Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local pro and collegiate athletes

January 22, 2024

Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com

College basketball and collegiate wrestling ease closer to their postseasons while the Canadian-based Basketball Super League, college tennis, and collegiate track and field are in the early portion of their 2024 schedules.

This week’s edition of ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ includes updates on 20 athletes with Cartersville and Bartow County connections.

BASKETBALL SUPER LEAGUE

A.J. MOSBY, JR. — Sudbury Five (6th-year pro; Alcorn State; Cartersville HS) … scored 22 points and added seven assists, six rebounds, and three steals in The Five’s 117-86 win this past Friday at home over the Montreal Toundra. Sudbury (5-2) plays a home-and-home series with the Widsor Express this Friday on the road and Sunday at home.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Braxton Benham

BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 23 points with seven steals, five rebounds, and four assists last Friday in a 74-63 win over Birmingham-Southern College. Benham scored nine points with three assists, three boards, and two steals this past Sunday in an 86-63 victory over Millsaps College. Berry (9-9, 6-1 Southern Athletic Association) visits Birmingham-Southern on Friday night and Millsaps College on Sunday afternoon.

ZAYLAN CHANEY — Tallahassee CC (So., Cartersville resident, Legacy Academy) … scored 15 points with 10 rebounds, three assists, and three steals this past Saturday in a 79-67 win at Pensacola State CC. He also did not score but had two assists, one rebound, and one blocked shot last Wednesday in a 62-53 home loss to Northwest Florida State CC. The Eagles (15-5, 1-1 Florida Collegiate Sports Athletic Association) host Gulf Coast State CC on Wednesday and visit Chipola College on Saturday night.

CLAIRE DAVIS — Palm Beach Atlantic University (So., Cass HS) … finished with 18 points, four rebounds, two blocked shots, and two steals this past Saturday in a home 71-70 loss to Eckerd College. The Sailfish also lost last Wednesday to Lynn University but Davis did not participate. PBAU (9-8, 3-6 Sunshine State Conference) visits Tampa University on Wednesday and hosts Florida Southern College on Saturday.

JUSTICE HAYES — Point University (Jr., Cass HS) … scored 14 points with five assists and three rebounds last Wednesday in a 69-66 loss at Loyola University (Louisiana). He also scored seven points with seven rebounds and one assist in a 70-48 loss at the University of Mobile this past Saturday. The Skyhawks (6-11, 0-11 Southern States Athletic Conference) host Life University on Wednesday night and Dalton State (Georgia) on Saturday afternoon.

DiANTHONY HEATHCOCK — Columbia International University (Sr., Woodland HS) … scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds last Tuesday in an 86-72 home win over St. Andrews University (North Carolina). Heathcock also had one steal in that win. This past Saturday, the Rams won 55-54 at Bryan College (Tennessee) without Heathcock. CIU (12-7, 11-4 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Bluefield University (Virginia) on Wednesday and hosts Kentucky Christian University on Saturday.

Haley Johnson

HALEY JOHNSON — Central Georgia Tech CC (So., Cass HS) … totaled 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and five steals as the Lady Titans lost last Wednesday at Albany Tech CC 63-52 and beat South Georgia Tech CC at home last Saturday, 67-63. Central Georgia Tech (8-9, 5-1 Georgia Collegiate Athletic Association) plays at South Georgia Tech CC on Saturday.

KEARA McDANIEL — Toccoa Falls College (So., Cass HS) … scored three points with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal last Tuesday in a 65-59 victory at Bob Jones University (South Carolina). In limited minutes this past Saturday, McDaniel had one rebound in a 70-63 overtime win at home over Pensacola Christian. The Screamin’ Eagles (14-2, 1-0 NCCCA Region) host Truett-MCConnell on Wednesday.

T.J. PRINTUP, JR. — Tusculum University (R-Fr., Adairsville HS) … in a pair of home wins last week over Emory & Henry College and Catawba College, Printup totaled 13 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two blocks. The Pioneers (7-8, 5-4 South Atlantic College) play at Lincoln Memorial University on Wednesday and at Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday.

