Salem boys secure spot in state tourney
The Salem boys basketball team has now spent the last three Februarys making history. Dedrick Turner scored 19 points and Demyon Greenwood added 18 as Salem defeated Winder-Barrow, 64-57 in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AAAAA tournament at Apalachee High School. The win secures a spot in the
Day one approaching for Austin
TAMPA -- Tyler Austin's baseball life is about to get a whole lot more interesting.. Austin will begin his first spring training as a professional when the New York Yankees began full camp Feb. 17.
COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Sunderhaus injured, misses first game
SEATTLE -- Deshaun Sunderhaus' promising 2012-13 season hit a bit of a snag recently. Sunderhaus, a redshirt freshman from Rockdale now at Seattle University, turned his ankle early in the Redhawks' win over San Jose State on Jan. 31 after playing just four minutes and missing his only field goal
Heritage boys drop 10th straight
FLOWERY BRANCH -- It was another disheartening loss for the Heritage boys basketball team Tuesday in Hall County.. Nick Wayne scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter, and Jaleel Bailey hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with just more than a minute to play as Flowery Branch
Falcons stay unbeaten, roll past Heritage
FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Flowery Branch girls basketball team had a 10-game winning streak snapped last weekend when it lost to county rival East Hall. Playing a region opponent Tuesday, the Falcons got back to what they do best.. Tavia Sykes and freshman Breanna Locke scored 13 points each
51 local wrestlers headed to sectionals
In its first postseason tournament in its brand-new gymnasium Saturday, the Rockdale wrestling team made plenty of history on the mats as well.. Led by six individual champions, Rockdale qualified a wrestler in all 14 weight classes, winning the Area 2-AAAAAA championship, 247.5 to 185.5 over second-place
Rockdale wins area wrestling title
CONYERS -- The Rockdale wrestling team hosted the first postseason tournament in its brand-new gymnasium Saturday, so it's only fitting the Bulldogs made some history on the mats as well.
Salem hoops sweeps doubleheader from Heritage
CONYERS -- Michael Johnson might not often be the first option offensively for the Salem basketball team. But on Friday Johnson scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half and Salem held off a late rally to knock off Heritage.
Roddenberry, Thompson stay atop national ranks
Two former local basketball standouts continue to find their names atop national collegiate leader boards.
Heritage boys fall to Winder
CONYERS -- Winder-Barrow and Heritage were about even through three quarters in Tuesday's basketball game in Conyers. In the final period, the visitors from Barrow County had just enough to pull off the road win.
Heritage girls cruise past Winder
CONYERS -- Early in Tuesday's game against Winder-Barrow, Aujana Dawkins left with an apparent leg injury. And though Dawkins returned and didn't look at full strength the rest of the way, it was plenty good enough for Heritage.
Salem hoops teams go 4-0 for weekend
CONYERS -- It was a perfect weekend for the basketball teams at Salem High School as the Seminoles swept a pair of doubleheaders Friday and Saturday.. In Region 8-AAAAA play Friday against Clarke Central, the girls won 63-51 and the boys prevailed 76-63 in the nightcap.. The girls never
Heritage outlasts Rockdale for fourth consecutive county swim title
CONYERS -- Heritage and Rockdale got together in the pool Saturday at the Rockdale County Swim Championships, and as is becoming the norm with the county rivals, it was another close finish.
Rockdale boys, girls sweep season series from Druid Hills
CONYERS -- LaRonte Parks was picking up points in each of the four quarters Friday in Conyers, so once his teammates started to score themselves it was tough to beat the Rockdale boys basketball team.
PREP NOTEBOOK: Heritage grad Austin invited to Yankees camp
Tyler Austin has been invited to his first spring training at the professional level. The former Heritage standout told MiLB.com he will be invited to the New York Yankees' spring camp next month in Tampa, Fla.. Austin was a 13th-round selection (415th overall) in the 2010 First-Year Player
Rockdale boys fall to Lovejoy
CONYERS -- After a hot start in Region 2-AAAAAA play, the Rockdale boys basketball team is finding that life in its new league can at times be difficult.. Deangelo Anthony had 21 points and four assists and Mike Harden added 15 points as Lovejoy defeated Rockdale 74-59 on Tuesday
Rockdale girls cruise past Lovejoy
CONYERS -- The Rockdale girls basketball team seems to be well over its weekend loss to Brookwood. Breanna Richardson scored 25 points and Brianna Patton added 15 as the Bulldogs rolled to a 63-26 victory over Lovejoy in Region 2-AAAAAA play.. Rockdale, which lost to Brookwood in non-region
Salem hoop teams split against Loganville
LOGANVILLE -- Taylor King was the hero Friday in Walton County. The junior snapped a 51-51 tie against Loganville with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3.7 seconds left as the Salem girls picked up a 54-51 victory in Region 8-AAAAA play.. The Seminoles, who got 22 points from
COLLEGE NOTES: Former Newton trio making college headlines
A trio of former area basketball players seems to have adjusted quite well to the college game.. Newton graduates Stephen Croone (Furman), Jamon Hawkins (Georgia Southwestern State) and Shane Henry (Georgia Perimeter College) all have made contributions to their respective teams.
