Sports

Lady Raiders coach Bill Bradley instructs his players during a timeout against Shiloh. Habersham’s girls can virtually lock up a playoff spot with a sweep in the final week of the regular season. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Lady Raiders coach Bill Bradley instructs his players during a timeout against Shiloh. Habersham’s girls can virtually lock up a playoff spot with a sweep in the final week of the regular season. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Crunch time for Raider hoops

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Burn the film and move on. Habersham Central’s girls basketball team ran into a buzzsaw Friday night, falling to region-leading North Forsyth 71-29 in a shocking blowout. The Lady Raiders (15-7, 7-3 Region 8-6A) defeated their counterpart Lady Raiders 55-45 the first time they met in Mt.
Tallulah Falls sophomore Madison Dampier won the state title in the 100 butterfly. TFS ATHLETICS/Submitted

Tallulah Falls sophomore Madison Dampier won the state title in the 100 butterfly. TFS ATHLETICS/Submitted

Dampier brings home state title

News Staff
Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Tallulah Falls’ Madison Dampier almost missed her race Saturday at the state championships. But she was ready when it was time to jump in, and she powered her way to a state championship in the 100 butterfly in 56.60 seconds.
Habersham Central's Kyia Barrett fires a 3-pointer against Shiloh earlier this season. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central's Kyia Barrett fires a 3-pointer against Shiloh earlier this season. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Raider basketball teams face Lanier in huge regional battle

News Staff
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
   Habersham Central's boys and girls basketball teams hosted Lanier Tuesday night after press time in what were key games in their seasons as the final week of the regular season continues.    The Lady Raiders bounced back with a big win, 53-24, to virtually wrap up a No.
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LIGHTBOURNE

Lightbourne drops 40 in Lady Indians’ win

News Staff
Friday, February 3, 2023
Denika Lightbourne is doing absolutely everything she can to help Tallulah Falls’ girls basketball team win ball games. Her latest impressive outing included a school-record tying 40-point game in a 64-39 win at Commerce on Tuesday.
Habersham Central’s new field at Raider Park in Demorest hosted its first game Tuesday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central’s new field at Raider Park in Demorest hosted its first game Tuesday night. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Raider baseball field delivers on the dream

Matthew Osborne
Friday, February 3, 2023
Is this Heaven? No, it’s Demorest, but it has a nice ballfield. Habersham Central’s baseball team got its first chance to compete on its new turf field Tuesday night, as the Raiders christened the surface with a dominant 17-0 mercy rule win over Stephens County.
Habersham Central’s Paisley Cathey looks to power through a Johnson defender and the rain on the way to the goal Tuesday night. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Habersham Central’s Paisley Cathey looks to power through a Johnson defender and the rain on the way to the goal Tuesday night. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Lady Raiders strike early, shut out Johnson

Matthew Osborne
Friday, February 3, 2023
It took just 12 seconds for Habersham Central’s girls soccer team to establish its authority in the season opener Tuesday. But for good measure, they tacked on another goal in the first minute just to be sure.
Habersham Central’s Cole Gary floats in the air to get a shot off Friday night against the Gainesville Red Elephants. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Habersham Central’s Cole Gary floats in the air to get a shot off Friday night against the Gainesville Red Elephants. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Boys shut down Elephants this time

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Habersham Central’s boys basketball thought Groundhog Day had come early Friday in Gainesville, as it looked for a while like they might drop another close region game. But after Jalen Davis nailed back-to-back 3s in the third quarter, the momentum started to shift. Then JoJo McCurry went to work.
Habersham Central’s Gabby Santiago (left) defends a Gainesville’s Kedra Young during Friday night’s game. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Habersham Central’s Gabby Santiago (left) defends a Gainesville’s Kedra Young during Friday night’s game. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

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Lady Raiders take control early, hold on for win

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
It ended with a missed shot and a sigh of relief, as the partisan crowd went silent all at once. Habersham Central’s girls battled through 20 turnovers and a hostile crowd for a cornerstone 48-46 road win over the Gainesville Lady Red Elephants on Friday night.
Habersham Central’s Sarah Clark has a chance to be the most prolific scorer in school history. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central’s Sarah Clark has a chance to be the most prolific scorer in school history. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Seeking perfection - Lady Raiders gunning for unprecedented heights

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Habersham Central girls soccer coach Jeff LaBarbera has been waiting for this since the moment last season ended, knowing his team is in a golden age. This season, the goals are bigger than ever.
Habersham Central’s varsity men’s team plays a chaotic game of three-team soccer to get warmed up. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Habersham Central’s varsity men’s team plays a chaotic game of three-team soccer to get warmed up. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Raider boys look for bounce-back year

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Habersham’s boys soccer program is used to being a contender during coach Ric Wallace’s two decades at the helm. After a down year, the Raiders are ready to get back to prominence. Habersham’s boys have a lot of experienced players back looking to improve on last year’s 5-11-1 campaign.