Varsity Soccer

Girls Soccer – Jefferson came to town Tuesday and after two full time periods and two overtimes it came down to penalty kicks to decide the game.  Jefferson put one more in the net than the Patriots (5-4 PK) thus handing OC their first loss of the season. 

        The first half saw both OC and Jefferson run the ball up and down the field several times while once in a while getting a shot on goal.  At the 30 minute mark Jefferson made a break for the goal but Heather Helmreich broke up the play in the box.  Three minutes later Laura Abney made a pass outside to Alexis Miller who took it to inside the six yard box before Jefferson blocked her attempt to score.

        OC has several scoring attempts with a variety of players; at the 22^nd minutes Abney got the ball just outside OC’s 18 yard box moving it towards Jefferson territory.  Abney then passed to Natalie Doker whose shot on goal was wide.  Abney, on the ensuing goal kick, moved the ball up for another shot on goal that went wide. 

        With six minutes in the half Abney got control of the ball at mid-field and passed it to Alison Miller who dribbled it to just outside Jefferson’s 18 yard box and passed it back to Abney who then scored for OC. 

        Two minutes later Jefferson put their first point on the board and both teams went to halftime tied 1-1.

        The second half started in the rain and seemed to stifle any offense for the first twenty minutes of the half.  However, at the 19 minute point Abney made a shot on goal and then Sarah Chastain was given a yellow card.  Six minutes after that Abney, on a free kick, scored for OC putting the Patriots up by 1.  Abney’s goal was described as “sick”.  If you are less than 25 years-old you know what of sick means.  If not, it means that the goal was the result of an absolutely beautiful soccer shot.

        Jefferson equalized with just a few minutes left in the game setting up the first overtime period.

        Overtime in high school soccer consists of a five minute period after the end of regular play.  If no one scores then they go to a second five minute overtime period, which is what happened with Jefferson and OC.

        In the second OT Abney had three shots on goal two of which went wide and one was blocked. 

        Following the overtime periods the game was settled with penalty kicks. Each team gets five chances to score from the penalty kick spot in the box.  It’s just the kicker and the keeper.  The teams shoot alternatively until there is a clear victor.  If at the end of the first round of five PK’s everything is tied it keeps going until someone wins.  Jefferson didn’t need a second round winning the game on PK’s 5-4.   

        OC plays Friday, March 2^nd at 5:30pm when they travel to Social Circle. 

Boys Soccer – The boy’s game didn’t get started until late due to the girl’s game going into overtime, plus it was raining.  Nevertheless, Oglethorpe played one of their better games of the season despite losing to the Dragons 1-0. 

        The first half of the game was a stalemate between both teams, neither one getting a great advantage over the other; although Jefferson did possess the ball more than OC.  OC’s defense stiffened and stopped numerous Jefferson scoring attempts.  “I was proud of Nick [Sanchez] and Ezra [Underwood] tonight,” said Captain and sweeper Griffin Giles.  “They both played a really good game and stopped several shots on goal.” 

        The second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first except that late in the half Jefferson finally got a ball past OC’s defense and into the goal for the only score of the game.  With less than five minutes remaining OC’s front line became more intense in their effort to equalize with shots by Sean Atkinson, Cody Flores O.T. Padilla and even a shot by stopper Cody Boarders.

        While the OC boys have yet to put a check in the win column it’s just a matter of time before it happens.  OC plays Social Circle away on Friday, March 2^nd at 7:30pm.

Middle School Soccer ­– Just a note, the middle school boy’s soccer team is presently undefeated with a record of 5-0.  They go to George Walton Academy Thursday, March 1^st.  The girls play first at 4:30pm then the boys at 5:30pm. 

Varsity Soccer

Girls Soccer - Friday night’s game showed how we as a team follow our motto, “Start Strong, Finish Stronger.” From the very beginning of the game, the girls knew that they had their hands full. Academy had several girls up top who had tremendous speed on the ball. However, once we were able to identify their strengths, we were able to accommodate and contain AA girls.

We had several things going against us from the very beginning. It was very apparent that the AA coach had done his research, and he had pin pointed our targets that he wanted to shut down. It was difficult for us to get anything moving up top right away, because our targets were marked tight. However, once the girls settled down, created space, and played consistently, we were able to get things moving. Laura Abney scored the first goal of the evening with about 7 minutes to go in the first half with an excellent through ball by Fabiola Rojas. 

