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Stories by Sports Editor Darren Churchill

HS Boys Basketball | 7th-Grade Volleyball | Astoria Traveling Basketball

HS Boys Basketball

Rebels Season Comes to a Close

Photos by Darren Churchill

HAVANA, Feb. 23 — It has not been the smoothest of roads for the South Fulton boys basketball team this year, that started with injuries to key players, and ended with a tough conference schedule. The Rebels highlight film may look like a short documentary, but what you may not see on tape is the dedication and hard work the team has put forth all year long. Coach Jeff Shawgo knew heading into the 2009-10 basketball season his ball club would face challenges, but Shawgo never gave up on his players, no matter what the odds were. Unfortunately, South Fulton’s season ended prematurely with a first round loss in Regional play, 48-62, to Southeastern last Tuesday night.

It looked as if an upset was in the making, as the Rebels jumped on top 9-4 against the number two seeded Suns midway through the first quarter. The momentum of the game started to shift the way of the home team on the scoreboard, as Southeastern went on a 6-1 run to tie the game at 10 with 2:00 left to play. With South Fulton trailing 12-10, senior Danny Vance nailed a 3-pointer from the wing to put his team back in front at the 1:45 mark in the period. After a turnover by the Suns with 30 seconds left, Chase Bair found Zeb Meehan in the corner for a baseline jumper with 20 ticks on the clock to give the Rebels a 15-12 advantage heading into the second quarter.

South Fulton’s shooting in the next eight minutes of play took a turn for the worse, as Coach Shawgo’s squad went two for 12 from the field. Southeastern on the other hand, lit up the scoreboard for 14 points, most coming off of offensive putbacks. The Suns 14-5 spurt in the quarter resulted in a 26-20 lead at the half, with the Rebels still in the hunt to steal a victory.

South Fulton’s Achilles heel all year long was consistent play, and the second half was proof of that as the Rebels gave up 20 points in the third, and another 16 in the final period. One bright spot in this Regional match up was the play of senior Dylan Westlake who came off the bench to score six of his team’s 16 points in the fourth quarter. Southeastern’s 14-point win moves them into the semifinals where they will take on Havana.

Bair led the Rebels in scoring with 15 points including two 3-pointers. Vance finished with 14 points including two shots from beyond the arc. Meehan, the third player in double figures, supplied 11 points. Westlake added 6 points, all coming in the fourth quarter. Dakoda Vaughn scored 2 points in the loss. South Fulton shot six for 10 from the foul line, while recording six 3-pointers in the game.

Advancing in the Country Insurance 3-point Showdown was South Fulton’s Zeb Meehan and Sam Webb.

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7th-Grade Volleyball

Lady Rebels Take First Place in County Tournament

Photo by Brenda Crouse

CUBA — South Fulton seventh-grade volleyball squad brought home county hardware last week as they defeated Cuba in the Championship game on Wednesday night. The Lady Rebels advanced to the title game with a win over Farmington in two games. “The girls played really tough in their last two matches tonight. Our play at the net was impressive, and we passed the ball well,” Coach Dan Morhardt said following the first-place finish. South Fulton’s record following the county matches stands at 15-3 on the year.

The eighth-grade Lady Rebels placed third in their county tourney with a win over Canton, and evened their mark at 9-9 on the season. “This is a great group of players that always give 100 percent. They always seem to bounce back no matter what the odds are,” Morhardt commented about his eighth-grade team.

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Astoria Traveling Basketball Teams

Astoria Traveling Basketball Teams Compete in Illini Bluffs Tournament

Pictured are Astoria second- and third-grade traveling basketball team after competing in the Illini Bluffs Tournament, from left: Coach Austin Cameron, Chad Cameron, Tyler Shutter, Kidd Baker, Dreyton Kleinlein, Braxton France, Craig Danner. Not pictured, Quinton Pilger, Coach Steve Shutter.

Pictured are Astoria third- and fourth-grade traveling basketball team after competing in the Illini Bluffs Tournament. Front row: Tyler Shutter, Chad Cameron. Back row: Coach Austin Cameron, Braeton Kimbro, Andres Hernandez, Quilliam Moody, Briar Gorsuch, Coach Steve Cameron. Not pictured, Quinton Pilger, Coach Steve Shutter.

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