Ferrell leads Bulldogs over Newton
CONYERS -- It'd be hard to convince anyone watching the Rockdale boys basketball team for the first time that Connor Ferrell is just a sophomore. Newton was the latest to find out just how far beyond his years Ferrell performs.. The guard scored 21 points to lead four players with
Price leads Rams past Rockdale
CONYERS -- Whatever Newton needed in Tuesday's region game with Rockdale, Precious Price provided it.. Price had 24 points and eight assists, much of it coming in the second half, as the Rams outlasted Rockdale 62-57.. Newton won its fourth consecutive game and improved to 11-4 and 3-1 in Region
Patriots wrestling finishes fourth at area
ATHENS -- Last weekend, the Heritage wrestling team brought home a trophy at area duals for the first time in three years.. Heavyweight Chris Taylor went 4-0 to lead the Patriots to a fourth-place finish at the Area 8-AAAAA Duals at Clarke Central High School.. Three wrestlers went
Rockdale boys get revenge, blow out rival Heritage
CONYERS -- Perhaps Rockdale isn't quite ready to relinquish the title of top boys basketball team in the county.. Less than a month after losing to Heritage for the first time since 2008, the Bulldogs returned the favor Saturday, getting 20 points each from LaRonte Parks and Darius Mitchell in
COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Salem's Yates shines in college wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Pete Yates keeps thriving on the wrestling mats at the collegiate level. The former Salem star at Virginia Tech finished third at 165 pounds, helping the Hokies finish second at the 50th Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill.. The senior and No. 2 seed at his
Heritage girls slip by Salem
CONYERS -- Heritage had just enough to hold off its rival Tuesday in Conyers.. Aujana Dawkins had 10 points, 17 rebounds and six assists, including a key putback late, and the Patriots defeated Salem 41-39 in Region 8-AAAAA play.. Heritage, under first-year coach Lauren Chambers, improved to 4-5
Rockdale boys come back to beat Druid Hills
ATLANTA -- Late in the third quarter of its Tuesday game at Druid Hills, the Rockdale boys basketball team looked headed for its third consecutive defeat. But the final nine minutes of the game belonged to the visitors from Conyers.. LaRonte Parks scored nine points and C.J. Wilson had five
Salem hoops teams split in Athens
ATHENS -- Terry Salter had a game-winning layup in Salem's 59-58 overtime win against Clarke Central on Tuesday.
Big 2nd half helps Rockdale girls roll
Breanna Richardson had 18 points, Bianca Riley came off the bench to add 14 points and five assists, while the Bulldogs' defense forced 41 turnovers in a 63-39 victory over Druid Hills.
Rockdale wrestling finishes third at South Metro
The Bulldogs had three individual champions and seven overall placers in finishing third at the South Metro Tournament at Mt. Zion-Jonesboro High School.