The second half was a true testament to how well the girls are able to keep their composure and play the game in every circumstance. The game became very physical during the second half, and once Academy put a point on the board, things were turned up even more. It was a constant back and forth battle between OC and AA that came down to the wire. We were trying several different people in some new spots to see if we could throw off Academy and get them out of their groove. With five minutes remaining in the second half, Brianna Basinger shot from outside the eighteen yard line, which then bounced off an Academy defender to set up a corner kick. Laura Abney hooked in the kick that Katie Pilson was able to drive into the back of the net. The final score of the night was Oglethorpe 2, Academy 1. 

I’m glad that the weather did not keep us from playing Friday, because this was a good heads up for what is to come. As we get into region play this week, things are sure to get intense. As I always tell the girls, in order to get somewhere that you haven’t been before, you need to work like you never have. – Coach Rindone

Boys Soccer - The boys are getting there. We've played teams with a bit more quality players and experience and all you can do is man up and play inspired soccer. They're starting to do that more and more and Friday night was the best they've played yet as a team.

We gave up a quick goal in the first couple minutes but instead of putting our heads down and quitting, we frustrated them time and time again. They didn't expect us to have that kind of fight and we didn't let up.

We had some opportunities where we needed that one last pass but I know the goals will come. Eli Johnson proved himself as a defender Friday which allows us to put the speed and aggressiveness of Cody Flores up top for some goal opportunities. I know our record doesn't show it, but these tougher games are helping us and preparing us for the region schedule this week.

Jefferson will be tough but if we continue to play with the same kind of intensity, the results should come. I have to give our captains a lot of credit for their encouraging example and keeping our team confident in these tough games. I'm really proud of those guys. – Coach Norton

JV Baseball

JV Baseball ­­– It’s never easy to win a ballgame when you spot your opponent 4 runs in the first inning, but OC never gave up and fought back for a 6-4 win over Elbert Co.         

        The game originally was supposed to be an away game for the Patriots but Elbert asked for a change of venue due to excessive wetness of their field from overnight rains.         

        Elbert took a four run lead early due to two errors by Oglethorpe.  This would hold until the bottom of the third inning.  The Patriots managed to load the bases with one out.  Jared Robinson grounded the ball to the Elbert shortstop who went to second for the out.  Elbert’s second baseman then tried to get a double play but threw the ball wide and to the fence at first, which allowed two OC runs to score.         

        Josh Lee, on the mound for OC, had a four batter 4th inning with only one hit a strikeout and good fielding on OC’s part to retire the side.  The bottom of the fourth inning would prove to be OC’s big inning of the game.       

        First up for OC was catcher Cody Ogle who ripped a line drive down the third base line for a double.  Up next was John Tucker who struck out.  After this, however, the Elbert pitcher started having problems.  Dale Overstreet would find first on a walk but not before Ogle would move to third on a pass ball at the plate.  Austin Sims got a walk to load the bases for OC.       

        OC's fifth batter to the plate, Evan Myer, walked which scored OC’s third run of the game.  It continued on this way for the next three batters, OC scoring three more runs before Elbert got a double play from the pitcher to the catcher for the forced out at the plate and then to first base.  By then the Patriots were ahead by two 6-4. 

        The fifth inning was simple for OC because Lee posted a K by all three Elbert batters.  OC, too, couldn’t generate much offense.  Elbert’s pitching faced four OC batters and racked up three K’s, too. 

        It was getting dark and the umpire got with both coaches and said the 6^th inning would be the last.  Once again, Lee got out of the inning three up three down with one pop fly and two more strikeouts.   

        The JV Patriots play again Friday, March 2^nd at 5:00pm when they travel to Cedar Shoals. 

       

Varsity Baseball Follow-up

Varsity Baseball ­­– What happened against Clarke Central was OC got way behind early in the game and never could fight their way all the way back.  But they did manage to pull to within three before the Gladiators got the last out. 

