BASKETBALL SOCIALITES

I know that it has been quite a while since I have posted anything. Fret no more. Just to start off right, here is a promo video for the Pelham High School Varsity girls and Junior Varsity boys basketball teams. The Pelham Hornets and Lady Hornets are currently in the Region 1AA tournament and both are gearing up for the Georgia state basketball playoffs. LET'S GO HORNETS!!!

Williams Signs with Longwood University

Hilary Williams made history for the Pelham High School Hornets when she became the first female and second basketball player to sign with a Division I school. Williams, who is known for her dynamic dribbling and passing skills, signed a letter of intent to attend Longwood University, located in Farmville, Virginia. Hilary signed on the become a Lady Lancer and to compete in the Division I Big South Conference, where she will be competing against schools such as, Presbyterian, Coastal Carolina and Winthrop. The Pelham Lady Hornets head coach, Antonia Tookes, is sad to see Hilary go, but is so ecstatic and proud to see Williams move forward to the next level. The city of Pelham and everyone who has come across Hilary wishes her the best as she gears up for Longwood University.

Williams Named All-Star MVP

Pelham High School star senior point guard, Hilary Williams, participated in the Southwest Georgia High School Girls All-Star basketball game. The game, which was held in Albany at the Darton State College Cavalier Arena, consisted of seniors who hailed from the Albany area and from South Georgia. Williams, a dynamic pint guard, who was a member of the South Georgia team, simply stole the show. Hilary brought the capacity crowd to its feet with her skilled dribbling and her electric passes. She was unstoppable once the ball was in her hands. Williams simply let everyone know who is not aware of her basketball talents, what she is capable of. People took notice of the basketball skills Hilary possesses and awarded her with the girls Most Valuable Player award for the all-star game. Congratulations Hilary!

CATCH EVERYTHING!!!

#86 Justin "J.B." Scott-Wesley

Camilla's own and Mitchell County Eagles finest, Justin "J.B." Scott-Wesley posted this picture on his Facebook page with the caption, #catcheverything.  That is exactly what J.B. did this past Saturday when the Georgia Bulldogs took on the Clemson Tigers.  Although the Bulldogs came up short against the Tigers, 38-35, J.B. did what he was supposed to do and caught 4 passes for 55 yards on the night.  Lookout for J.B. as he and the rest of the Georgia Bulldogs take on the tough conference of the SEC.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO ALL SPORTS BOUNTY READERS!  I HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR DAY AND CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED TO LIVE IN THIS GREAT COUNTRY!!!

ENJOY THE FIREWORKS!

STATE CHAMPS!!!

After the Mitchell County Lady Eagles won the 4x100 m Region 1A championship, the Lady Eagles turned around and did it again.  Ja'Shara Burns, Antonia Jones, Kayla Lawrence & Akerian "Kiki" Florence blazed to a GHSA Class A Public State Championship with a winning time of 50.36s.  

Just moments later, sprinter, Akerian "Kiki" Florence, won an individual state title winning the GHSA Class A Public State Championship in the 100 meter dash with a winning time of 12.34s.  Kiki became the first female sprinter for Mitchell County to win an individual title and just the second female athlete in school history.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

REGION CHAMPS!!!

The Mitchell County Lady Eagles track team traveled up the road to Albany to compete against the best track & field talent from around Southwest GA in Region 1A.  Having seen the talent that they were up against all season, the Lady Eagles knew they had to bring their best, and that's what they did.  The 4x100 meter relay team beat out rivals Miller County and Terrell County to win the region title.  Lone senior, Ja'Shara Burns captured an individual region title winning the triple jump.

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES!!!

From Left to Right: Antonia Jones, Kayla Lawrence, Akerian "Kiki" Florence & Ja'Shara Burns

Ja'Shara Burns - Region Champ, Triple Jump

STILL FLYING

IN MEMORY OF DIQUAN "DYE" ISOM

The Mitchell County Eagles mourned the loss of a family member.  Diquan Isom, a 2012 graduate of Mitchell County High School, Camilla, GA, passed away on March 29, 2013.  Diquan was a basketball & track star for the Eagles. He helped lead them to an Elite 8 appearance in basketball & State Runner-Up in track & field.  After graduating from Mitchell County, Diquan enlisted into the United States military, where he was stationed at Ft. Lenwood, MO during basic training.  Diquan leaves behind family, friends & a lot of memories.   This Eagle will forever fly in our hearts.     

