition-
als finals at the Macon
Centreplex beginning at
10 a.m. on .Thursday.
MP seniors Hayleigh
Blair, Stanley Lowe and
Jatorian Hansford and
junior Brycen Young
each finished among the
top eight qualifiers at
the AAAA B sectional
competition in Jefferson
over the weekend. Lowe
and Young also qualified
for the state traditional
finals in 2017 with Lowe
becoming the first, and
thus far only, Bulldog to
score points at the state
meet.
In the 106-pound
weight class, Blair,
18-10 overall, lost her
first match to North
Oconee's Hayden Prior.
Blair then received
a second-round bye
before defeating White
County's Jacob Cantrell
in her third match. Blair
was then defeated by St.
Pins Wffiiam Pentecost
in her fourth match before
falling to Oconee County's
Zach Cartrette to finish in
eighth place.
In the 145-pound weight
class, Lowe, 31-6 over-
all, won his first match
against West Hall's Parker
CampeUone. Lowe was
then defeated in his sec-
ond match by Jefferson's
Coy Strong. Lowe then
bounced back in his third
match to beat Burke
County's Jalen Lovett. He
then took out Bald n's
Taveress Smith in his
(Above) Mary Persons junior Brycen Young gets the
upperhand on his opponent during AAAA sectional
competition in'Jefferson on Saturday. Young was one of
four MP wrestlers to move on to the state finals in Ma-
con this weekend. (At right) MP senior Jatorian Hansford
drops his opponent in Jefferson on Saturday. Hansford
is scheduled to sign a college football scholarship with
Missouri on Wednesday morning.
fourth match before fall- Brown. Young then
ing to Blessed Trinity's regrouped and
Aaron Werkheiser in defeated Baldwin's
his fifth match. Lowe Makel Anderson to
then regrouped and finish in seventh
defeated Upson-Lee's Scott place.
Kirschman to finish in In the 220-pound
fifth place, weight class, MP
In the 152-pound weight senior Jatorian
class, MP junior Brycen Hansford, 7-4
Young, 41-9 overall, won overall, won his
his first match against first match against
North Oconee's Sean Oconee County's
O'Brien. Young was then Nick Saunders. Hansford
defeated in his second was then defeated in his
match by Blessed Trinity's second match by West
Alex Poma. Young then Hall's Damien Fouts.
bounced back in his third Hansford then bounced
match to beat Marist's back in his third match
Lawrence Harris before to beat Jefferson's Alex
falling in his fourth match Parker before falling in .
to Upson-I o 's Chris his fourth match to White
County's Devin Sullens.
Hansford then regrouped
and defeated Perry's
Jordan Williams to finish
in seventh place.
Four other MP wrestlers
competed at the AAAA
Sectional B competition on
Saturday but failed to fin-
ish in the top eight in their
:,
respective weight classes.
In the 126-pound weight
class, MFs Keller Smith
lost his first match to
Hephzibah's Khalid
Brinkley. Smith was
then defeated by Blessed
Trinity's Joey Moroski in
his second match before
falling in his third match
as well to Baldwin's
Keeylone Sanford. Smith
then dropped his fourth
match to North Oconee's
Tanner Leierzapf to fin-
ish O-4.
In the 170-pound
weight class, MP's Trent
Sickman lost his first
match to Marlsfs Corey
Langner. Sickman
was then defeated by
RichmondAcademy's Rin
Ishikawa-Beck before
falling in his third match
as well to Chestatee's
Chino Ortiz. Sickman
then dropped his fourth
match to White County's
Seth Stonecypher to fin-
ish O-4.
In the 195-pound
weight class, MP's
Brandon Neal lost his
first match to Blessed
Trinity's Jack Filipowicz.
Neal was then defeated
by Burke County's Cole
Thurston before falling in
his third match to West
Hall's Ricardo Vazquez.
Neal then bounced
back in his fourth
match to beat Cross
Creek's Akeem Miles
before losing his
match to Perry's Jordan
Thompkins.
In the 285-pound
weight class, MP's Abdul
Glover won his first
match against Blessed
Trinity's Jack Jacobs.
Glover was then defeated
in his second match by
Jefferson's Gavin London.
Glover then lost his third
match to Spalding's Robert
2kum ipseed before regroup-
ing in his fourth match to
beat Richmond Academy's
Donovan Ramsey. Glover
then defeated Jacobs a sec-
ond time to finish just out
of the top eight in ninth
place.