        Coach Bramlett had people in new positions for the game for evaluation purposes.  When region play starts Bramlett needs to know who can play different positions to fill in for injuries and the pitching rotation.  So while no one ever wants to lose a game, a game like the one against Clarke Central is the kind of game you use to make these determinations.   

        Even so, OC did well to score six runs in the last couple of innings.       

        The Patriots travel to Eatonton to take on Putnam Co., on Tuesday, February 28^th, at 6:00pm. 

Varsity Baseball

At Clarke Central – The Patriots played the Gladiators yesterday and came home with a 9-6 loss.  According to the Athens paper Clay Ogle went 2-4 and had 2 RBI’s while Nick Mathews was 2-3 with an RBI .  As soon as more information is available it will be posted. 

        OC won’t play again until Tuesday, February 28^th when they travel to Eatonton to take on Putnam Co. 

Varsity Baseball

Baseball – OC’s faced Putnam Co in their first home game of the season.  OC committed no major mistakes and took advantage of Putnam’s resulting in a 2-0 win for the Patriots.

Mitchell Reed at third. 

        Nick Mathews was on the mound for Oglethorpe.  A right hander, Mathews had his closest moments in the first inning when Putnam managed to get a runner to third.  Oglethorpe, however, displayed good defense in the infield, including a diving stop by third baseman Mitchell Reed, that closed down the inning for Putnam.

        Although no one knew it at the time, the Patriots won the ballgame in the first inning.  Clay Ogle, up first for OC, hit to center field and moved to second base on a Putnam error.  Nick Mathews was up next hitting a fly ball to right field that dropped in allowing Ogle to round third and score.  On the throw home Mathews moved to second.  After the score Putnam quickly put down the Patriot side.

Clay Ogle scoring OC's first run of the game. 

        Putnam would not get closer to home plate than second base for the remainder of the game.  OC’s defense was competent and all business; committing no errors during the game.  As Coach Bramlett said before the season if OC will make the plays they need to make we’ll win some ball games and yesterday’s win was a perfect example. 

J.D. Sharp getting the call to bunt. 

        On the day the Patriots scored two runs on nine hits with no errors.  Mathews earned the win with only three hits, one strikeout and no walks.  Putnam’s most important stat was three errors that allowed OC to score twice.  The Patriot’s big hitters for the day was Taylor Liedberg (2-3), Mitchell Reed (2-3, plus scoring a run) and Nick Mathew with two RBI’s.  OC’s only downside was leaving nine runners on base.

        The Patriots travel to Athens on Wednesday, February 22nd to play Clarke Central at 5:55pm. 

         You can see pictures from the game here:   http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8419034

Varsity Soccer

Boys Soccer – The boy’s varsity soccer team hosted Riverside Military Academy today and came away on the downside of a 2-0 decision.

Ezra Underwood

        While Riverside didn’t overwhelm OC, primarily due to good defense and an outstanding effort by keeper Zammie Mendez, they were clearly superior in ball handling and passing. 

        Both Riverside goals, one in the first half and one in the second, were a result of a soccer melee in front of the goal where three quarters of both teams are right in front of the goal.  One team is trying to clear the ball and one team is trying to score.  It’s akin to a pinball machine with scoring or clearing depending on one part skill and four parts luck.

        OC was on the short end of the stick with luck. 

        The girls had the night off and both teams will travel to Athens Academy Friday, February 24^th.  The girls play first at 5:30pm and the boys follow at 7:30pm.    

State Wrestling Meet

Wrestling – Justin Whitman who so far has earned a region championship in cross country and placed 15^th at the state cross country meet, has won third in the state wrestling championships (132) at the Gwinnett Arena this past weekend. 

Whitman started the meet with a 3-1 loss to Parker Embry of Greater Atlanta Christian.  This loss moved Whitman to the consolation bracket. Embry’s next match was against Elbert wrestler Brandon Owen, the eventual state AA champion, and was in turn defeated 5-1.  He, too, moved to the consolation bracket.

        Whitman went on to defeat an Armuchee wrestler 9-4, then a Sonoraville wrestler 5-0.  After that Whitman faced off against a Toombs County wrestler whom he defeated 3-1.  Next up against Whitman was a wrestler from Spencer that Whitman defeated 5-3.  This last match set up Whitman for the championship match in the consolation bracket which would determine third and fourth places in the state.