REST IN PEACE...WE LOVE YOU!!!

1,000 POINTS SCORED

Briunna Freeman

This picture, ladies and gentlemen, says it all.  With less than 2 minutes into the game, Pelham High Lady Hornets superstar, Briunna Freeman scored her 1,000th point in her high school career.  This momentous occasion took place, February 9, 2013, against the Brooks County Lady Trojans of Quitman, GA.  It was just the second basket of the game when Freeman scored & the game was called to a halt to announce that she had just surpassed the 1,000 point marker.  A standing ovation ensued following the announcement.  Freeman went back to playing basketball as if nothing had happened, leading the Lady Hornets to a victory over the Lady Trojans.  There are plenty more points to be scored by Freeman because she has two more years of her high school career left....YES, SHE'S ONLY A SOPHOMORE!!!

LADY HORNETS LOSE IN ROUND 3

LADY HORNETS LOSE IN ROUND 3

BY: CRYSTAL “CRISSY” DANIELS

            “They’re big.  We just couldn't handle their post players.”  Pelham High School Lady Hornets head coach, Antonia Tookes said of the Laney High Lady Wildcats, of Augusta, GA…and big they were.  The post players of Laney stand at the heights of 6’ 3”, 6’ 3” and 6’ 2”, with another big coming off the bench standing 6’ 0”.  Pelham’s tallest player, Timbreanna Hudson, is 6’ 0”. 

            The Lady Hornets season came to an end in the Elite 8, losing to Laney, 59-40.  Pelham put up a fight but Laney’s post players proved to be too much for the Lady Hornets.  Pelham opened up the game with Hilary Williams getting fouled.  She hit both free throws giving the Lady Hornets a 2-0 lead.  That was the only lead Pelham would see all night.  The Lady Wildcats of Laney went on a 7-0 scoring run within the next 2 minutes.  Pelham kept it close in the 1^st quarter and was only down by three to end the 1^st quarter, 14-11.     

            Laney’s dominating post players took over the game.  They went on a 18-8 scoring run in the 2^nd quarter, to bring the 1^st half to an end with a 13 point lead.  32-19 was the score going into halftime.

            The 3^rd quarter opened up with the Lady Hornets driving to the basket and causing the Lady Wildcats to get into foul trouble.  Making their free throws would have kept Pelham in the game, but they missed 18.  Briunna Freeman wowed the cantankerous crowd by skying to get rebounds, blocking shots and sprinting from one end of the court to the other end to make a basket.

            The 4^th quarter went back and forth, with both the Lady Hornets and the Lady Wildcats trading baskets.  Pelham couldn't cut into Laney’s lead.  59-40 was the score with Laney winning moving on toward to the Final Four.  Two of their powerhouse post players finished with 16 points apiece.  Freeman led the Lady Hornets with 20 points, while Hudson put 13.  Williams for Pelham had 4 points and Annie Franklin finished with 3.

            The Lady Hornets finished the season with a winning record of 26-5.  Tookes told her team, “I’m proud of them and to stay positive.  It’s only going to get better for the Lady Hornets.”

LADY HORNETS REACH THE ELITE 8 AGAIN

LADY HORNETS REACH THE ELITE 8 AGAIN

BY: CRYSTAL “CRISSY” DANIELS

They wanted it, and they got it.  A chance to redeem themselves in the Elite 8 as the Pelham High Lady Hornets stung the Lady Buccaneers of McIntosh County Academy, 63-42.  The Lady Hornets came out gunning on both offense and defense.  Timbreanna Hudson swatted away four of McIntosh’s shot attempts and put up six points all within the first six minutes of the 1^st quarter.  Hilary Williams blazed to the rim all night putting six points on the scoreboard for Pelham.  The Lady Hornets ended the 1^st quarter with a 13-6 lead and never looked back.

Pelham came out into the 2^nd quarter with the same mentality as the 1^st quarter.  Williams put up nine more points by driving to the basket and drawing fouls.  She led the Lady Hornets with 15 points going into halftime, helping to put Pelham up over McIntosh County Academy 31-17 at halftime.