Camp named first-team all-state
CONYERS -- The statewide recognition continues for the recent crop of Heritage softball players. Junior Kierra Camp was recently named a first-team all-state member in Class AAAAA, completing a phenomenal season for the pitcher/third baseman. This follows standout Callie Alford --now a sophomore at Georgia State --
Luella stuns Rockdale with late bucket
CONYERS -- The Luella boys basketball team trailed for the first 31 minutes and 51 seconds of Tuesday's game at Rockdale. But for the visitors from Henry County, the final nine seconds was all that mattered.. Nyrryk Evans' running basket gave Luella its only lead of the game with just
Rockdale girls take win over Luella
CONYERS -- Breanna Richardson and Brianna Patton didn't provide much in the first half of Tuesday's game with Luella. Unfortunately for the visiting Lions, the second half was a different story. Richardson and Patton combined for 24 second-half points after a total of just six in the opening half
Seminoles, Bulldogs sweep weekend basketball games
CONYERS -- The Salem basketball teams swept two games from Winder-Barrow Friday. The girls had no trouble in the opener, winning 49-21 behind Shay Tarver's 14 points to move to 2-3 and 1-1 in Region 8-AAAAA. The boys trailed by four in the fourth quarter, but thanks to
Seminoles open region play with comfortable win
FLOWERY BRANCH -- The Salem boys basketball team is considered one of the favorites in Region 8-AAAAA. Tuesday in Hall County, the Seminoles got their promising league campaign off to a good start.. Dedrick Turner scored 23 points, including 12 during a decisive third quarter, and Salem rolled to
Seminoles drop region opener
FLOWERY BRANCH -- Tavia Sykes and Marissa Ivey were too much for the Salem girls basketball team. Sykes had 20 points and 10 rebounds and Ivey added 16 points, including four three-pointers, as Flowery Branch won the Region 8-AAAAA opener for both schools 63-52.. It was also the
COLLEGE NOTEBOOK: Thompson, Sunderhaus standing out at next level
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Bernard Thompson bounced back from two sub-par games with the kind of performance the former area standout has become accustomed to. Thompson, a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast, scored 20 points on 9-of-16 shooting in a loss to St. Johns last weekend, capping
Roddenberry continues to shine for Harding
Searcy, Ark. -- Zach Roddenberry has picked up right where he left off a season ago. The former Salem stand out and senior at Harding University (Searcy, Ark.) was the top shooter in Division II as a junior (157 of 224, 70 percent from the field) and so far 2012
Eagles split first two in Clayton County
MORROW -- So far, the Morrow Thanksgiving Tournament has been about two versions of the Eastside girls basketball team.
Rams stay unbeaten, win tournament in Danielsville
DANIELSVILLE -- The Newton boys basketball team arrived in Danielsville last weekend having not yet played a regular season game. Tuesday evening, the Rams departed as tournament champions.Rodarius Mitchell scored 14 points and Rashard Cabane added 12 as both made the all-tournament team in helping Newton defeat Hart County.
Seminoles open season with win
CONYERS -- Several local basketball teams got their 2012-13 seasons under way last weekend. The Salem boys, looking to set a school record by reaching the state playoffs in three consecutive seasons, nipped Meadowcreek 79-77 on a lay up by Ahmad Mitchell with two seconds left.. The Seminoles trailed 75-68
Patriots open playoffs at Allatoona
CONYERS -- Playoff appearances are starting to become a regular occurrence for the Heritage football team. After not appearing in the state tournament for five consecutive years, the Patriots will play a first-round game for the third consecutive season (a school record since the program began in 1976) when
Bulldogs hoping for first round upset
CONYERS -- The record may not look pretty, but the Rockdale football team is playing in the postseason.. After defeating Druid Hills 18-14 last weekend, the 3-7 Bulldogs will travel Friday to Region 3-AAAAAA champion Langston Hughes for a first-round game.. The journey to Fairburn wasn't an easy
Rockdale cross country finishes in top 15
CARROLLTON -- The Rockdale boy's cross country team completed one of the best seasons in the program's history with a top-15 showing at last weekend's Class AAAAAA state meet.. The Bulldogs, led by 29th-place finisher Patrick Massie (17:20.96), placed 15th as a team. Newton, which was paced by
Steele leads Bulldogs into state playoffs
CONYERS -- If the players and coaches on the Druid Hills football team have any lingering nightmares about Friday's game against Rockdale, Targee Steele figures to play a prominent role.
Boggus earns another academic honor
CLINTON, S.C. -- Emily Boggus is making headlines on the field and in the classroom.
Plenty of Patriots, Seminoles on all-Region 8-AAAAA softball teams
CONYERS -- Region 8-AAAAA handed out its softball awards recently, and two local schools were well-represented.
Patriots lock up No. 3 seed, shut out Apalachee
WINDER -- The Heritage football team knows exactly what it will be doing when the Class AAAAA state playoffs begin in two weeks: Traveling to Paulding County.
Harlem Legends headed to Conyers
CONYERS -- The Michael Douglas Youth Foundation is providing a great opportunity for local basketball fans. Douglas, one of the legendary members of the Harlem Globetrotters, is bringing his team of Globetrotter legends to Rockdale County for a special event.. Douglas' Harlem Legends team will play a team of Rockdale
Seminoles try for a win in home finale
CONYERS -- It hasn't been an easy 2012 season for the Salem football team. But despite a 2-6 overall record and a 1-5 mark in Region 8-AAAAA heading into tonight's game with Cedar Shoals, Seminoles coach John Starr said his group hasn't given up.
Patriots close reagular season at Apalachee
CONYERS -- Ryan Sutton had been the starter at quarterback for the Heritage football team for nearly two years before being benched Week 7 against Clarke Central. The junior signal caller returned to the starting lineup last weekend and acted like he had never left.