        As fate would have it, Whitman took the mat against Parker Embry, the same wrestler that defeated him two days prior to this final match.  This time however, Whitman would not loose 3-1  but would defeat Embry  3-1. 

        Jefferson, of course, was first place in the team standings for region AA.  Nevertheless, Whitman’s effort put Oglethorpe at 32 out of 70 schools competing. 

        Congratulations go out to Justin Whitman for an outstanding performance. 

Varsity Baseball

Baseball – Coach Bramlett said Friday that the baseball game between Oglethorpe and Washington-Wilkes was ugly.  “It was only five innings because it got dark.  We got down four runs early, but they started hitting us with pitches and walking batters.  And we made some fielding mistakes.”  Even so, Coach Bramlett said happy to come home with a win. 

        OC hosts Putnam Co. at home Tuesday, February 21 at 4:30pm. 

Varsity Soccer

Boys – The OC boy’s varsity soccer team faced off against Greene County and earned a well-deserved 7-0 win.

Sean Atkinson striking a PK for OC's first goal of the game.

Just four minutes into the game the Patriots got their first shot on goal with two rebounds but Greene kept it out of their goal.  OC stayed on the attack getting a corner kick that Greene cleared but two minutes later, while OC was attacking, Greene was called for a handball in the box.  Sean Atkinson took the penalty kick for the first of his four goals of the game.

Six minutes after Atkinson’s goal Billy Waters scored for OC, and three minutes after that at the 19 minute mark Atkinson crossed the ball and Joshua Tuttle scored OC’s third goal of the game.  Atkinson would close out the first half with a header from a Griffin Giles free kick giving OC a 4-0 lead at the half. 

Atkinson’s third goal came at minute 34 when he made a run at the goal forcing the keeper to come out to meet him.  Atkinson faked left, juked right, which put the keeper on the ground and had a clear shot in front of him for this third goal of the game.  Atkinson’s final goal came a few minutes later when, 30 yards out, he put a bend on the ball that would have made Cristoforo Ronaldo proud, sending the ball in the upper right corner.

Joshua Tuttle racing towards the goal for a score. 

The Patriots last scorer was OT Padilla, who hasn’t played until this game.  OT got the ball coming in from the right side of the goal.  Just as he got in the box he gave the ball a good strike and put it in the back of the net. 

OC is now 1-2 on the season 0-0 for the region.  Greene County will be a region competitor next year as will OC’s next opponent, Riverside Military.  OC and Riverside play next Tuesday, February 21^st at home. 

You can see all the pictures here:  http://www.photoreflect.com/store/thumbpage.aspx?e=8414017

Girls – The girls varsity soccer team continued their winning ways defeating Greene County 12-0.  Fortunately the mercy rule took effect and no second half was played.

        As best as I could keep up with it, the following people scored for OC:

Laura Abney – 3

Fabi Rojas 2

Brianna Basinger 2

Clare Severens 1

Both Miller girls 1 each

Bailey Pledger 1

Katie Pilson 1

There was so much scoring going on that I may have made a mistake.  If that happens I’ll make the appropriate corrections.

        The girls are now 3-0 and play their next game Friday, February 24^th at 5:30pm at Athens Academy. 

Varsity Soccer

Girls – The Patriot girl’s varsity soccer team took on the East Hall Vikings Tuesday evening and came away with a 4-1 win. 

        Laura Abney started things off for OC with just 2:30 into the game when she received a pass from Lexi Miller and drove in for OC’s first goal. Less than a minute later Abney shoots again from 25 yards out but the ball hits the crossbar.  Fabiola Rojas went after the rebound but it was blocked. Less than a minute after that East Hall scored as a result of a free kick just outside the box. 

Heather Helmreich

        Both teams fought for the next thirty minutes back and forth.  With nine minutes left in the half Heather Helmreich just missed a shot over the goal from a throw in near the corner.  Four and a half minutes later Ally Miller takes a pass from Abney and puts it in the back of the goal for OC’s second score of the half.  Just two minutes later at three minutes left in the half Abney shoots from 20 yards out but hits the right post.

        Abney’s shot went wide and finally out of bounds.  East Jackson’s keeper set up for a goal kick which Abney took directly and lobbed the ball back towards the net over the keepers head.  It just dropped right in the goal and that gave OC a 3-1 lead at the half.

