Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local pro and college athletes across the nation

It is a busy time of year for local Bartow County athletes across the country at the pro and collegiate level. Winter sports continue to approach their post-season playoffs while Spring sports have started their seasons.

In total this week, Athletes Beyond Bartow has updates on more than three dozen contributors around the nation.

PRO BASKETBALL

ASHTON HAGANS — Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League; 3rd-year pro; Cartersville native; Kentucky; Newton HS) … scored 10 points with six assists, five steals, and three rebounds in the Swarm’s 138-137 home win last Friday over the Fort Wayne Mad Ants. Hagans also had eight points with seven assists and three boards last Wednesday in a 128-119 loss at home to the Salt Lake City Stars. Greensboro (7-10) is tied for tenth in the 15-team Eastern Conference of the NBA G-League. This week the Swarm plays at the Motor City Cruise Monday night and Wednesday afternoon.

A.J. MOSBY — Sudbury Five (6th-year pro; NBL-Canada; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … poured in 21 points with two assists and a pair of rebounds as Sudbury beat the visiting Newfoundland Rogues Sunday 113-105. The Five (5-3) play at Newfoundland Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday this week.

BASKETBALL

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (So., Cass HS) … scored 19 points and added five rebounds, four steals, and three assists Friday night in an 85-67 win at Sewanee-University of the South. Sunday he scored three points with three boards, three assists, and two steals in a 77-68 victory at Centre College (Kentucky). Berry (22-2, 13-0 Southern Athletic Association) will seek to continue their 14-game winning streak Wednesday at Oglethorpe. The SAA Tournament starts Sunday on campus sites.

ZAYLAN CHANEY — Lincoln Memorial University (Fr., Cartersville resident, Legacy Academy) … was 2-for-2 from the floor and made one free throw Saturday in a Railsplitters’ 83-68 home win over Coker College. LMU (24-2, 14-1 South Atlantic Conference) visits Limestone Wednesday and Lenoir-Rhyne Saturday in conference action.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (So., Cass HS) … started but played just 10 minutes scoring one point in an 82-77 overtime win last Thursday at St. Andrews University (North Carolina). Saturday he scored three points and had one rebound in a 93-52 win at home over Southeastern Baptist College (Mississippi). The Skyhawks host Tennessee Wesleyan Tuesday night and travel to Columbia International Saturday.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Jr., Woodland HS) … scored nine points, grabbed five rebounds, and added one assist and one steal Saturday in an 85-59 loss at 3rd-ranked Union College (Kentucky). The Rams (13-12, 12-10 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Bluefield College (Virginia) Tuesday and host Point University Saturday night.

T.J. HORTON — Georgia Highlands CC (So., Cartersville HS) … scored eight points with five assists, four rebounds, and two steals in the Chargers’ 77-74 home win last Wednesday over Central Georgia Tech. GHC (14-8, 8-0 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) plays at Central Georgia Tech Monday night, entertains Southern Crescent Tech Wednesday night, and visits Andrew College Saturday afternoon.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (Fr., Cass HS) … appeared in the Screaming Eagles’ 66-51 win at home last Tuesday over Pensacola Christian but had no stat line in limited minutes. Toccoa Falls (18-6, 8-1) plays at Paine College Wednesday night.

JAYLON PUGH — Lander University (Grad student, Cartersville HS) … had one rebound and one assist last Wednesday in the Bearcats’ 81-63 win at home over Augusta University. He added two assists, one steal, and one rebound Saturday in a 63-62 loss at the 24th-ranked University of North Georgia. Lander (17-7, 9-5 Peach Belt Conference) hosts Georgia College Wednesday night and makes the trip to Georgia Southwestern State Saturday afternoon.

LONDAISHA SMITH — Alderson Broaddus University (So., Cass HS) … scored five points, collected four rebounds, and added three steals and an assist last Wednesday in an 81-72 loss at Frostburg State. Saturday Smith had 14 points, six boards, and one steal in the Battlers’ 95-74 loss to visiting Fairmont State. ABU (5-18, 4-14 Mountain East Conference) entertains West Virginia State Wednesday night and travels to the University of Charleston (West Va.) Saturday night.

NAKIYAH WASHINGTON — Piedmont University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … totaled 38 points, 24 rebounds, nine steals, and seven assists last week as the Lions went 1-2. Her totals included a 19-point, 12-rebound, double-double last Tuesday in a 73-61 loss at LaGrange College. The Lions also beat Covenant College 71-63 Friday night and lost to visiting Berea College (Kentucky) on Saturday, 64-48. Piedmont (13-10, 9-5 Collegiate Conference of the South) has home games Tuesday night against Wesleyan College and Saturday afternoon vs. Maryville College (Tennessee).

