Lee County sends four girls soccer stars to college, including two D-I
It was a historic day in Leesburg on Wednesday when Sarah Sheffield, Carsen Taylor, Nicole Polk and Danielle Brendel signed college offers, with Sheffield and Taylor becoming the school’s first two Division I signees ever.
Taking notice
Lee County’s wrestling program is sending 13 to the sectionals today, hoping for the beginning of what could be a historic end to an already landmark season. (ADDS: note on remaining area wrestlers competing at sections this weekend).
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Crisp County star LB Ruff signs with Kansas junior college Coffeyville; standout DE Johnson chooses Arkansas Baptist
Crisp County football stars Sherrod Ruff and Trey Johnson secure their college futures Wednesday during a pair of signing ceremonies at the school.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Monroe stars Smith, Williams sign on dotted line
Monroe linebacker Anthony Smith signs with Fort valley State, and Monroe receiver Kevin Williams signs with St. Augustine on Wednesday.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Albany star QB Byrd picks Ga. Military
The Indians’ star quarterback hopes Georgia Military will be a springboard to a Division I program.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Herald People’s Choice POY Hurley heads to Benedict
Lee County star and Herald People’s Choice Player of the Year Kenneth Hurley signs with Benedict College.
Navy Man
Deerfield-Windsor defensive lineman Patrick Forrestal signs with the U.S. Naval Academy, where his grandfather was an All-American more than 50 years ago.
PREP PEEK: DWS, Pelham boys crack Fab 5 Poll
DWS and Pelham both make debuts in the Fab 5 Poll while Monroe stays at No. 1 despite being upset by Terrell County. (ADDS: Fab 5 poll; Quote of the Week, By the Numbers and this week's schedule.)
Despite loss Saturday to R-C, Dawson still buzzing over Terrell County boys’ huge upset win in overtime against Herald No. 1 Monroe late Friday night
John Davis, who was not immediately available late Friday to give a reaction to his team's stunning win against Herald No. 1 Monroe, reflects 24 hours later Saturday before his team played Randolph-Clay.
McCrae powers Red Devils to stunning comeback win against rival Greenwave
Fueled by Herald Super 6er Gary McCrae’s huge night, Randolph-Clay’s boys stun bitter rival Terrell County in Dawson on Saturday.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK/ROUNDUP: Respect on rise for Lee County boys hoops team; Sherwood honors Stanford milestone before home win
First the Trojans handed Bainbridge its only 1-AAAAA loss in the last five years, then following Tuesday’s overtime loss in the rematch with the Bearcats, Lee County’s boys had officially turned some heads.
Super 6er McGhee reaches milestone, ready to lead No. 1 Tornadoes on deep state run
Senior Jabari McGhee is proud of reaching 1,000 points for his career, but he knows it means little if he can’t help Monroe parlay all its regular-season success into a run at the school’s first state title.
Bainbridge boys, girls sweep Lee in pair of nailbiters
The Herald No. 5 Bearcats avenge their lone region loss of the season to Lee on Tuesday in overtime, while the Lady Bearcats edge the Lady Trojans, 46-45.
ALBANY HERALD ALL-AREA, ALL-METRO TEAMS: Prep football
Check out which Southwest Georgia high school football players made The Herald's 2012 All-Area and All-Metro football teams.
HERALD ALL-AREA JOHN REYNOLDS COACH OF THE YEAR: Allen Lowe, Deerfield
Deerfield-Windsor coach Allen Lowe, who led his team to the GISA Class AAA state title and won his 200th game along the way, is named The Herald’s John Reynolds Coach of the Year for football.
HERALD ALL-AREA SOFTBALL: Randolph Southern ace Madison Ragan named Player of the Year
Madison Ragan dominated opponents this season, capping a junior season on the mound where she went 18-4 with an 0.58 ERA and had two no-hitters. (ADDS: All-Area Softball Team)
3RD ANNUAL PEOPLE'S CHOICE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kenneth Hurley, Lee County
Lee County’s quick-hit, all-everything, dual-threat running back/receiver Kenneth Hurley wins The Herald’s 3rd annual People’s Choice Football Player of the Year award after an online vote.