        The second half could be termed Sarah’s half, for freshman Sarah Chastain.  If Chastain shot once on goal she shot a dozen times.  It was just fate that she didn’t score any goals.  Coach Rindone realigned some of her players to give others experience at different positions and Chastain was up front. 

Laura Abney fighting off two East Hall defenders.

        Also up front was Bailey Pledger who at the 23 minute mark scored OC’s fourth and final goal from an East Hall goal kick.  At 16:38 Abney got yellow carded for a tackle on an East Hall player which caused protests from the crowd.

        Oglethorpe controlled the majority of the game.  Except for the one East Hall goal most of the game was spent in the East Hall half of the field.

        Oglethorpe plays Greene County on Thursday, February 16^th at 7:30pm. 

Boys – They won, we lost.  The boys varsity takes on Greene County on Thursday, February 16^th at 5:30pm. 

Middle School Soccer

Girls – Over the weekend the middle school soccer girls competed in a two day tournament at Madison County and earn a second place over all winning 2 of 3 games.  They defeated Hart Co 2-1, they defeated Elbert 2-0 but they lost to Madison County 2-1.  Yesterday, against Jefferson, the middle school Patriots improved their win loss to 3-1 by defeating the Dragons 2-1.

Katelann Mincey #6 being congratulated on her first half goal.

        Several times during the game Jefferson moved the ball deep into Patriot territory.  But good defending by Patriot defenders kept the ball out of the goal the first half of the game. 

        On the offensive side OC jumped out front first and early in the first half with a goal by Katelann Mincey in the third minute of the game that slipped by the Dragons keeper.  After that it was a wrestling match between the two teams with neither side gaining an advantage until the last three minutes of the half.

Jordan Pringle clearing the ball with keepr Mackenzie Morton looking on.

        OC made a good run at Jefferson’s goal with Alex Tuttle just in front of the Dragons keeper.  But it was not to be when after two attempts at scoring Jefferson finally cleared the ball.

        The second half saw the Dragon’s even the score when their striker scored against OC at seven minutes into the half.   

        However, the tie would only last for ten minutes when, at the 11 minutes to go mark, Vivi Diaz scored for the Patriots.  Although both teams would make drives towards each other’s goal this would be the final score of the game. 

Boys – The middle school boys also competed in the Madison County tournament and came away with a perfect 3-0 record along with being named champions.  The defeated Madison Co 2-1, then they won against Hart 3-1 and finally beat Elbert 2-0.  In the second match of the day, yesterday, OC faced off against Jefferson and gave a clinic on how soccer should be played winning by a score of 4-0.

Garrett McCormack winning a header. 

        Both teams had pretty good players but OC really shined in their ability to move the ball forward, looking for open players and passing the ball to take advantage of Jefferson’s mistakes.  They played a far more mature game than one would think middle schoolers are capable. 

        In the third minute of the game OC was already attacking Jefferson’s goal.  But Jefferson had big, quick guy as keeper and he stopped numerous Patriots shots. 

        With 18 minutes left in the half the Patriots were once again attacking but Jefferson’s keeper came out of the goal and stopped a sure score for OC.  A minute later OC sent another shot on goal from the corner but the Dragon keeper kept it out of the goal. 

        The game went like this for most of the first half until with seven minutes to go OC steals a Jefferson throw in and Brandon Pinto got the ball, moving it about 40 yards towards the Dragon goal before shooting it by their keeper for OC’s first score. Forty seconds later Pinto passes to Tyler Hooper on another attack of Jefferson’s goal and shoots it just wide of the post.

        But with four minutes left Hooper took a pass from thirty yards out and drove in to score OC’s second goal of the half. 

        Jefferson had a scoring opportunity with 25 seconds remaining with a PK (penalty kick) against OC but the ball hit the right hand post and deflected towards the corner.  OC retaliated when Hooper made another of his drives on goal and scored just a tick before the halftime buzzer sounded. 

This strike by Tyler Hooper just beat the halftime buzzer for Hooper's second goal of the game.

        OC went into the halftime break 3-0.  

        OC scored once more on a strike by Roberto Rojas at the final buzzer. 

