Sports

Nelson Payne busts out a solo at the ceremony naming the Habersham Central band room after him in 2021. Payne is this year’s special honoree for the 2023 Habersham Central Football Ring of Honor. FILE

Nelson Payne busts out a solo at the ceremony naming the Habersham Central band room after him in 2021. Payne is this year’s special honoree for the 2023 Habersham Central Football Ring of Honor. FILE

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Payne brought joy to many with Band of Blue

Lang Storey
Friday, April 7, 2023
The most tangible piece of Nelson Payne’s everlasting legacy on Habersham Central can be experienced by the thousands of students who’ve sharpened their craft in the Nelson Payne Band Room.
Raiders midfielder Addi Banks (10) fights to keep possession of the ball against Gainesville. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Raiders midfielder Addi Banks (10) fights to keep possession of the ball against Gainesville. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Lady Raiders take 2nd, draw tough playoff foe

Lang Storey
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Habersham Central’s girls soccer team entered last Thursday’s match at North Forsyth fully aware that it would take a miracle to win the region title. Still, the Lady Raiders soccer squad (15-2, 11-1 Region 8-6A) made sure to do its part on the road – winning its final regular season tilt 4-1.
Habersham Central’s Maverick Chitwood fires to the plate against Jackson County earlier this saeson. Chitwood earned his first varsity win against Lanier on Friday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central’s Maverick Chitwood fires to the plate against Jackson County earlier this saeson. Chitwood earned his first varsity win against Lanier on Friday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Diamond Raiders earn big win over Lanier

Lang Storey
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
The Diamond Raiders’ four game skid came to a screeching halt in Sugar Hill Friday night as Habersham Central downed Lanier 6-4. The Raiders (12-11, 6-6 Region 8-6A) have struggled early in games as of late, giving up multiple first-inning runs in three straight games.
Habersham Central’s Julia Johnson (right) crosses the last row of hurdles in heat two of the Battle of the Blue Ridge track meet. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central’s Julia Johnson (right) crosses the last row of hurdles in heat two of the Battle of the Blue Ridge track meet. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Raider track team pushing toward postseason meets

News Staff
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
The Habersham Central Track and Field teams competed in the Mt. Yonah Invitational hosted by White County on Friday. The boys team placed second overall, finishing just behind a very talented White County squad. The Lady Raiders placed fourth.
Tallulah Falls’ Jake Hall and the Indians will go into the playoffs next week undefeated. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Jake Hall and the Indians will go into the playoffs next week undefeated. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Indians get tune-up win over No. 9-ranked Mt. Vernon

News Staff
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
A cleverly-scheduled match against non-region foes Mt. Vernon proved a great measuring stick  to see just where the Indians are at this time of the year. The undefeated and top-ranked Indians  came away with a solid 4-1 win at home on Thursday.
Tallulah Falls’ Zaiden Cox busts it down the line during a recent home game. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Zaiden Cox busts it down the line during a recent home game. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Indians sweep season series from BASA

News Staff
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Tallulah Falls’ baseball team completed a three-game series sweep of Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy with a  Friday double header sweep on the road. TFS took game one 11-1 In the opener, Tallulah Falls scored 4 runs in both the sixth and seventh to put the game out of  reach.
Owen Wallace battles a Gainesville player for possession near midfield in the home game Tuesday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Owen Wallace battles a Gainesville player for possession near midfield in the home game Tuesday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Soccer teams stay hot, torch Gainesville

Lang Storey
Friday, March 31, 2023
It was another victory soaked night for Habersham over Gainesville athletics, this time taking place on the pitch. The Lady Raiders (14-2, 10-1 Region 8-6A) leveled the Red Elephants, winning 11-1 in a match ended via mercy rule.

New athletic performance center coming to Cornelia

Lang Storey
Friday, March 31, 2023
For business partners and friends Garrett Kinsey and Michael Luckie, performance means  everything. The two have a passion for providing themselves, those around them and their  community with the means to meet the ever-changing demands of the fitness and training world.
Tallulah Falls’ Rohajae Pinder stands ready to hit during a recent home game. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Rohajae Pinder stands ready to hit during a recent home game. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Indians blank BASA for region win

News Staff
Friday, March 31, 2023
Tallulah Falls’ varsity baseball team scored in every frame on Tuesday at home against Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy, winning 10-0 in a one-hit shutout. Frankey Moree and Rohajae Pinder both had 3-hit games, and Danny Grant added 2 as the TFS offense generated 11 hits.
Raiders shortstop Cooper Shirley slides safely into third after hitting a triple that rolled to the wall at Raider Park against Shiloh on March 13. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Raiders shortstop Cooper Shirley slides safely into third after hitting a triple that rolled to the wall at Raider Park against Shiloh on March 13. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Diamond Raiders hit a slide

Lang Storey
Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Habersham Central baseball met its match in the last two games against the region’s lone unbeaten team in North Forsyth. The Raiders (11-9, 5-4 Region 8-6A) traveled to Cumming on Friday night, falling 8-2 in game 1 of its season series with their counterpart Raiders.