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2004-2005 high school hoops season gets underway

By MICHAEL BOYLAN
mboylan@TheCitizenNews.com

For anyone who has ever attended either McIntosh or Fayette County High School or been a fan in the stands at a basketball game between the two schools, you know how big tonight’s games are. It doesn’t mater that it is McIntosh’s first game of the season and Fayette County’s second and it doesn’t matter that the result has no bearing on a region record. This is a perpetual grudge match and the games between these two teams seem to be instant classics nearly every season. Numerous games have gone to overtime periods, several have ended with buzzer beater shots and the crowds at these games are always electric.

These two teams, both boys and girls, meet tonight at McIntosh for the last time in the old McIntosh gym at 7 p.m. The rivals will then face off again next Saturday in the Mt. Zion tournament in Jonesboro. The girls will play at 3:15 and the boys will tip-off at 5:30 p.m.

Fayette County’s girls opened the season with a 46-40 win over Stockbridge, while the boys lost 77-60. Kristin Bunch led the team in scoring with 17 points and Richea Harris and Ebony Baitey both played solidly on defense. Jordan Windisch led the boys in scoring with 13 points while Channing Welch added 14 rebounds. Fayette County’s boys and girls will play in the Mt. Zion tournament over the holiday break.

Both Sandy Creek teams got off to a winning start on Tuesday night with win over Luella. The Lady Patriots won 63-27 and the boys team won 64-46. The Lady Patriots had a 24-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, allowing all of the girls on the roster to get some playing time. Morganne Campbell led the team with 18 points. Aaron Caruthers led the boys in scoring with 28 points. The boys will play in the Parkview tournament over the holiday break, while the girls will play in the North Gwinnett tournament.

Whitewater High School also opened their inaugural varsity season with wins. The boys defeated Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy, 51-33. Jay Bright led the team in scoring with 18 points, three assists and three steals, while Stephen Sargent had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. J.T. Martin chipped in nine points and six assists, Ricky Sinkfield had five points and seven rebounds and Jonathon Ashley had six points. Coach Brent Jackson also gave credit to Kevin Lewallen, Vincent Webb, Andy Skiles and Jonah Jaurigue for good defensive play. The Lady Wildcats opened the season with a win as well, defeating Eagle’s Landing Christian 44-36.

Whitewater hosts Haralson County tonight at 7 p.m. and will play at Our Lady of Mercy tomorrow at 6 p.m.

Starr’s Mill’s boys and girls will open their season in Stockbridge tonight at 7 p.m. The Panther varsity boys will play in the Savannah Shoot-Out Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, while the Lady Panthers will be off until a home game against Chapel Hill, Tuesday, Nov. 30.