Athletes Beyond Bartow: Locals make big contributions with their teams around the world
This week's edition of 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' features college and pro athletes from Bartow County contributing in basketball, wrestling, track and field, and swimming. College basketball schedules are deep into their conference schedules and collegiate swimming and wrestling are nearing conference championship meets. Meanwhile track and field is in the midst of the indoor season while the outdoor season is just around the corner with baseball, softball, golf, tennis, and more to come.
TRACK AND FIELD DEMYA BRYAN — Piedmont College (Fr., Cartersville HS)… placed 11th (27.894) in the finals of the 200 meter competing at the Winston-Salem, North Carolina JDL Flat is Fast Invitational Saturday. The Lions run this weekend at the East Tennessee State University Buccaneer Invitational. TREVOR KNOWLES — Albion College (Jr., Woodland HS)… placed second in the long jump and fifth in the high jump Friday night as the Brittons finished fourth of seven teams at the Larry Cole Invitational hosted by Ohio Northern Universitiy. Albion is back in action Saturday at the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge in Berea, Ohio. LONDON SHAW — Jacksonville State University (Fr., Cartersville HS)… placed seventh in the finals of the Weight Throw at the Marshall University Thundering Herd Invitational Friday in Huntington, West Virginia. Shaw’s throw of 43 feet, 2.25 inches earned the Gamecocks a pair of team points. JSU finished seventh in the field of ten teams with the Austin Peay women finishing just ahead of host Marshall to win the meet. The Gamecocks travel to the South Carolina Invitational February 7-8. STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Fr., Cass HS)… placed second of 21 competitors with a vault of 14 feet, 11 inches Saturday at the Liberty University Kickoff in Lynchburg, Virginia. Next for the Owls is the University of South Carolina Invitational February 7-8 in Columbia. SWIMMING RYLEE MOSS — Old Dominion University (Fr., Adairsville HS)… placed second in the 200-yard butterfly (2:09.77) and tenth in the 100-yard butterfly (59.69) as the Lady Monarchs defeated George Mason and American, but lost to host Army Saturday at the West Point Quad Meet. Up next for ODU is the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association Championship February 19-22 in Knoxville, Tennessee. WRESTLING ROBBY EARICK — Life University (Jr., Cartersville HS)… defeated his opponent 9-2 at the 141-pound line Thursday as NAIA third-ranked Life beat Keiser University 37-9. He was also in the line-up and won by forfeit Thursday as the Runnin’ Eagles blanked Brewton-Parker College 53-0. Life, 13-1 in duals and 4-0 in the Mid-South Conference travels to Lebanon, Tennessee Thursday to face Cumberland University. PRO BASKETBALL ELIJAH ROBINSON — Atenas Cordoba (3rd yr. pro; Argentina La Liga) Emmanuel College; Excel Christian Academy)… scored a game-high 23 points Sunday as Atenas Cordoba beat Libertad Sunchales 77-69. Robinson added eight rebounds and five assists in the winning effort. For the season, he is averaging 15 point, 6.7 boards, and 1.3 assists as Atenas has gone 6-9. They play at Obras-Buenos Aires Thursday and at Hispano Americano de Rio Gallegos Saturday. COLLEGE BASKETBALL JACQUEZ FOUNTAIN — Albany Tech (Fr., G/F, Cass HS)… scored seven points with seven rebounds and three assists Saturday as the Titans won at South Georgia Tech 67-60. Albany Tech (13-7, 6-1 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Associaton) plays at South Georgia CC Wednesday night and hosts Southern Crescent Tech Saturday. ASHTON HAGANS — University of Kentucky (So., Cartersville, GA; Newton HS)… scored 23 points with nine assists, five boards, four steals, and a block last Tuesday night in an 89-79 home win over Georgia. Hagans then totaled six points, seven assists, and three steals Saturday as the 15th-ranked Wildcats won at 18th-ranked Texas Tech 76-74 as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Kentucky entertains Vanderbilt Wednesday night at Rupp Arena before traveling to 16th-ranked Auburn Saturday. WHITNEY HARRIS — Toccoa Falls College (So., G, Woodland HS)… totaled two points, five boards, three assists, and one steal in losses last week at Bob Jones University (81-51) and Trinity Baptist College (Florida) (61-57). The Screamin’ Eagles (5-15) play at Brewton Parker College Tuesday night, at Judson College (Alabama) Friday, and at Pensacola Christian College Saturday afternoon. CARTER HEDDEN — Hocking CC (So., G, Cass HS)… saw eight minutes of floor time but missed