MP GIRLS ing stretch," VIcElhaney kind of just ride it out Campaign with a 47-42 goal of the game, just one That's probably the best:
said. 'qvVe had a chance and let the clock burnhome win over Perry on minute later gave the we've shot all year '
00nfin d Page 1B going into the fourth out." Senior Night on Tuesday, Lady Dogs a lead they McElhaney said he wah
quarter. We just didn't Monday's defeat came Jan. 30. would not relinquish, pleased that the unsung
Traylor caught fire from
have enough gas." three nights after MP In a fitting result, MPFour free throws, two Hightewer enjoyed a :
downtown, splashing a McElhaney said at least finished up a 1-9 regu- senior forward Abigail by McDowell followed
pair of left elbow treys,memorable moment on:
to give the Lady Knights three of Shannon s five lar season campaign inHightower drained the by twoby Buffington, :: her Senior Nigh~:~'!~!::a~:~:~
an ll:point advantage at fouls, including both of Region 2-AAAA with an go-ahead three-pointer put MP ahead by six "For her to hit five
44,33 with 1:13 left in the the last two, were mental 82-34 road loss on Friday with 5:25 left in the at 45'39!with 3:30 left. three-pointers in the last:
third quarter. Upson-Lee errors from overaggres- at first-place Spalding, fourth period that put the Then, with 48 seconds to three games, that's been
would eventually extend siveness or close calls by who completed a perfect Lady Dogs ahead for good play, Shannon drained big," McElhaney said.
its run to 17-0 as Traylor the referees. 10-0 region season, at 41-39. two pressure free throws "And especially this shot
buried another three- '"They still called them, MP fell behind 31-9 MP trailed 8-7 through to put MP ahead by five on Senior Night, it kind
pointer, this one from the so we've got to live with through one quarter, one period before sopho- at 47-42, and the score of put us over the edge
them," McElhaney said.The Lady Jaguars then more guard Taylor would remain the same and helped us get the
left corner to go ahead "But that's just knowing extended their advan- Buffington got hot fromuntil the clock expired, win."
51-33 midway through the game, knowing thattage to 31 points at half- the perimeter in the sec- Buffington led the Lady Despite the struggles,
the fourth quarter.
With 4:21 left, Shannon she can't reach. She'stime at 46-15. MP thenond quarter to stake MPDogs with 16 points. McElhaney said he's had
fouled out, and MP was got to slide her feet. And mounted a slight rallyto an unexpected 23-19 She was joined in double a good time during his
unable to rally, scorin she's a gambler. It's one in the third quarter but halftime lead. The Ladyfigures by Shannon andfirst season at the helm.
of those high-risk, high- was ultimately outscored Panthers regrouped to McDowell, who scored ' t's been a roller coast-
just four fourth quarter reward type of things,26-16 to fall behind by 41 outpoint the Lady Dogs 15 and 11, respectively, er, but I enjoyed every bit
pointS in the 20-point and we didn't get a high at 72-31. Spalding then 17-7 in the third period Perry's Asiah Harrell led of it," McElhaney said.
loss. While MP's season
came to an end, the No. reward today." cruised in the final period to take a six-point edge all scorers with 22 points. "All three of those wins
McElhaney, a first-year to the 48-point win. into the fourth quarterMcElhaney said an and all 23 or 24 of those
3 seed Lady Knights
guaranteed themselves head coach, said the past Kiana Banks led the at 36-30. But that's when increased focus in prac- losses. I wouldn't trade
a spot in the AAAA state three seasons, in which Lady Jaguars with 24 MP responded with per- tice on shooting turned these girls for nothing."
playoffs and will face No. the Lady Dogs have lost points. She was joined in haps its best eight min- MP's fortunes in its regu- Meanwhile, the Monroe
2 seed West Laurens at at least 19 games eachdouble figures by team- utes of the entire season, lar season finale. County Middle School
4 p.m. on Wednesday in year, have taken a cumu- mates Kirah Milner, who The Lady Dogs went on '"They've been workinggirls basketball team
lative tell on his squad, scored 19, and Kierstyn an 8-0 run to start thehard, and the last maybe finished up a disappoint-
a region semifinal show- "It's been hard to battle Milner, who scored 10.fourth qUarter, capped by two weeks we kind of just ing 2-10 campaign on
down.
Despite the disappoint- back, and you could see The Spalding defeat a corner three-pointer by had to try something dif- Tuesday, Jan. 30 with a
ing defeat, McElhaney that at times when it came three nights after junior point guard Ateria ferent," McElhaney said. 39-9 road loss at Lamar
said he was proud of how gets a little too tough," MP achieved its most McDowell with 6:26 left"So we've been doing a lot County Middle. The Lady
his young team played at McElhaney said. '"We'll thrilling moment of the in the fourth quarter, more shooting and lessDogs were also defeated
the end of he season, fight for as long as we season when it avoidedPerry would soon regainteam work, and you could in a road contest on Jan.
'We played some good can, but it's like when its second straight win- the lead, but Hightower's tell tonight that we shot 29 at Fort Valley Middle
basketball in this finish- they know it's over, it's less Region 2-AAAA clutch shot, her lone field 47 percent from the field, by a score of 23-8.
* ~ i/!~!~!~
Monroe EliteTigers team member Jaise Davis (above left) played in the 2018 Youth Pro Bowl on Jan. 27 in Orlando, Fla and
his 10U Blue team coached by T.Y. Hilton (father of Indianapolis Colts star receiver T.Y. Hilton Jr.) won the championship. Davis
had 8 tackles and 1 sack.The Elite Tigers also had two other players, Mason Stephens (at right) and Cotdy"CJ" Banks (above
right), who played in the 8U Youth Pro Bowl game. (Photos/Lamarcus Davis)
