There are basketball games, and then they are classics, games that will be embedded in the memories of players, coaches and fans for a lifetime.

Local basketball teams started the second half of the season last weekend, playing numerous games.

The Fayette County boys (10-6, 6-1 region) and girls (11-4, 6-1 region) came out victorious against Region 2-AAAA rival Banneker in their first games back since the holiday break.

McIntosh took first place in the Mark Toomey Invitational in Savannah. They had five first place finishers in the tournament. Wrestlers who placed in the top six of their respective weight classes for the Chiefs were:

Sandy Creek boys play Cass.

1st Quarter - Boys 39mb

2nd Quarter - Boys 38mb

McIntosh boys and girls teams play Woodward.

1st Quarter - Boys 42mb

2nd Quarter - Boys 48mb

Sandy Creek’s boys (7-6, 3-0 region) and girls (9-3, 2-1 region) were active over the break. The Patriots won two games, 73-54 over Mary Persons and 67-61 over Jones County in overtime, and lost three, 104-82 to Central Macon, 79-50 to Jonesboro and 57-39 to Tift County.

Both the Starr’s Mill and Our Lady of Mercy boys and girls basketball teams wanted nothing more Friday than to start off the new year with victories in their first games since the holiday break.

The McIntosh Lady Chiefs were tied with Woodward Academy 6-6 after the first quarter and 18-18 at the half, but stifling defense led to a 47-28 win for the Lady War Eagles.

Each December, Reality Climbing in Tyrone hosts a ‘Friendly Competition’ for members and friends. This year on Dec. 8, local climbers enjoyed a day of top roping, bouldering and speed climbing followed by a pizza party and prizes awarded for the top six finishers at Reality Climbing’s third annual event. Some 30 climbers competed in top rope and bouldering categories divided by age group and gender and a male / female ‘winner takes all’ speed climbing event.

The holiday break recently concluded for all the local basketball teams, some of which came away with confidence-boosting victories.

Basketball teams throughout the state have their eyes on the prize — winning a state title.

But first each team has to survive the second half of the season in the new year.

Fayette boys and girls teams play Westlake.

1st Quarter - Boys 42mb

2nd Quarter - Boys 48mb

The McIntosh Wrestlers hosted two state-ranked wrestling teams on Friday in a Quad meet and finished the night with one win and two losses. In their opening match the Chiefs beat Sandy Creek 53-24 and then suffered losses to top 10-ranked Whitewater 43-27 and then to the No. 1-ranked team in the state, Union Grove, 47-27.

School was out for the holiday season, but many local basketball teams were in action over Christmas break.

The Starr’s Mill Panthers (3-7, 3-4 region) lost on the road, 61-53 to Henry County Saturday. They were scheduled to play in the Woodland Henry-Henry County Christmas Tournament yesterday.

The Frostbite 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run is being held January 12 at St. Paul Lutheran School in Peachtree City.

The Frostbite is part of Peachtree City's Rotary Elementary School Grand Prix series of races. Out of concern for the growing problem of obesity, these races were organized to promote family and community fitness in a fun, supportive atmosphere.

It was a memorable year in football within the county, one in which a few players recently garnered all-state recognition.

A local Fayette team, the Concorde Fire South Under-17 Boys Black Team, went to the Columbus Red Star Challenge this weekend, in Columbus, Georgia. They finished in first place after they defeated the Columbus Red Stars 1-0, tied the Douglas County Force 0-0, defeated the Gwinnett Y Tornados 3-1, and won the Championship game against the Forsyth Fusion 3-1. This team just formed this fall and played in the Classic II Select Division in Georgia State Youth Soccer.

Here are the final season stats for local players playing in college:

Fayette County:
Grant Jones, tight end, West Georgia: two catches, 28 yards.

With over 60 sponsors, 174 shooters and more than 25 volunteers, The Joseph Sams School Sporting Clay Tournament hosts, Wayne Bylsma, Allen Harp, and Brent Scarbrough, gathered in Gay, Ga. on Oct.12 for a morning of shooting sporting clays for a cause. The shoot lasted about four hours and raised more than $75,000 for The Joseph Sams School.

The Starr’s Mill and Whitewater boys and girls basketball teams have struggled this season.

All four were looking for a confidence-boosting win Friday at the Panther Pit in Fayetteville.

Sandy Creek's boys and girls teams open their Region 6-AAA schedule with victories over Cartersville. Game played 12/11/07

All the local basketball teams in the area are going to be busy over the holiday season; some will be taking part in tournaments, while others will be playing key region games.

The McIntosh High School swim team won first overall and first in the men’s and women’s competition in a quad meet against three out-of-county schools at Lundquist Natatorium in Clayton County Wednesday. Their victory followed a third-place team finish at the Clayton County December Invitational (men second, women sixth).

It was mostly a productive weekend for the local basketball teams, which picked up some key wins in their respective regions.

The Fayette County High School wrestling team finished second in the Rome Duals this past weekend. The team defeated Sequoyah 48-28, Creekview 53-27, Rome 46-28, Calhoun 62-18.

The Lightning U12 Girls Academy soccer team captured a tournament title, winning, 2-1 over the CESA 12 Premier soccer team in Greenville, South Carolina recently in the South Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) Fall Challenge tournament. In the back row, from left, are Coach Don Holder, Abbey Reddig, Taylor Lott, Danielle Garcia, Taylor Dowse, Lauren Ogg, Delaney Gallaty, and Coach Blaine Burnett. In the front row are Caylin Carter, Kenzie Winters, Molly Moroney, and Sydney Shultis. Photo/Special.

Fayette County’s second team of Girls on the Run (GOTR) have just completed their 12 week program. The 12-week character building program of experiential learning through running teaches very specific and well-defined social and personal skills. The Fayette County’s Timberlake team joined other metro Atlanta Girls on the Run teams in a non-competitive 5K race event, Kids Unplugged on Sunday, Nov. 18.