WRESTLING

ANGEL BANDA — Reinhardt University (Sr., Adairsville HS) … was one of eleven seniors on the Eagles’ wrestling team who were recognized for their contributions to the program this past Friday. Reinhardt defeated Montevallo in the final home dual match of the season, 30-12. The Eagles will be back in action this weekend at the AAC Duals which will take place on the campus of Truett-McConnell.

COLTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … lost a 13-10 decision in the 125-pound weight class to his University of Montevallo opponent this past Friday. The Eagles did win the team match, however, 30-12. Up next for the Eagles is the Appalachian Athletic Conference Duals this weekend at Truett-McConnell.

EASTON BISHOP — Reinhardt University (Jr., Woodland HS) … picked up a 133-pound win by forfeit in the Eagles’ win over the University of Montevallo last Friday. Reinhardt travels to Truett-McConnell University this weekend for the AAC Duals Championship.

Tyler McKnight

TYLER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (Fr., Cass HS) … was one of the bright spots for the Wildcats this past Sunday in a 31-9 home loss to 30th-ranked Campbell University. Wrestling in the 149-pound weight class, McKnight won a hard-fought 4-1 decision. He is now ranked nationally as the No. 90 wrestler in his weight division. Davidson visits UT-Chattanooga for a dual match this Sunday.

JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-So., Woodland HS) … picked up his team’s only bout victory last Friday in a 38-4 team loss at 7th-ranked Ohio State. Smith, the No. 5 ranked 197-pounder in the nation, won a 16-4 major decision. This past Sunday in Bloomington, Smith won a 4-1 decision over his opponent at Indiana University but the Terrapins lost again, 21-15. Maryland hosts No. 1 Penn State this Sunday.

Elora Waterman

ELORA WATERMAN — Brewton Parker College (So., Cartersville HS) … finished 4-1 and placed fourth in the 101-pound division on Sunday, January 14 at the Bristol, Tennessee Tornado Open. On the weekend of January 6-7 at the Huntingdon Open, Waterman went 3-1 and placed third in the 109-pound weight class. Including forfeits this season, she is 8-4 in dual and tournament bouts. Next for BPC (5-2) is the Warrior Duals on Friday and Saturday in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

JABRIL WILLIAMS — Midway University (Jr., Cartersville HS) … went 1-2 last weekend in the 165-pound bracket as the Eagles participated in the Missouri Valley Invitational in Marshall, Missouri. The next event for Midway is a tri-match with the University of the Cumberlands (Kentucky) and Rio Grande University (Ohio).

TENNIS

Emily Surcey

EMILY SURCEY — Samford University (Jr., Cass HS) … won her Line 2 singles match with a 10-7 third set tiebreaker but the Bulldogs lost the team match to Mississippi State, 5-2, this past Saturday in Starkville. Surcey also teamed with Ally Hayduk in a 6-2 Line 1 doubles loss. Samford (0-1) hosts Alabama State this Saturday.

TRACK AND FIELD

BILL ARCHER — University of Montevallo (Jr., Cartersville HS) … placed 13th with a 4:39.23 mile at the KMS Invitational this past Sunday in Birmingham. Next on the schedule for the Falcons is the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championship on February 15-16 again in Birmingham.

Noah Baer

NOAH BAER — Baldwin Wallace University (Fr., Woodland HS) … placed 11th in the pole vault clearing 12 feet, 11.5 inches this past weekend at the Midwest Collegiate Invitational in Geneva, Ohio. The next meet for the Yellow Jackets is Saturday when they host the Dr. Taraschke Team Challenge.

DREW THAYER — University of Montevallo (Fr., Woodland HS) .. placed 10th with a 2:03.04 time in the 800-meter run at the KMS Invitational this past Sunday in Birmingham. Next on the schedule for the Falcons is the Gulf South Conference Indoor Championship on February 15-16 again in Birmingham.