Sports

Habersham Central’s Matt Roberts looks for blockers during a 2006 game.

Habersham Central’s Matt Roberts looks for blockers during a 2006 game.

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Former two-way star Roberts liked hitting people

Matthew Osborne
Friday, April 29, 2022
Matt Roberts did not like running to daylight. He was usually looking for someone to run over. Roberts, who will join four of his younger teammates in this year’s Habersham Central Ring of Honor, played running back and linebacker for the Raiders from 2003-06.
Tallulah Falls’ Macy Murdock took home first-place finishes in 100- and 300-meter hurdles on April 21. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

Tallulah Falls’ Macy Murdock took home first-place finishes in 100- and 300-meter hurdles on April 21. AUSTIN POFFENBERGER/Special

TFS teack team prepares for area meet

News Staff
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Tallulah Falls School’s track and field team used the Athens Academy meet to prepare for next week’s Area 6 Championship. Though low key, the meet was certainly competitive and provided opportunities for various records, and was the final meet for some of the team.
Habersham Central’s Cody Thomas drives the ball during a recent home game. CODY ROGERS/Special

Habersham Central’s Cody Thomas drives the ball during a recent home game. CODY ROGERS/Special

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Raiders battle back, finish with a win

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Trailing by four runs in the final game of a rough season, the Raider baseball team refused to go home quietly. Habersham Central scored seven runs in the final inning Friday in game 2 of a doubleheader to top Lanier 10-7 to close out the season and avoid a sweep.
Habersham Central soccer stars Sarah Clark (left) and Anna LaBarbera were named first-team all-region. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Habersham Central soccer stars Sarah Clark (left) and Anna LaBarbera were named first-team all-region. MATTHEW OSBORNE/Staff

Five Lady Raiders earn all-region honors

News Staff
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Fresh off the conclusion of their historic 2022 season, five members of the Habersham Central girls soccer team were given all-region honors.
Members of Tallulah Falls’ rifle team competing at the state championships included (front row, from left) Ethan Simmons, Coach Katie Keister, Chloe Erwin, Kylee Loudermilk and Leah Rogers. Back row are (from left) Coach Kerry Stamey, Joseph McGahee, Andrew Erwin, Marc Crotta, Jue Wang and Coach Tim Stamey. BRIAN CARTER/Submitted

Members of Tallulah Falls’ rifle team competing at the state championships included (front row, from left) Ethan Simmons, Coach Katie Keister, Chloe Erwin, Kylee Loudermilk and Leah Rogers. Back row are (from left) Coach Kerry Stamey, Joseph McGahee, Andrew Erwin, Marc Crotta, Jue Wang and Coach Tim Stamey. BRIAN CARTER/Submitted

TFS rifle team takes 9th in state

News Staff
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
A young and ambitious Tallulah Falls Precision Rifle team traveled to Statesboro to compete at Georgia Southern University in the GHSA State Championships. TFS entered as one of only two teams in Class 1A Private that qualified for the event, as a grand total of 17 teams were represented.
Habersham Central’s Gabe Irby started every game of his varsity career for four years. FILE

Habersham Central’s Gabe Irby started every game of his varsity career for four years. FILE

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Irby helped build foundation of his Raider teams

Matthew Osborne
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Gabe Irby moved around a lot as a child, as his father was called to many different churches as a pastor. But he found a home in Habersham County starting in seventh grade, and by the time summer football practice rolled around, he was not your average eighth grader.
Azzi Cervantes slides in safely to score a run in the first inning against Lanier. CODY ROGERS/Staff

Azzi Cervantes slides in safely to score a run in the first inning against Lanier. CODY ROGERS/Staff

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Lanier bats too much for Diamond Raiders

Cody Rogers
Friday, April 22, 2022
The Habersham Central baseball team lost their last home game of the regular season with the 12-2 defeat at the hands of the region rival Lanier Longhorns.
Senior and No. 1 singles player Ray Carr connects with a ball during his match in the first round of the state playoffs. CODY ROGERS/Staff

Senior and No. 1 singles player Ray Carr connects with a ball during his match in the first round of the state playoffs. CODY ROGERS/Staff

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Habersham Central tennis season ends in first-round state matches

Cody Rogers
Friday, April 22, 2022
Both the boys and girls drew short ends of a couple sticks in their first round matchups in the state tournament this week. Facing off with Kell High School, the boys tennis team got swept in their first-round matchup.
Head coach Shawn Blackburn, Madison LaPrade, Ava Caudell, Addie Maney, Makenna Eller and assistant coach Joni Blackburn pose with their area runner-up trophy. JONI BLACKBURN/Submitted

Head coach Shawn Blackburn, Madison LaPrade, Ava Caudell, Addie Maney, Makenna Eller and assistant coach Joni Blackburn pose with their area runner-up trophy. JONI BLACKBURN/Submitted

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‘This ain’t no hobby’

Cody Rogers
Friday, April 22, 2022
After winning last year’s tournament and having the best finish their program has ever had, the Lady Raiders golf team followed that up this season with another strong performance despite graduating five seniors. “We reloaded this year with some young guns,” Girls Head Coach Shawn Blackburn said.