TENNIS

EMILY BUSH — Young Harris College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … with partner Marcko Ferreira Catarina lost at Line 3 doubles Saturday, 7-5. Bush also fell in her Line 5 singles match 7-6, 6-3 as YHC lost 7-0 at home to Tusculum. Sunday her doubles team lost 6-2 at Line 2 doubles and she dropped a 6-4, 6-3 decision at Line 4 singles. The Mountain Lions have an exhibition match at D-I Western Carolina Friday afternoon, play at North Greenville Saturday afternoon, and will host Carson-Newman Sunday.

CONNOR GUNNELL — Shorter University (Jr., Woodland HS) … with partner Caleb Harper lost a 6-1 decision at Line 3 doubles and fell in a 6-3, 6-0 Line 5 singles match as the Hawks lost 4-3 at home Saturday to Christian Brothers University. Shorter (0-1) travels to Lee University Tuesday.

EMILY SURCEY — Mississippi State University (So., Cass HS) … last Friday in a 4-1 team win over Belmont University, Surcey partnered with teammate Chloe Cirotte for a 6-2 win at Line 3 doubles. She was down a set at Line 6 singles and tied 2-2 in the second set when her match was halted after MSU had secured the team victory. In a 7-0 home win Friday over Alabama A&M, Surcey won at Line 4 singles 6-1, 7-5. The Bulldogs (10-1) have a week off on the schedule before making a West Coast swing to play at Cal Poly and at UC Santa Barbara. They will also square off with Oregon while at UCSB.

TRACK & FIELD

STEPHEN SMITH — Kennesaw State University (Jr., Cass HS) … finished third Saturday in pole vault at the Vanderbilt University Indoor Music City Challenge in Nashville. Smith cleared 4.80m (15’7½”). The next meet for the Owls is the JDL DMR Invite in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Friday and Saturday.

ERIC TOVIAVE — Belmont University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … finished 55th (24.09) in the 200-meter dash last Friday at the Vanderbilt Indoor Music City Challenge. He was also scheduled for the 60-meter hurdles on Saturday but did not start. The Bruins travel to Chicago Sunday and Monday for the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championship.

GOLF

BUCK BRUMLOW — University of Georgia (So., Cartersville HS) … fired a 2-under-par 70 Sunday in the opening round of the Puerto Rico Classic helping the Bulldogs to second place on the leaderboard with two rounds remaining. The tournament continues Monday and Tuesday on the par 72, 7,506-yard Grand Reserve Golf Club in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. After one round, East Tennessee State leads UGA, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ole Miss in the top five.

WRESTLING

KYLE GOLLHOFER — University of Northern Iowa (R-So., Woodland HS) … won his 125-pound bout 8-6 last Friday night in a home match but the Panthers lost to 3rd-ranked Iowa State 19-12. UNI visits 18th-ranked Wisconsin Saturday night.

CALEB HENSON — Virginia Tech (Fr., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 8 nationally in the 149-pound weight class, Henson earned an early escape in the third period and added a takedown late in the period to pick up a 4-0 win over Wil Guida of North Carolina last Friday. The Hokies went on to defeat the Tar Heels 28-8. Virginia Tech (9-3) closes out the dual meet conference schedule Friday night at home against Virginia.

BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Marshall (Fr., Cass HS) … lost a 6-2 decision last Friday night in the Diplomats’ 29-12 victory over Millersville University. Franklin & Marshal heads to Penn in early March for the EIWA Championships.

JORDAN MITCHELL — Life University (R-Jr., Cass HS) … won a technical fall Friday in the Running Eagles’ 42-0 win at Brewton-Parker College. He also won by medical forfeit Saturday in a 39-6 team win at St. Thomas University (Florida). Life will host the Appalachian Athletic Conference Championships Saturday in Marietta.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Fr., Woodland HS) … ranked No. 17 nationally in the 197-pound weight class, Smith pinned his opponent as the Terrapins rallied late for a 19-18 win over visiting Purdue. Maryland (9-8) hosts Binghamton Friday night and visits Columbia Sunday.

SOFTBALL

LAINEY BAKER — Samford University (Fr., Woodland HS) … made two appearances in a doubleheader at Southern Miss Sunday pitching a total of three innings. She allowed three earned runs on five hits and recorded five strikeouts. Baker was charged with the pitching loss in Game 2. The Bulldogs (1-2) had a home win Friday over Seton Hall and split Sunday with Southern Miss. Samford will play Ball State twice, Belmont, Lindenwood, and UAB Friday through Sunday at the UAB Classic.

COLBI BALLARD — Shorter University (Sr., Cartersville HS) … started in the outfield in four of six games played by the Hawks at the UA-Huntsville Chillout this past weekend. At the plate, she was 3-for-8 with three walks and four RBIs. Ballard also stole two bases. Shorter finished 3-3 in the tournament with wins over Spring Hill College (Ala.), Kentucky State University, and Miles College. The losses were to Kentucky Wesleyan College, Lincoln Memorial University, and Carson-Newman University. The Hawks (3-6) welcome Union University (Tenn.) Saturday and Sunday in a three-game Gulf South Conference series.

