See ya soon!
The Westover girls’ upset of Herald No. 2 Dougherty on Friday in both teams’ regular-season finales was big, but it will be a lot bigger if the Lady Patriots can do it again next week in the region tournament.
Lee County boys top region foe Hardaway on Brown's big 3
Jaysyn Brown's 3-pointer late in the game with 18 seconds left lifts Lee County's boys past Hardaway on Tuesday, 51-49. (ADDS: item on Hardaway girls beating Lee)
Herald No. 4 Pelham girls get even with T’Ville, hand Lady Bulldogs second loss; Hornets win, on verge of clinching Region 1-AA's No. 1 seed
Pelham’s girls avenge one of their only losses of the season Friday night in thrilling fashion, while the Hornets all but lock up home court for the region tourney.
Iron fist
Randolph-Clay’s girls team is a close-knit, unselfish group of players who have climbed to the top spot in the Class A state rankings and The Herald Fab 5 Poll — but all they want is a state title.
FAB 5 POLL: Dougherty girls climb to No. 2
The Monroe boys and Randolph-Clay girls stay No. 1, while the Dougherty girls shake up the Fab 5 Poll after Friday’s thrilling win against rival Monroe.
HERALD ALL-AREA JOHN REYNOLDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Charles Stafford, Monroe
Monroe junior quarterback Charles Stafford, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and led Monroe to the Class AAAA Sweet 16, is named The Herald's John Reynolds Player of the Year for football, while Deerfield coach Allen Lowe wins Coach of the Year and Lee County's Kenneth Hurley wins The Herald's 3rd annual People's Choice Player of the Year honor.
HERALD ALL-AREA CROSS COUNTRY: Southland's Calhoun, Westwood's Harrell run away with Player of Year awards
Southland freshman Wright Calhoun, who ran the fastest time in recent years in Southwest Georgia, was a runaway choice as The Herald's Player of the Year for boys cross country, while Perra Harrell, a remarkable freshman runner who won the GISA Class AA state title, is The Herald's Player of the Year for girls cross country. (ADDS: All-Area boys, girls cross country teams)
Washington twins save day vs. Calhoun, gives Herald — and state — No. 1 Randolph-Clay narrow 53-51 win
Whenikia Washington and twin sister Kanekia play hero for The Herald and state No. 1 Lady Red Devils on Friday as Randolph-Clay goes into Edison and holds on for a thrilling win against region rival Calhoun County. (ADDS: note on Calhoun boys beating Randolph-Clay)
PREP HOOPS NOTEBOOK/ROUNDUP: R-C girls, Mitchell boys ready to defend No. 1 state power ranking tonight
Randolph-Clay’s girls and Mitchell County’s boys are grabbing the attention of the rest of the state after debuting at No. 1 in the season’s first Class A power rankings. (ADDS: roundup items on Crisp Academy-Valwood girls; Terrell Academy-Fullington boys, girls)
THURSDAY'S PREP HOOPS NOTEBOOK: Lee boys thrilled after first region win in five seasons; Westover finds positives in loss to No. 1 Tift
The Trojans knock off TCC late Tuesday for the program’s first region victory since the 2007 season, while Westover's boys are feeling as confident as ever after pushing No. 1 Tift County to the brink in Tuesday's narrow loss.
Terrifying, teriffic Tift
Easily one of the best teams in all of Georgia and maybe the nation — Tift County — comes to Albany on Tuesday and edges Westover at the Boston Garden, 87-77, in a game that's the closest any team in Georgia has come to beating the nationally ranked Blue Devils this season.
Mitchell County boys slip by Seminole in OT in big 1-A duel
In a clash of the titans in Region 1-A, the Eagles win a thriller Friday against the Indians, 55-54, in Donalsonville.
Worth County’s Williams closes career on high note, looks to NFL Draft
Former Herald Dynamite Dozen selection and Kansas State star defensive end Meshak Williams of Sylvester is ready to take his talents — and his Big 12 Player of the Year award — to the pros.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL --- WEEKLY PREP PEEK: R-C girls overtake Monroe as new No. 1
Randolph-Clay’s girls take over as the No. 1 team after beating Monroe, and both Fab 5 Polls get a new look as Seminole’s girls and boys make debuts. (ADDS: new Fab 5 boys, girls poll; Quote of the Week; area schedule; By The Numbers; and Games of the Week).
Defining win
Randolph-Clay’s Adriana Blackmon makes a steal and a bucket in the final seconds to lift the Lady Red Devils to a thrilling 56-54 win against No. 1 Monroe.