Monroe mashes Dougherty at Darton
Herald No. 1 Monroe beats Dougherty for the third time this season and is one region win away from clinching the top seed and the home court in the upcoming Region 1-AAAA tournament.
Talk of the town
Herald No. 4 Dougherty’s upset of No. 2 Monroe had Southwest Georgia hoops fans buzzing Friday night at Darton — but it was the controversial fashion in which the Lady Trojans won that was all the talk. (ADDS: items on Westover boys beating Albany in OT; Westover girls smoking Albany, 59-24)
Lee baseball’s Mosley, Stroud taking talents to Middle Georgia
Leesburg’s Chris Mosley and Andrew Stroud both sign baseball scholarships with Middle Georgia College on Friday at Lee County High School.
Herald Super 6er Oliver to sit out rest of year, transfer out of Crisp County after season
Herald Super 6er Nasheema's Oliver's father, Greg, tells The Herald on Wednesday night that his daughter is leaving Cordele after the end of the school year and will play basketball for another program next year -- her senior season --- after being booted from the team recently.
FAB 5 POLL: Randolph-Clay girls hang on to No. 1 spot
The Randolph-Clay girls stay at No. 1 after a scare from Calhoun County, which makes its debut at No. 5 in the Fab 5 Poll, and Monroe still rules the boys poll.
AFC CHAMPIONSHIP: Branch thankful for one more shot at a ring
Albany native Deion Branch, who already has two Super Bowl rings, and his Patriots need one more win today to get back to the Big Game for the second straight season.
Griggs goes wild, leads Greenwave past rival Red Devils
DiQuan Griggs has the game of his life Saturday, hitting seven 3s to lift Terrell County to its biggest win of the season against the Greenwave’s bitter rivals, Randolph-Clay.
Mitchell boys, Randolph-Clay girls debut as state No. 1s in first Class A power rankings
Herald No. 1 Randolph-Clay's girls and No. 5 Mitchell's boys start the first state power rankings on top Tuesday.
FAB 5 POLL: Dougherty, Americus-Sumter girls break into poll
Monroe’s boys and Randolph-Clay’s girls stay on top, and the Dougherty and Americus-Sumter girls and Mitchell County boys enter the Fab 5 Poll this week.
Monroe finishes sweep of Westover in regular season
Herald Super 6er Jabari McGhee has another big game for Herald No. 1 Monroe and the Tornadoes beat No. 2 Westover for the third time this season, 66-62, on Saturday night at the Civic Center.
Westover girls upset Herald No. 2 Monroe; Lady Trojans cruise past Albany High
Westover's girls bounce back after a tough loss to Dougherty on Friday with a 37-22 win against Herald No. 2 Monroe, while Dougherty’s Ra’Keta Shelton scores 28 to lead the Lady Trojans past Albany High.
Late bucket lifts Albany past Dougherty in OT
Albany High’s Dezmand Newberry hits the game-winning shot with 30 seconds left in overtime to lift the Indians past Dougherty on Saturday in the Civic Center, 51-50.
COLUMN: Well done, baseball writers
Herald staff writer Mike Phillips writes about the recent decision by the Baseball Writers of America Association to leave Steroid Era players out of the Hall of Fame.
Deerfield baseball star Webb earns coveted national preseason honor
Harris Webb, a slick-fielding, moneyball hitting shortstop, has been selected as a preseason All-American and will play in the Under Armour Preseason All-American Tournament in Arizona later this month.
Monroe crushes Randolph-Clay, improves to 12-2
Herald No. 1 Monroe starts slow but finishes strong to cruise to a 73-48 victory against Herald No. 3 Randolph-Clay.
