Athletes Beyond Bartow: Three locals hit season highs this past week
The 2017 NFL season came to a close for the Atlanta Falcons and local star Vic Beasley Saturday with a hard-fought road loss at the Philadelphia Eagles.
At the college level, three local college basketball players recorded season highs in scoring this past week while local track and field, wrestling, and swimming athletes contributed with their respective programs.
NFL
VIC BEASLEY — Atlanta Falcons (3rd yr. pro; Clemson University; Adairsville HS)… had three tackles Saturday as the Falcons were knocked out of the NFL playoffs in the NFC Divisional round by the Philadelphia Eagles, 15-10. Beasley, the 2016 NFL sacks leader, finished the 2017 season with 29 total tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, and a pair of passes defended. He missed two games early in the season due to injury. Atlanta finished the season with an 11-7 mark.
BASKETBALL
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS)… averaged 5.3 points, 3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and had two steals as the Patriots went 1-2 last week. FMU defeated Lander 84-77 last Wednesday before dropping a 93-71 game at Georgia Southwestern and a 76-66 contest at Columbus State on Monday afternoon. The Patriots (9-5, 4-5) play at Augusta University Wednesday and Flagler Saturday in Peach Belt Conference games.
KIMORA McCLINIC — Middle Georgia State University (Fr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored four points and collected a pair of rebounds Saturday in the Knights 75-64 loss at Brewton-Parker College. MGSU (4-11, 1-5 Southern States Athletic Conference) hosts Bethel University Thursday and Martin Methodist Saturday.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (Fr., G, Cass HS)… scored a career high 12 points, grabbed six rebounds with totaled five assists in an 86-78 home loss to Sewanee Sunday. She also scored five points, played 17 minutes, and had six rebounds and one assist in a 63-53 home win over Centre College (KY). Berry (6-9, 1-4 Southern States Athletic Conference) travels to Birmingham Southern College Friday and at Millsaps College (MS) Saturday.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored a season-high 23 points with three rebounds, one assist, and one steal in a 77-63 win at Mississippi Valley State Saturday. He added ten points with four rebounds, three assists, and four steals in a 71-59 loss Monday at Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Braves (5-14, 1-5) play a Southwestern Athletic Conference game Saturday at home against Alabama A&M.
ELIJAH ROBINSON — Emmanuel College (Sr., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… scored nine points with four rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocked shots last Tuesday in a 66-59 win at Erskine College. He also scored 11 points with 10 rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot in a 76-74 loss at Lees-McRae. The Lions (9-8, 3-4 Conference Carolinas) play at King University (TN) Wednesday and host Barton College (NC) Saturday.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Soph., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… scored eight points, grabbed two rebounds, and added one assist in a 90-83 home loss to Milligan College (TN) last Wednesday night. He also saw five minutes of playing time Saturday at Bluefield College (VA) in an 87-70 win. TMU (13-7, 6-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Bryan College (TN) Thursday and at Montreat College (NC) Saturday.
COREY TOBIN — Reinhardt University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… scored 14 points and 13 points in games last Tuesday at Thomas University and Saturday at home against Montreat College (NC). He also collected 11 rebounds, four assists, and a steal in those two games. The Eagles lost 99-86 at Thomas, but defeated Montreat 105-85. Reinhardt (12-7, 7-3 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travels to Point University Tuesday and Milligan College (TN) Saturday.
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (Soph., F, Woodland HS)… In three home games last week, he totaled 11 points, 10 rebounds, and one steal as the Nighthawks defeated Young Harris College 90-88 and Augusta University 91-84 at home with an 86-78 loss to Flagler College. UNG (7-8, 5-4) plays Peach Belt Conference games Wednesday at Clayton State University and entertains Georgia College Saturday in Dahlonega.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (Jr., F, Cartersville HS)… scored two points with two rebounds and one blocked shot last Wednesday in a home 91-83 Appalachian Athletic Conference home loss to St. Andrews (NC). Winters started, but did not score and only played four minutes with one rebound in a road loss Saturday at Tennessee Wesleyan College. The Skyhawks (5-15, 1-10 AAC) host Reinhardt University Tuesday night, Allen University (SC) Thursday night and travel to Bluefield College (VA) on Saturday.
RUDY WINTERS — Columbus State University (Jr., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… was no longer in the starting lineup, but averaged 29 minutes in three games last week. Winters scored a season-high 21 points Wednesday at Georgia Southwestern University and followed that with five against UNC-Pembroke Saturday and 18 points against Francis Marion University on Monday afternoon. Winters totaled 14 rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal in those games. The Cougars lost 83-72 at GSW, lost 73-69 to UNCP, and defeated FMU 76-66. CSU (4-8, 4-5 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Georgia College Wednesday night and travels to Young Harris College Saturday.
WRESTLING
EVAN COLE — Cumberland University (Sr., 149, Cartersville HS)… competing at the Fire Duals in Lakeland, FL, Cole defeated Kyle Kirkham of 8th-ranked Southeastern University 4-3 in a team 24-21 loss and lost to 3rd-ranked Indiana Tech’s Justin Atkinson 10-4 in a 35-9 team loss. Atkinson is ranked 12th nationally. The Phoenix travel to Marshall, MO this Friday and Saturday for the Missouri Valley College Invitational.
TRACK & FIELD
ANNA HIGHTOWER — Georgia Tech (Jr., Pole Vault, Cartersville HS)… placed 11th at the Commodore Invitational last Friday and Saturday in Nashville. The Jackets return to Vanderbilt this weekend for the Vanderbilt Invitational.
TREVOR KNOWLES — Albion College (Fr., Sprint/Jumps, Woodland HS)… won the 300 meter dash and was part of the second place 4x400 meter relay team in the Britons 63-38 dual meet loss at Calvin College last Thursday. Next for Albion is the Invitational at Defiance (OH) College on Saturday, January 27.
SWIMMING
ELISE HART — US Air Force Academy (Sr., Cartersville HS)… was part of the first place 200-yard freestyle relay team; part of the second place 200-yard medley relay team; and was third in the 100-yard butterfly as the Falcons defeated University of the Incarnate Word and Seattle University and University of Northern Colorado last Friday at the US Air Force Academy Natatorium. On Saturday, Hart was a member of the fourth place 400-yard medley relay team as the Falcons defeated University of the Incarnate Word and Seattle University. Air Force travels to Las Vegas Saturday for a meet at UNLV with Nevada.
KATELYNN LAWHORN — Life University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … Lawhorn moved from the soccer pitch to the natatorium for the Eagles and was part of the 200 medley relay team that won this past Saturday at the Double Dual against Thomas University and Point University in West Point, GA. The team combined for a time of 2:02.19 which beat the NAIA national qualifying time by just over seven seconds. Life is back in action Friday as they travel to Williamsburg, KY to compete in a double dual against Bethel and Cumberlands.