Counting down Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories of 2012 --- #5: Southwest Georgia loses four beloved sports figures
The Herald’s sports staff has chosen, in our eyes, Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories from 2012. Today marks the sixth of 10 we’ve picked as having a significant impact as we count down to No. 1, which will appear in the Jan. 1 edition. Look for No. 4 in Saturday’s edition of The Herald.
Counting down Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories of 2012 --- #6: Area GHSA, GISA programs celebrate state championships
The Herald’s sports staff has chosen, in our eyes, Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories from 2012. Today marks the fifth of 10 we’ve picked as having a significant impact as we count down to No. 1, which will appear in the Jan. 1 edition. Look for No. 5 in Friday’s edition of The Herald.
They meet again
Eight days after Herald No. 1-ranked Monroe and No. 2 Westover’s boys hoops teams played an epic battle on Monroe’s home floor — with the Tornadoes winning Round 1, 70-63 — the two city rivals will meet again tonight in the championship game of the U Save It Pharmacy Boys Basketball Tournament after both won their semifinal games Friday, only this time the showdown will take place on the big stage at the Albany Civic Center. (INCLUDES: both teams' game stories from Friday)
Opening night
The Herald No. 1 Tornadoes beat Terrell County to improve to 8-0 and advance to the U Save It Tournament semifinals Thursday night, while Albany falls to Statesboro, Dougherty drubs Webster and Westover slips by previously unbeaten Manchester.
No. 1 Monroe, No. 2 Westover clash tonight
Monroe and Westover meet tonight in another classic showdown between The Herald’s top two ranked boys teams at Monroe.
Lady Rams fall in OT to Shorter in home opener
Former Bainbridge star April Thomas hits a 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, but Albany State’s Lady Rams fall to Shorter, 53-49, in their home opener.
New-look Westover boys team thriving on physical play
New faces bring new challenges for longtime Westover boys coach Dallis Smith, who is opting for a more physical style of play this season, especially down low.
Davis leads Westover boys to comeback win against Crisp County
C.J. Davis scores 10 of his game-high 23 points in the final seven minutes to lead The Herald No. 2 Westover Patriots to a 71-62 comeback victory against Crisp County. (ADDS: Herald No. 2 Crisp County's girls' 63-54 win against Westover.)
Westover beats Terrell County for first time in 3 years
Westover’s T.J. Cromer and Kell Miller combine for 46 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Patriots to a 73-53 victory against the Greenwave on Saturday. (ADDS: Westover girls win, 52-21)
DWS hoops off and running just days after football state title
The Knights are just days removed from a state football title, and several of those gridiron stars are key on the DWS basketball team, which opened the season with a win Tuesday.
SHERWOOD VS. DEERFIELD: Deerfield girls sneak by rival Sherwood, 42-31; Knights stomp Eagles in opener
Deerfield’s girls stop Sherwood on Tuesday in the first meeting of the season between the two rivals, while the Knights hammer the Eagles in their 2012-13 opener.
SUNDAY PREP FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: DWS’ huge senior class goes out as champs; Seminole County coach Ingram rips refs after playoff loss
Deerfield’s senior class ends their amazing careers Friday with 48 wins and the coveted honor as GISA Class AAA state champs. (ADDS: items on Westwood and Seminole County)
PREVIEW: Seminole County’s magical season heads into Elite 8 round against Dooly
No one thought the Indians would be in the state quarterfinals, but here they are facing Dooly County and the best defensive tackle in the nation.
Get outta their way
That’s the basic message Deerfield has been sending to the rest of GISA’s Class AAA for the last 10 games — all wins — as the Knights seem like a team destined for another state crown, and it’s a quest that continues tonight at “The Webb” in the semifinals vs the team that knocked them out in the same spot a year ago: Stratford Academy.
OPENING NIGHT: Monroe, Albany, Westover, Dougherty tip-off seasons at Civic Center
At one point during Saturday’s season opener for both Monroe and Dougherty’s basketball teams at the Albany Civic Center, the Tornadoes led, 28-0, before cruising to a 53-27 shellacking of their city rival. (ADDS: game recaps between Westover-Albany boys and girls and Monroe-Dougherty girls)
FRIDAY'S PREP FOOTBALL ROUNDUP: Monroe upsets No. 5 state-ranked Griffin; Early County stomps Bleckley County on road
Herald Dynamite Dozen selection Charles Stafford has a monster night Friday to lead the Tornadoes past No. 5 state-ranked Griffin and into the second round of the GHSA Class AAAA state playoffs. (ADDS: full list of state playoff scores and roundup items on Early-Bleckley; Bainbridge-Union Grove; Lee County-Whitewater; Westwood-Edmund Burke; Crisp Academy-Dawson Street; Stockbridge-Worth County and Randolph Southern-Thomas Jefferson)
Deerfield trounces Tattnall in state playoff opener, 42-21
Deerfield needed a last-second drive to beat Tattnall earlier this year in Macon, but this time the Knights take care of business early en route to a first-round state win.