The Lady Buccaneers of MCA staged a comeback in the 3^rd quarter.  They forced Pelham to create turnovers and held them to only nine points the entire quarter.  McIntosh County cut into Pelham’s lead to bring the score 40-31. 

Briunna Freeman had had enough.  The little momentum MCA had was switched back to Pelham.  Freeman scored the first 6 points of Pelham’s 8 points and ran away with it.  The Lady Hornets outscored the Lady Buccaneers 23-11 in the 4^th quarter to win round 2 of the GHSA Class AA State Tournament.  Freeman led all Lady Hornets with 23 points, while Williams put 20 points and Hudson scored 15 points, respectively.  Annie Franklin chipped in 5 points on the night.  The Pelham Lady Hornets will travel to Augusta this week to take on the Lady Wildcats of Laney.  Good luck to the Lady Hornets as they continue to push forward towards a state championship.

Dem Atkins Boys

Cousins and former Mitchell County Eagles superstars, Jessie and Modzelle Atkins have made a name for themselves as they have move on to the college ranks.  Jessie Atkins, a wide receiver, has taken his talents to Albany State University, Albany, GA; while younger cousin, Modzelle Atkins, a running back, took his talents to Brevard College, Brevard, NC.  Sophomore, Jessie, wowed the crowd with electric catches and touchdowns.  Meanwhile, Freshman, Modzelle, led the Brevard Tornadoes in rushing yards in a few games and in special team tackles.  Congrats to both Atkins boys for their incredible seasons and a special shout-out to Jessie Atkins for making the SIAC All Conference Team!

Jessie Atkins

Modzelle Atkins

Just to see what Jessie and Modzelle did in high school, here is a compilation video of their 2010 football season. ENJOY!!! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

FROM SPORTS BOUNTY!

TOUCHDOWN ATKINS!!!

Congratulations to Pelham, GA native and former Mitchell County Eagles football star, Modzelle Atkins, who started in his first college game and scored his first college career touchdown.  Modzelle, who attends Brevard College, in Brevard, NC, scored his first touchdown against Wingate University on a 15 yard run.  Atkins finished the game with 53 rushing yards on 8 attempts and 8 receiving yards on 2 catches.  Congratulations Modzelle, we are proud of you here in Southwest GA.  Keep up the good work!!!

TOUCHDOWN ATKINS!!!

BACKYARD BRAWL LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

By: Crystal “Crissy” Daniels

  The 3rd annual Backyard Brawl between county rivals Mitchell County Eagles and the Pelham Hornets was just that, a brawl.  Well, a defensive brawl that is.  The defense for both Mitchell and Pelham were stellar throughout the night, but someone had to win the game and Mitchell did just that with a score of 13-0.
  The condition of the field wasn't the best due to a downpour of rain before the 7:30 p.m. kickoff.  Pelham kicked off to the Eagles to start the game but the Eagles fumbled on the return.  Anthony Hines recovered the ball for the Hornets giving Pelham prime field position on Mitchell’s 22 yard line.  The Hornets were able to get the ball inside the 10 yard line with runs by quarterback Clarence Almond and running backs, Denzel Jackson, Desmond Parker and Brandon Smith, but were pushed back twice due to penalties.
Both teams couldn't produce on the offensive side of the ball because the defense was standing their ground.  The Eagles began to move the ball down the field with runs from Jaquan Williams and Tremel Emmanuel.  Williams ran for a 55 yard rush TD as the buzzer sounded to end the 1st quarter.  The extra point was good, giving Mitchell County a 7-0 lead.
  The Hornets tried to draw the Eagles defense offside on 4th down after going 3 and out.  Mitchell didn't take the bait and the Hornets decided to punt the ball.  The Eagles drove the down with 1st down runs from KJ Pollard, Anfreenee Williams and Emmanuel, putting the Eagles offense in scoring position at the 2 yard line.  Quarterback Troy Chester capped the drive off with a 2 yard TD run.  The extra kick was blocked by a Pelham defender leaving the score 13-0, Mitchell County.
  The offense came to a standstill in the 2nd half as neither team could move the ball.  Pelham managed to get into the red zone twice but could not score due to a personal foul on the offense and an end zone stand by the Eagles defense when the Hornets had the ball on the one yard line.
  Overall the Backyard Brawl was a defensive battle.  The Hornets forced the Eagles to fumble 3 times, while the Eagles forced the Hornets to cough up the ball 4 times.  Mitchell County’s head coach, Larry Cornelius said after the game, “It was an ugly win.  I will take an ugly win over a pretty loss any day of the week.  I’m proud of the boys.  This win told me that they were focused.  They played with a warm heart and cool mind.”
  Both teams will have a home game this Friday, Mitchell against Albany, while Pelham takes on Mitchell County.