Herald No. 5 Bainbridge beats rival Seminole, 70-55
Dontavious Marshall scores a career-high 27 points to lead the Bearcats to victory against Seminole County in front of a standing-room-only crowd in Donalsonville. (ADDS: Seminole girls beat Bainbridge)
PREP ROUNDUP: Seminole County boys knock off Pelham, get set for tonight’s showdown vs. Bainbridge
The Seminole County boys hold off Pelham, 77-69, while the Pelham girls win easily in Donalsonville, 65-45. (ADDS: Sherwood, Randolph Southern basketball; Lee County wrestling)
Counting down Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories of 2012 --- #4: Three area high school coaches achieve career milestones
The Herald’s sports staff has chosen, in our eyes, Southwest Georgia’s Top 10 sports stories from 2012. Today marks the seventh 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. 3 in Sunday’s edition of The Herald.
The lady can coach
Jada Frazier, who coaches the boys basketball team at Dougherty Middle School, has earned the respect of her players and fans, and is working on the respect of others.
Man of many blessings
Dan Land’s life changed when he came to Albany State to play football almost 30 years ago, and even after 12 years in the NFL, Land says the most important things are family, friends and a home in the Good Life City.
PREP PEEK: Monroe, Pelham girls primed for 1-2 showdown
With the boys poll staying intact, the big move this week is by Pelham’s girls, who stay unbeaten and go from No. 4 to No. 2, setting up a 1 vs. 2 showdown Thursday. (INCLUDES FAB 5 POLL, Quote of the Week, Games of the Week and By the Numbers)
Storm’s a brewing!
The Herald No. 1 Tornadoes officially prove they’re the force to be reckoned with in Southwest Georgia basketball this season after beating No. 2 Westover for the second time in eight days Saturday. (ADDS: roundup items on Albany High beating Manchester, and Statesboro turning back Dougherty in the consolation games of the U Save It Tournament).
Buckle up
All four city teams play today in the U Save It Pharmacy Basketball Tournament, which begins at 4 p.m. at Albany High and concludes Saturday at the Civic Center.
Monroe boys, girls reign with unbeaten records
Monroe’s boys and girls stay unbeaten and remain the top-ranked teams in The Herald’s Fab 5 Poll.
‘We miss him so much’
You’d be hard pressed to find a single person in Donalsonville — or anyone, for that matter, who knew Jesse McLeod — who doesn’t feel this way about the longtime Seminole County Athletic Director and girls basketball coach, who lost a sudden battle with cancer shortly after last season, sending shockwaves through an entire community.
Price powers No. 1 Monroe girls past Westover
Key Key Price drops 29 — and nearly outscores Westover all by herself — to win Friday’s rivalry matchup, 45-32, and keep the Lady Tornadoes unbeaten.
Not in their house!
No. 1 Monroe protects its home floor Friday with a 70-63 win against No. 2 Westover to remain unbeaten and atop The Herald’s Fab 5 Poll.
Lee County A.D.: Give new hoops coaches time to build program
Rob Williams gives a vote of confidence to Lee County’s new boys and girls basketball coaches, despite the fact both teams are off to 2-5 starts. (EDITS: corrects Kirven Davis' overall career coaching record and seasons at Colquitt County)
FAB 5 POLL: Monroe boys, girls still on top; Pelham girls break in
After a pair of big wins over the weekend, Monroe’s boys and girls are still No. 1 in The Herald’s Fab 5 Poll, while Pelham’s girls replace Westover.
'Price' is right
Monroe star Key Key Price helps The Herald’s top-ranked Lady Tornadoes knock off No. 2 Crisp County on Friday night in the season’s first 1 vs. 2 Fab 5 showdown.
Porter paces Herald No. 1 Monroe boys past Crisp, keeps Tornadoes unbeaten
Hakeem Porter comes off the bench and comes up big Friday to lead Monroe past Crisp in a nailbiter, 40-39, to keep The Herald No. 1 Tornadoes perfect.
Ball night!
Football season is all but over and it’s time for basketball to take center stage as the first big weekend of area action is here, including games between Monroe vs. Crisp County, Westover vs. Terrell County and Mitchell vs. Calhoun the next two days.
Monroe boys, girls debut on top of first Fab 5 Polls
The Herald’s first Fab 5 Polls for prep basketball are out, and it’s all Monroe as the Tornadoes and Lady Tornadoes start the year on top. (ADDS: Boys, girls polls)