        OCMS plays Madison County at Danielsville on Thursday, February 23^rd with the girls starting at 4:30pm. 

       

Track and Field Preview

Track and Field – OC’s track team has started practicing for the upcoming season.  For the uninitiated track and field is made up of three basic parts; jumping events, throwing events and running events, which is further broken down into short, middle and long distances.  Toss in a couple of hurdle events and OC’s track and field team will be competing in 16 track and field events. 

Typically OC’s track and field team is made up of about 25 girls and 35 boys.  Coaches Bob Finch and Ron Minish (boys and girls respectively) are responsible for keeping everything straight. With 16 events and roughly 60 competitors that’s no small task.  OCHS Sports Blog caught up with Coach Finch last week to discuss track and field for this season.  

As it turns out, Region 8-AA is usually the strongest track and field region in the state said Coach Finch.  For example, last year Elbert County won the state but didn’t win the region, coming in second behind North Oconee and OC was third.  Region 8-AA won nine of the 16 events at state last year.  Because the region is so competitive pole vaulter Dillion Evans, who came in ninth in the region meet, did far better than many of the kids at the state meet from other regions. 

To help alleviate this problem, that is, leaving good athletes at home, this year, after the region tournament, there will be a sectional tournament like they do in wrestling.  Instead of the top two in each event advancing from the region event the top four will advance to the sectional event.  Coach Finch feels that this will allow more OC competitors to advance further up the competition ladder. 

“We had a lot of third place finishers at the region meet last year,” said Coach Finch.  “If we could have moved them out [meaning moving them to the new sectional meet which takes the top four of an event to state, OC would have had a better chance of getting more kids to the state meet] we could have gotten more kids to the state level.”

Track and field is like wrestling with regards to competing in meets throughout the season.  It’s all practice until the region meet.  No one is keeping an official score for GHSA region standing purposes until the region meet.  For the region meet Coach Finch is allowed two entries per event.  Usually it’s the two top performers for each event during the season.  Coach Finch emphasizes to his team that during the regular season it’s okay if you don’t do so well as long as you’re improving.  It’s not like losing a region baseball game where it’s counted against the team for region standing purposes. 

Coach Finch has several returning people that he’s looking for big things from.  Aubry Fearnow, who placed third at the region in throwing events is back, Dee Dee Fleeming and KiKi Presley both are returning runners.  Hannah Murphy is an up and coming pole vaulter.  Latroia Royal and Trenetta Smith, whom you will remember were varsity basketball players over the winter, are good runners from the middle school.  Caroline Hansford will be back in the triple jump. 

On the boys side Coach Finch mentioned Kendrick Presley as a returning runner and Maurice Freeman, who didn’t compete last year, but cleared 6’6” in the high jump his freshman year and who is arguably the fastest runner in the school, will compete in the 200 and 400 meter sprints as well as the relays.  Josh Jarrells is back and he’s a good 200/400 meter runner.  Sherman Williams is back as well, and Justin Whitman (Whitman moved on from the wrestling sectionals to the state meet next weekend at Gwinnett Area.) will be with the team in the 800 meters and the mile.

[If you are a track and field competitor or a parent of one of these kids reading this story and your name wasn’t mentioned no slight was intended.  As in all these kinds of stories interview time is limited and mentioning the positives of 60 kids in impractical.  Not to mention that asking for names really puts a coach on the spot.]

Unlike, say, football, where there is a coach for almost every position track is just the opposite.  There are only two coaches for 16 events.  Coach Finch points out that many times track athletes are expected to drill and train on their own.  “When I tell them that I want them to do something so many times I expect it to happen,” said Coach Finch.  “If they want to improve they will.  As a program you want to push for region and state honors.  But for each individual kid it comes down to him or her against the clock or the tape measure.  Can I do it just a little bit better this time than last time?  Not everybody is going to be a state level competitor.  But if they improve from the first of the season to the last, that’s all I ask.” 

Coach Finch said that Elbert, Jefferson, North Oconee and OC are the big dogs in the region.  North Oconee has won the region two years in a row and OC was second two years ago on the boys side.  The girls side saw North Oconee win the region but Coach Finch said that some of the northern teams, Rabun and Dawson Counties had good girls teams as well as Hart. 