Bainbridge No. 1 team in final Fab 5 Poll
The Bearcats end the regular season on top of the Fab 5 Poll after knocking off Lee County on Friday in a game for the ages.
Westwood opens playoffs with a 35-0 win against Briarwood
The Westwood Wildcats, who won 26-games in a row and back-to-back GISA Class A state titles before moving to AA this season, looked as good as ever Saturday night in a 35-0 win against Briarwood to open the Class AA state playoffs.
Game of the Year
In what may go down as one of the most thrilling games in Southwest Georgia high school football history, Herald No. 2-ranked Bainbridge charges out to a 35-point lead Friday at home, then has to hold off a wild comeback by No. 1 Lee County to win, 49-42, in a barnburner for the ages.
PREVIEW: Westwood begins its march to 3rd straight state title tonight
No one was sure what would happen when Westwood, which had won 26 in a row and back-to-back-state titles, moved up to GISA Class AA this year, but here the Wildcats are again, beginning the playoffs tonight with the goal of winning another state crown.
PREP FOOTBALL PREDICTION COLUMN: Wait ... the regular season is already over?
Herald High School Writer Mike Phillips makes his predictions for the final week of the regular season and the first week of playoffs in GISA's Class AA
Cairo denies Monroe region title
Monroe had its chances Friday to snatch the Region 1-AAAA crown from No. 1 Cairo, the Syrupmakers hold on for a 28-20 win to capture their third championship in a row.
GAME OF THE WEEK: Deerfield, Pinewood face off for 1st place in region
For the second week in a row, Deerfield faces a huge home test against an unbeaten team in its region.
PREP FOOTBALL PREDICTION COLUMN: Westover will be scoreboard-watching tonight
Herald High School Writer Mike Phillips tries to break down the complicated scenario that awaits Region 1-AAAA heading into games, including why Westover may be more interested in the score of the Cairo-Americus game rather than its own.
PREVIEW: It's David vs. Goliath as tiny, Class A Randolph Southern takes on AA Flint River today for state softball championship
Randolph Southern, one of the smallest Class A GISA schools in the state, overcomes being forced to play in the higher Class AA classification to reach the AA state title series today against powerhouse Flint River
Take that!: Knights sack Hornets
Matthew Fox gets four of Deerfield’s six sacks and Kh’Ron McClain scores four times as the Knights rout Westfield, 28-7, in a battle between GISA’s top two Class AAA teams in the state.
After trying week, Herald No. 1 Lee County gets set for biggest game of year vs. TCC
Lee County faces Thomas County Central tonight in the biggest game of the year following a week of turmoil that came about after a parent of a player was arrested and removed from the Trojans’ practice field.
State title preview?
Deerfield, the top-ranked GISA Class AAA team in the state, meets No. 2 Westfield tonight in a game that will likely decide the region title and the home field advantage throughout the state playoffs.
PREP FOOTBALL PREDICTION COLUMN: Buckle up — the home stretch of the season is here
Herald High School Beat Writer Mike Phillips breaks down four huge games taking place tonight in Southwest Georgia that will go a long way to shaping the state playoff picture.
Darton soccer beats Andrew, caps first perfect regular season in school history
The No. 1 nationally ranked Darton men’s soccer team crushes local rival Andrew College on Tuesday to finish the school’s first unbeaten regular season as the Cavs now turn their focus to winning regionals, followed by nationals.
Lee County stays on top of scrambled Fab 5 Poll
The Lee County Trojans are still undefeated and still No. 1 in the Herald Fab 5 Poll after a bye week, but the rest of the poll changed after a wild Week 8 in high school football.
PREP FOOTBALL PREDICTION COLUMN: Monroe turns it up tonight
Herald High School Writer Mike Phillips says Monroe knows it's now or never tonight against Americus-Sumter if the Tornadoes still hope to capture the Region 1-AAAA title.
Wade officially takes over in Americus as Panthers host Tornadoes in crucial Region 1-AAAA showdown
With Americus-Sumter head football coach Michael Pollock officially terminated this week, Chris Wade leads The Herald No. 3 Panthers into arguably the team’s biggest game of the season tonight.
DYNAMITE DOZEN PROFILE NO. 6: Anthony Smith, Monroe
Monroe linebacker Anthony Smith plays his own brand of football, driven by the memory of his mother and the love of his grandmother who raised him, and Smith plays the game all-out full speed ahead.