GAME NIGHT!!!

BACKYARD BRAWL

Mitchell County Eagles

versus

Pelham Hornets

County rivals Mitchell County Eagles and the Pelham Hornets take to the football field tonight for the 3rd annual Backyard Brawl.  The Eagles have won the previous two Backyard Brawls and the Hornets are looking to change that tonight with renewed strength and vigor.  The game takes place tonight at the Hornet Stadium in Pelham, at 7:30 P.M.  Good luck to both teams!!!

PELHAM NATIVES PARTICIPATE IN ANNUAL FOOTBALL CAMP

       Two Pelham natives participated and coached in the annual Joe Burns and Paul Miranda football camp.  Cousins, Modzelle Atkins and Devontraveous “Tay” Daniels travelled to Thomasville, June 16, to be a part of the camp.  Modzelle, who just recently graduated from Mitchell County High School, is very familiar with the Joe Burns and Paul Miranda camp, due to the fact that he was named Most Valuable Player of the camp in 2010.  Modzelle lent his coaching skills to runningbacks from Thomasville, Thomas County, Bainbridge & Brooks County.  The guys paid close attention and asked very good questions of Modzelle, who will be attending Brevard College, in Brevard, NC, on a football scholarship.

Tay Daniels, 12, participated in the football camp as a player.  He was placed with the elementary and middle school participants.  The younger campers were under the tutelage of Coach Dondell Green, who is a certified personal trainer for COGI Athletics in Thomasville.  All of the campers went through specific football drills according to their position.  Coach Green, being a former runningback at Georgia Southern University, taught the middle school and under group runningback drills as well.  Tay showed that he has skills and hopes he will be able to put those drills to use as he hope to play football as a seventh grader at Pelham City Middle School.

Overall, the camp was a success, both Modzelle as a coach and Tay as a participant, enjoyed the parts they played in the Joe Burns and Paul Miranda camp.

Modzelle Atkins (red shirt), with COGI trainers, Danny Copeland, Dondell Green, & Justin Stephens. Also Joshua Copeland, Joseph Copeland & Dondell Green, Jr.

Devontraveous "Tay" Daniels

Football Signings

On May 4, 2012, three Mitchell County Eagles signed scholarship contracts to play college football, and they are:

Freddy Pate/Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC

Ja'Kyari "Jay" Jenkins/Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC

Modzelle Atkins/Brevard College, Brevard, NC

Happy Signees

2012 Signees from Mitchell County are;
M. Atkins, F. Pate, Grover Stewart/Albany State University,  Albany, GA, J. Jenkins &
Yancey Burns/Newberry College, Newberry, SC

CONGRATULATIONS EAGLES!!!

Football Tip: Heat 'Em Up Drill

COGI Athletic trainer Justin Stephens shows offensive lineman how to come up and push out of a lineman stance.

REGION CHAMPS

The Mitchell County Eagles boys & girls basketball teams put on a show & shocked everyone in Region 1A, Saturday, February 18, 2012; in Pelham, when they won the region title. The Eagles men, dug down deep to win against Stewart County, Randolph-Clay & Calhoun County. The Eagles beat Calhoun County for the Region 1A championship, 69-44. The Lady Eagles beat Quitman County, Randolph-Clay & surprised defending Region 1A champ Pelham for the region title, with a score of 54-48. The Eagles & Lady Eagles are both respectfully the number one seed in the GA state basketball playoffs & will host the first round in Camilla. GOOD LUCK TO THE EAGLES!!!