Next year’s region, Coach Finch says, will make it easier for OC especially getting Elbert and North Oconee out of the way.  “We’ve run with Putnam, Greene and Washington-Wilkes,” said Coach Finch, “so we know a lot about them.  We are as good if not better than them so we should do well against them.  We still have Jefferson but Elbert and North Oconee moving up to AAA is a benefit. 

        “We feel like we have a good many boys and girls who are pretty good.  If they work hard and do all the right things they will do good, and if you have enough of them doing good then you’ll do good as a team.  I know quite a few of them are excited about the season.  We are trying to do some things we haven’t done in the past, take them to some bigger more prestigious events.  I want our kinds to understand they are as good as anybody.  I want them to train that way and think that way and that they can run with the Atlanta schools and we’ve scheduled meets to do just that.”

        One such meet is the Coaches Invitational to be held at Georgia Tech.  It is a mixed high school/college meet and Coach Finch thinks the team will be excited with the venue.  Another meet will be in Myrtle Beach, SC.  Both meets have qualification standards that competitors must meet before they can go, but Coach Finch thinks that many of OC’s track and field team will qualify.  Plus Coach Finch hopes that those kids that are on the qualifying bubble will work hard to improve so they can go, too.

        Coaches Finch and Minish are optimistic about this year’s track season and are looking forward to great things from Oglethorpe’s athletes. 

         

Wrestling

Sectionals - Coach Cordell said that Justin Whitman advanced to the state wrestling meet over the weekend.  Whitman was defeated by the same wrestler from North Oconee that defeated him at the region meet, and who was the state champion last year.  Cordell said that the the North Oconee wrestler, Brandon Owen, was a thrower.  "He waits around until you make one tiny mistake and then jumps at the opportunity and throws you."  More than likely Whitman will have to face Owen again at the state meet.  "Unless we get lucky and get in a different bracket.  If that happens maybe we won't have to wrestle him," said Coach Cordell.

        The state tournament starts Thursday at the Gwinnett Arean. 

Varsity Soccer

Girls Soccer – The Patriot girl’s varsity soccer team defeated Madison County Friday night by a score of 5-0.  Laura Abney was top scorer for OC with four goals and Bailey Pledger scored one goal.  Coach Rindone provided a synopsis of the girl’s soccer game against Madison County Friday night and is allowing reprint here.

You could tell that nerves were getting the best of the girls at the beginning of the game on Friday, but they quickly found their comfort zone and began playing like the team that they are. We were a little unsettled at the beginning of the game, and I knew that the girls needed to settle down and play smart.  

Overall, I was impressed with how the girls played Friday. They came out strong on the offensive front from the very beginning and did not drop back into a pure defensive game at all throughout both the first and second halves.  

      

There are always things that we need to work on, and this scrimmage gave me a good idea of what need to be improved upon before we get into our region games. The girls had some good overlaps with the ball, give and go runs, and some good balls that were pushed up to our targets. However, we still need to work on getting more speed and pressure up top from both the center midfielders and the forwards. The speed is there, we just have to draw it out. 

Laura Abney scored 4 goals on the night, one of which was a penalty kick, and Bailey Pledger scored 1 goal. 

It was nice to come out strong in the first game and get a feel for where we are and how we can compete with other teams. Madison had strength in several different areas, but the girls were able to identify these strengths and shut them down. They’re learning how to read the field and the game, which shows some serious growth. In addition, I was able to get all of the girls some playing time, including my freshman. This is encouraging because they were able to get a feel for the game and speed of play at this level so early on in the season. 

We are taking each day at a time. We know that we need to conquer one team before we can think about another. At the end of the game the girls were proud of their overall efforts, and now want a piece of East Hall. 

Thanks Coach Rindone. 

Varsity Soccer

Boys Soccer – OC faced off against Madison County in a soccer scrimmage Friday night.  The Red Raiders, who went 9-7 last year defeated OC 5-0, but Coach Norton was pleased with the showing of the team.

        Coach Norton said that while Madison Co had more talent and depth he was impressed and pleased that OC stayed with them for a good while.  Coach Norton also pointed out that OC was without two starters and had two more players injured during the game. 