his only field goal attempt last Tuesday in a Hawks’ 107-52 home win over Southern State CC. Hocking also had a 112-80 win at Ohio Christian University JV Thursday, an 87-70 loss at Cuyahoga CC Friday, and a 91-55 win Sunday at home over Rio Grande JV. The Hawks (13-8, 0-5 Ohio Community College Athletic Conference) plays at Clark State CC Wednesday and will host Lorain County CC Saturday. EVAN LEE — Northland College (Fr., G/F, Excel Christian Academy)… saw only two minutes of playing time last Wednesday in an 85-57 victory at Rainy River CC. The Pioneers also had a 110-51 win Saturday over Fond Du Lac Tribal CC. Northland (12-6, 6-1 Minnesota College Athletic Conference) takes a six-game win streak into Wednesday night’s game at Central Lakes CC and will host Vermilion CC Saturday in Thief River Falls. KIMORA McCLINIC — Middle Georgia State Universitiy (Jr., G, Cartersville HS)… saw only two minutes of playing time and missed her only shot attempt, but the Knights knocked of Faulkner University Saturday at home, 74-70. MGSU also lost 75-68 last Monday at Stillman College. The Knights (9-6, 4-4 Southern States Athletic Conference) host conference foes Blue Mountain College (Mississippi) Thursday night and NAIA 9th-ranked Bethel University (Tennessee) Saturday afternoon. KYLA MICHIENZI — Piedmont College (Fr., G, Cass HS)… scored seven points with two rebounds and an assist last Wednesday during a 67-58 win over visiting Brevard College. Michienzi added six points, two boards, a pair of steals, one block and one assist in Saturday’s victory at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain. The Lady Lions (12-8, 8-3 USA-South Athletic Conference) have won four straight going into Tuesday night’s home game with Agnes Scott College. JANA MORNING — Berry College (Jr., G, Cass HS)… scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds, and dished out a pair of assists Friday night in a 57-41 loss at Birmingham-Southern College. Sunday, Morning scored 13 points with five boards and three assists in a 51-36 loss at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. The Lady Vikings (10-10, 4-5 Southern Athletic Association) travel to Memphis Friday night to play at Rhodes College and continue the road trip Sunday afternoon at Hendrix College (Arkansas). JAYLON PUGH — Furman University (So., G, Cartersville HS)… missed a pair of three-point shot attempts Wednesday night in five minutes of floor time during the Paladins’ 101-78 win over visiting Samford. He added a pair of rebounds Saturday in three minutes of playing time as Furman won at The Citadel 78-54. Furman (17-5, 7-2 Southern Conference) entertains VMI Wednesday night in conference action. JOSIE SUMMERVILLE — North Park University (So., F, Adairsville HS)… scored 12 points, collected five rebounds, and had one assists and one block in Saturday’s 57-38 victory over Elmhurst College. She also grabbed four rebounds during a 66-59 conference win at Carthage College Wednesday night. NPU (15-3, 8-1 Collegiate Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin) hosts Illinois Wesleyan University Wednesday night before traveling to North Central College Saturday night. DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Sr., G, Excel Christian Academy)… led the Bears with 23 points last Wednesday, but TMU fell at Bryan College (Tennessee) 80-78. He also had three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in the loss. Saturday, Thrower had two points and one rebound in 34 minutes during an 88-85 overtime loss at home to Milligan College (Tennessee). Truett McConnell (6-16, 2-15 Appalachian Athletic Conference) travels to Tennessee Wesleyan University Thursday night and entertains Montreat College (North Carolina) Saturday. NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont College (Fr., F, Adairsville HS)… poured in 17 points with five steals, four rebounds, one block, and one assist as the Lions won Saturday at Covenant College, 75-63. Washington also scored five points with four boards and one steal in last Wednesday’s win at The Cave over Brevard College. Piedmont (12-8, 8-3 USA-South Athletic Conference) takes a four-game winning streak into Tuesday night’s home game with Agnes Scott College. CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (Sr., F, Woodland HS)… scored six points with two blocked shots and one rebound Saturday in a 77-63 Peach Belt Conference win at home over Clayton State University. Watson also contributed five points and three boards Wednesday night during an 83-58 loss at Augusta University. UNG (9-9, 4-6) plays at Young Harris College Wednesday night and at USC-Aiken Saturday afternoon.
