Sports

Matt Allen, the team's leading scorer, brings the ball up the floor in a game earlier this season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Matt Allen, the team's leading scorer, brings the ball up the floor in a game earlier this season. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators experience split results at Athens Christmas tourney

During their Christmas break, Gatewood’s basketball team visited Athens last Friday and Saturday for the Spartan Holiday Classic, a brief, four-team tournament with host Athens Academy, Mt. Pisgah Christian out of Johns Creek, and Westminster Christian Academy from Watkinsville.
Former Morgan County basketball player B.J. Elder walks the red carpet out to midcourt with his family. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Former Morgan County basketball player B.J. Elder walks the red carpet out to midcourt with his family. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

‘Dogs honor BJ Elder, retire his number

Morgan County boys’ basketball honored former player B.J. Elder by retiring his number on Dec. 20.Elder returned to Madison this past Friday with his wife, Khristina, and their four children to be honored between games. The former Bulldog and Georgia Tech standout saw his No.
UGA leads the series with Notre Dame 3-0. The Bulldogs most recently defeated the Fighting Irish 23-17 at Sanford Stadium in 2019. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

UGA leads the series with Notre Dame 3-0. The Bulldogs most recently defeated the Fighting Irish 23-17 at Sanford Stadium in 2019. COURTESY OF UGA ATHLETICS

Georgia, Notre Dame to face off in Sugar Bowl

The stage is set for the Allstate Sugar Bowl, which will be held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2025.In the second-round College Football Playoff tilt, No. 2 Georgia will play No. 7 Notre Dame for the chance to advance. The winner will face either No.3 Boise State or No.
Loran Smith/File Photo

Loran Smith/File Photo

Smith: Yawn, Las Vegas

Known as “Sin City,” Las Vegas is a popular destination throughout the year. Still, one observation by a non-gambler is that once you visit this famous desert metropolis a couple of times, that’s enough.
Greene County senior Ryder Eschbach (0) drives the lane during the second quarter of a game against Taliaferro County on Friday, Dec. 20. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Greene County senior Ryder Eschbach (0) drives the lane during the second quarter of a game against Taliaferro County on Friday, Dec. 20. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Tigers thriving against tough competition

The Greene County boys’ basketball team recently ended the first part of the regular season with a winning record.The Tigers have an overall record of 7-6, having faced tough competition through the first two months of the season.
Matt Allen posed with his parents, April and Mark Allen, last Saturday after scoring his 1,665th point to become the all-time top scorer for Gatewood. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Matt Allen posed with his parents, April and Mark Allen, last Saturday after scoring his 1,665th point to become the all-time top scorer for Gatewood. IAN TOCHER/Staff

Gators rebound with big win over GMC Prep

A six-game undefeated streak to open the 2024-25 season came to an end for Gatewood (7-1) last Thursday in Perry, where the Westfield Hornets (5-5) downed the Gators 64-57.
Gunner Stockton (14) will start at quarterback for Georgia against Notre Dame in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Gunner Stockton (14) will start at quarterback for Georgia against Notre Dame in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Bulldogs to rely on Stockton against Irish

Georgia will start Gunner Stockton at quarterback against Notre Dame in the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.Stockton replaced starter Carson Beck, who suffered an elbow injury in the second half of the SEC Championship game.
Morgan County senior Jaden Young (left) was presented a game ball with her team’s logo on it after scoring her 1,000th career point in a game against Greene County on Dec. 6. CONTRIBUTED

Morgan County senior Jaden Young (left) was presented a game ball with her team’s logo on it after scoring her 1,000th career point in a game against Greene County on Dec. 6. CONTRIBUTED

Young nets 1,000th point in win

Morgan County senior Jaden Young reached the 1,000-point mark in a win over rival Greene County on Dec. 6. Young reached the milestone in the first quarter of the Lady Dogs’ dominant 57-31 road win over the Lady Tigers.Young said the moment felt surreal, which came on a layup from a fast break.
Lake Oconee Academy senior James Wright attempts a tough mid-air shot through a crowd of GMC Prep defenders. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Lake Oconee Academy senior James Wright attempts a tough mid-air shot through a crowd of GMC Prep defenders. LANCE McCURLEY/Staff

Titans learn to win through early season success

Lake Oconee Academy basketball is off to its best start in program history. On Tuesday, the Titans easily defeated Taliaferro County, matching their win total from last season at eight victories, also a program record.
Loran Smith/File Photo

Loran Smith/File Photo

Smith: Bowl memories

The holiday bowls are no longer what they once were due to the evolution of the college football playoff system, but fortunately, they are present in the new 12-team format.That is good.