        OC plays East Hall on Tuesday, February 14^th and Coach Norton said that would be a tough game, too.  But Coach Norton believes playing these tougher teams will benefit OC in the long run. 

        As soon as a report is available from the girls side of the game it will be posted on OCHS Sports Blog.

Varsity Basketball Region Playoff

Girls – The OC girl’s varsity Patriots went to East Jackson for the region playoff to decide which team would advance to the region tournament at East Hall.  Unfortunately it won’t be Oglethorpe; losing to the Lady Eagles 57-30.

        OC started out right enough, keeping pace with East Jackson.  The Eagles opened the scoring by hitting a three pointer, but OC answered with a regular two point basket.  Trenetta Smith (Smith had two of Oglethorpe’s three steals) steals the ball and lays it up for two more evening up the score.  East Jackson scores and OC answers but at 2:30 of the first quarter EJ hits a three going up 9-6.  For the next minute and a half no one scores but in the final minute East Jackson scores seven unanswered points on Oglethorpe making the score 16-6. 

        But for those last 57 seconds Oglethorpe would have been much closer at the half because they pretty much matched East Jackson basket for basket.  OC went into the locker room behind 25-17 having scored 11 second quarter points compared to only six first quarter points.

        The third quarter would be Oglethorpe’s downfall scoring only four points for the quarter while East Jackson put 12 on the board. 

        East Jackson ran away in the fourth quarter scoring 20 more points to Oglethorpe’s nine giving them the win.  However, OC has some impressive individual numbers.

        For the night OC went 10/15 at the line.  The team had 12 rebounds three steals and three blocked shots.  Individually Latoria Royal had a team high of 12 points half of them on two, three pointers in the second quarter.  Royal was also 2/2 at the line.  Smith was second highest scorer with six.  Aubry Fearnow followed just behind Smith with five points, all of which came one at the time from the foul line (5/6 on the night).  Fearnow also had three rebounds.  Kristen Baker put up four and Tanisha Eberheart rounded out OC’s scoring with three.

        This is the girl’s final game of the season.  A big well done goes out to the entire team for the effort and good show they provided to Patriot fans throughout the season.

Boys – The boy’s varsity basketball game against East Jackson was tight and had many exciting points throughout but OC went down fighting with the game much closer than the 57-45 score would indicate.

        Clay Ogle put three on the board right off the bat for OC but the Eagles would answer with their own three pointer.  The first quarter would go like that all the way to the end with neither team getting more than two points ahead of the other.  Maurice Freeman would end the quarter with a basket putting OC up 13-11. 

        By the 5 minute mark in the second quarter OC had worked up to a six point advantage with baskets coming from Justin Stone and Freeman sinking two at the line.  East Jackson fought back and chipped away at Oglethorpe’s lead.  Xavier Eberhart scored two and then East Jackson sank a three pointer pulling to within two.  Jarrett Lackey would score two from the line and then with a 1:45 left the Eagles would tie the game at 21-21 going to the half time break.

        Both teams came out convinced that they could win and the third quarter was no less exciting that the first half.  It was a big quarter for OC three pointers.  First it was Lackey’s three bringing the score to 25-24 East Jackson.  Ogle was up next with his second three pointer of the game making it 27-25 Oglethorpe.  East Jackson snuck in a three pointer of their own.  But rounding out nine quick points was Shaq Fleming putting three more on Oglethorpe’s side of the board bring the score 30-28 OC.  

The Patriots worked up another two points from Eberhart and then Freeman giving OC a six point lead with 2:15 left in the quarter.  After the 2:15 mark OC’s offense went cold.  East Jackson would come from a six point deficit to a one point lead 35-34 at the end of the third quarter.

Oglethorpe’s offense could not keep up with East Jackson’s in the final quarter.  The Eagles would score 2 for 1 against OC in the fourth and that put the coffin nail in OC’s season.

For the night Eberhart and Freeman were tied with ten points each.  Freeman had four blocked shots and two rebounds.  Fleming was second high scorer with eight and three rebounds.  Ogle had six points and four rebounds and Lackey had five points.  OC, while not at the line often, was perfect when they got there going 5/5 which is the best they’ve done all season. 

Well done to all the players on the basketball team for giving their fans and supporters and exciting season.