Sports

Habersham Central’s Canon Wilbanks gets a head start on everyone after catching an out pass Friday against White County. Wilbanks raced all the way to the end zone for a game-tying touchdown and added another in the fourth quarter to seal the game. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Canon Wilbanks gets a head start on everyone after catching an out pass Friday against White County. Wilbanks raced all the way to the end zone for a game-tying touchdown and added another in the fourth quarter to seal the game. TOM ASKEW/Special

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Fired out of a Canon

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Things looked bleak as the ball flew toward an open White County receiver. If the young man pulled the ball in, he had nothing but turf between him and a three-touchdown lead at Raider Stadium on Friday night. But it went off his fingertips, forcing White County to punt.
Slade Dover and Chase Colbert read to Mrs. Lisa Wilson’s third grade class at Clarkesville Elementary. JALEN HULSEY/Submitted

Slade Dover and Chase Colbert read to Mrs. Lisa Wilson’s third grade class at Clarkesville Elementary. JALEN HULSEY/Submitted

‘Reading with the Raiders’ returns

News Staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2022
Habersham Central rebooted its “Reading with the Raiders” program this year after many years dormant.
Hannah Odum and the Lady Raiders faced Shiloh at home Tuesday night. SHANE SCOGGINS/CNI News Service

Hannah Odum and the Lady Raiders faced Shiloh at home Tuesday night. SHANE SCOGGINS/CNI News Service

Lady Raider teams in key regional clashes

News Staff
Tuesday, August 30, 2022
   Habersham Central's softball team was rained out Tuesday and will host Shiloh for a region doubleheader at 4:30 and 6 p.m. Wednesday.    The Lady Raider volleyball team beat Shiloh 25-6, 25-6 and fell to Lanier 25-27, 17-25 in regional matches on the road Tuesday night against Lanier and Shiloh.
Habersham Central’s Sombdee Satiphone breaks up a pass intended for Stephens County’s Corey Ritchie during last Friday’s opening game. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Sombdee Satiphone breaks up a pass intended for Stephens County’s Corey Ritchie during last Friday’s opening game. TOM ASKEW/Special

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White County visits for big home opener

Matthew Osborne
Friday, August 26, 2022
Nothing throws a cold bucket of water on season expectations like an opening night loss. But as Habersham Central head coach Benji Harrison noted after Friday’s lost to Stephens County, half the teams in Georgia are 0-1.
Habersham Central captains (from left) Eddie Jenkins, Blandon Grizzle, Braydon Wright and Canon Wilbanks take the field before Friday’s game. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central captains (from left) Eddie Jenkins, Blandon Grizzle, Braydon Wright and Canon Wilbanks take the field before Friday’s game. TOM ASKEW/Special

Kenny Chesney’s greatest gift to us all

Matthew Osborne
Friday, August 26, 2022
On the endless road to Friday night games over 28 years, sometimes it’s hard to get into that mentality to be ready for another contest under the lights. Yes, reporters have to be ready, too.
Habersham’s Bailey Barfield receives congratulations from fellow senior Joni Littlejohn and head coach Karly Thompson after scoring in the Lady Raiders’ 7-2 road victory over Rabun County on Wednesday. LUKE MOREY/Clayton Tribune

Habersham’s Bailey Barfield receives congratulations from fellow senior Joni Littlejohn and head coach Karly Thompson after scoring in the Lady Raiders’ 7-2 road victory over Rabun County on Wednesday. LUKE MOREY/Clayton Tribune

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Lady Raiders’ bats come alive to top Rabun County

News Staff
Friday, August 26, 2022
Habersham Central’s softball team bounced back from a tough loss Tuesday to down the Rabun County Lady Wildcats, 7-2, on Wednesday afternoon. Defense controlled the first inning, with no runs scored.
Pit Vipers shown (from left) are Frankie Pribyl, Marc Crotta, Brooke Hayes, Matthew Wolfe, Jake Owensby, Teyrk Tilley, Merrick Carnes along with Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling. SUBMITTED

Pit Vipers shown (from left) are Frankie Pribyl, Marc Crotta, Brooke Hayes, Matthew Wolfe, Jake Owensby, Teyrk Tilley, Merrick Carnes along with Kennesaw Mayor Derek Easterling. SUBMITTED

Pit Vipers add another BBQ championship

News Staff
Friday, August 26, 2022
The stage was set in Kennesaw at the Pigs & Peaches BBQ Festival on Aug. 19-20. On the line was the 2022 Georgia BBQ Championship Series (GBC) Team of the Year title.
Callyn Chosewood (16) lands a spike through a West Forsyth defender to tie up the set. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

Callyn Chosewood (16) lands a spike through a West Forsyth defender to tie up the set. ZACH TAYLOR/Special

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Lady Raiders fall in two tough region matches

News Staff
Friday, August 26, 2022
The Habersham Central varsity volleyball team (5-4, 0-2 Region 8-6A) dropped their first two region matches of the season this past Tuesday, falling to North Forsyth in two sets, while taking the Jackson County Lady Panthers to three but ultimately losing 2-1.
Habersham Central’s Carter Barrett upends Stephens County’s T.J. Everett during Friday night’s game in Toccoa. TOM ASKEW/Special

Habersham Central’s Carter Barrett upends Stephens County’s T.J. Everett during Friday night’s game in Toccoa. TOM ASKEW/Special

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That old familiar song

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Raiders coach Benji Harrison spent an unusually long time talking to his team after Friday’s season-opening 14-3 loss to Stephens County.
Miranda Chapa will be among the returning leaders for Tallulah Falls’ cross country team. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Miranda Chapa will be among the returning leaders for Tallulah Falls’ cross country team. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

TFS cross country reloads after historic era ends

News Staff
Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Tallulah Falls School’s cross country program turns the page from the Evan Prince era. Now at the U.S. Naval Academy, Prince was a two-time region champion, and holds the TFS record for best time in cross country meet.