PRESLY EDWARDS — Wesleyan College (Sr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-for-3 with one walk in a pair of losses last Wednesday at Middle Georgia State. The Wolves (0-3) host College of Coastal Georgia Friday and Sewanee-University of the South Sunday in a doubleheader.

ANSLEY EVANS — Reinhardt University (So., Woodland HS) … made a start at third base last Wednesday and went 1-for-3 at the plate as the Eagles beat LaGrange College 4-1. Reinhardt also won Game 2 of that doubleheader at LaGrange. The Eagles (3-1) host Thomas University (Ga.) Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader.

ERYN LEE — Reinhardt University (Fr., Cass HS) … was 1-for-6 with a walk, two RBIs, and a pair of stolen bases last Wednesday in an Eagles doubleheader sweep at LaGrange College. Reinhardt (3-1) will take on visiting Thomas University (Ga.) Saturday in a doubleheader.

RACHAEL LEE — Gulf Coast State CC (Fr., Cass HS) … in a pair of home starts and wins against Enterprise State CC, Lee was 3-for-5 with two doubles, a home run, four runs scored, and one RBI. GCSCC also had a loss to Miami Dade CC and a win over Lurleen B. Wallace CC Sunday in the Visit Dothan Invitational but the stats for those games were not immediately available. The Commodores (7-2) play at Florida State Jacksonville in a doubleheader Friday and make the trip to Seminole State CC Saturday for two games.

HOPE SHORT — Shorter University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … entered to play second base and went 0-for-1 at the plate in the Hawks’ 6-4 win last Friday over Spring Hill College. Shorter (3-6) hosts a three-game series with Union University (Tenn.) Saturday and Sunday.

ALEXA VARNER — Shorter University (Jr., Adairsville HS) … made four appearances and was 0-for-3 at the plate with one run scored as the Hawks beat Spring Hill College, Kentucky State University, and Miles College, but lost to Carson Newman University this past weekend at the UA-Huntsville Charger Chillout. Shorter (3-6) also suffered losses to Kentucky Wesleyan and Lincoln Memorial University in the event. They host Union University (Tenn.) this weekend.

BASEBALL

COLT McKIBBEN — Lee University (Fr., Cartersville HS) … made a three-inning start on the mound last Wednesday but received no decision in an eventual 10-7 home loss to Lincoln Memorial. McKibben allowed no runs on one hit and one hit batsman facing ten batters. He recorded three strikeouts. He added a relief appearance Sunday in an 8-7 home win over Mars Hill University. He entered to start the eighth inning ahead 8-6 and retired two outs in the eighth allowing one earned run on three hits and one walk. 11th-ranked Lee (3-4) hosts Young Harris College Tuesday and plays a three-game Gulf South Conference series Friday and Saturday at Alabama-Huntsville.

DREW ROTHSCHILD — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Cartersville HS) … after going 5-for-12 with three RBIs in his first four games with the Stallions, Rothschild was 0-for-3 last Tuesday in a 10-3 loss at Tallahassee CC. ABAC (2-6) plays at USC Salkehatchie Tuesday, at Santa Fe CC (Fla.) Friday, and hosts Wallace-Dothan Saturday.

DEVIN WARNER — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … finished 1-for-9 at the plate as the 7th-ranked Grizzlies swept a three-game home series with 24th-ranked Taylor University Friday and Saturday. He also coaxed a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch. Georgia Gwinnett (5-1) hosts two games against Thomas University (Ga.) and two games with West Virginia Tech Friday and Saturday.

PRESTON WELCHEL — Tennessee Wesleyan College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … starting at DH or in right field, Welchel went 4-for-7 at the plate with two walks, four runs scored, and three RBIs during a three-game last Friday and Saturday of the University of Northwestern Ohio. The Bulldogs (6-0) host Truett McConnell University for three games Friday and Saturday.

COHEN WILBANKS — Georgia Gwinnett College (Jr., Cartersville HS) … in three starts against visiting Taylor University last weekend, Wilbanks was 2-for-5 with one home run and two walks. The catcher was also hit by one pitch as the Grizzlies swept the series. 7th-ranked Georgia Gwinnett (5-1) hosts two games against Thomas University (Ga.) and two games with West Virginia Tech Friday and Saturday.

DAVIS WILLIAMS — Birmingham-Southern College (So., Cartersville HS) … earned saves in a pair of Panthers’ wins Friday and Saturday at 3rd-ranked Trinity University (Texas). Williams totaled 2⅓ innings pitched yielding no runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two. The Panthers (2-1) host the BSC Spring Classic Friday through Sunday and will play 2nd-ranked LaGrange College, Millsaps College, and 21st-ranked East Texas Baptist University during the tournament.

JORDAN WILKIE — Augusta University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … the Jaguars’ first baseman was 1-for-4 and scored a run in a 7-6 home loss to Erskine College last Tuesday. Augusta (1-3) also had a three-game home series with UVA-Wise canceled this past weekend. The Jags host Emmanuel College Tuesday before starting Peach Belt Conference play Friday through Sunday at Young Harris College.