Sports

Lady Blue Devil teammates hug injured senior Maggie Campbell (center) at the conclusion of Senior Night Jan. 31 in the Inferno. (Photo by Cary Best)

Lady Blue Devil teammates hug injured senior Maggie Campbell (center) at the conclusion of Senior Night Jan. 31 in the Inferno. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Seniors shine in season finale

Cary Best
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
There was a moment Friday night.  Elbert County had already celebrated its 16 winter-sports athletes (Joshua Allen, Shun Allen, D.J.
Mat Devil senior Nolan Johnson (right) defeated Monticello’s 145-pound Anderson Reid 6-0 during the 2020 6-AA Area Traditional tournament Feb. 1 in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

Mat Devil senior Nolan Johnson (right) defeated Monticello’s 145-pound Anderson Reid 6-0 during the 2020 6-AA Area Traditional tournament Feb. 1 in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

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12 Devils qualify for sectionals

Cary Best
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Twelve Mat Devils qualified for sectionals last Saturday, Feb. 1 by placing in the top four of the 6-AA Area Traditional tournament in Elberton. The 12 qualifiers and one alternate will travel to Lamar County High School for the Georgia High School Association’s Class AA Sectional A meet Feb. 7-8.
Sophomore shooting guard Jamil Burton led the Blue Devils in scoring with 21 points in Elbert County’s 71-64 first-round region tournament win over Monticello Feb. 3 at Banks County in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

Sophomore shooting guard Jamil Burton led the Blue Devils in scoring with 21 points in Elbert County’s 71-64 first-round region tournament win over Monticello Feb. 3 at Banks County in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Elbert advances to region second round

Cary Best
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Elbert County defeated Monticello twice in three days.  Friday night (Jan. 31) the Blue Devils down Monticello 89-84 in a double overtime season finale in Elberton. The Senior Night win forced a Monday night rematch (Feb. 3) in the first-round of the Region 8-AA tournament hosted by Banks County.
Blue Devils (L-R) Christian Harris, Ben Rucker, Tobias Jones and Kobin Eberhardt battle Leopards (L-R) Sawyer Pace and Carl Cleveland in the closing seconds of Elbert County’s 54-51 loss to Banks County Jan. 24 in Elberton. (Photos by Cary Best)

Blue Devils (L-R) Christian Harris, Ben Rucker, Tobias Jones and Kobin Eberhardt battle Leopards (L-R) Sawyer Pace and Carl Cleveland in the closing seconds of Elbert County’s 54-51 loss to Banks County Jan. 24 in Elberton. (Photos by Cary Best)

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Elbert-Banks was a ‘Dogfight’

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
In the midst of a four-game losing, the Blue Devils found a spark to build on.  Elbert started Week 11 with a nine-point home loss (63-54) to Rabun County Jan. 21.  Freshman point guard Ben Rucker led Elbert in scoring with 13 points followed by D.J. Ardister (11), A.J.
Lady Blue Devil freshman Terrace Hester (center) splits two Lady Leopard defenders during Elbert County’s 51-44 win over Banks County Jan. 24 in Elberton. (Photo by Dan Giles)

Lady Blue Devil freshman Terrace Hester (center) splits two Lady Leopard defenders during Elbert County’s 51-44 win over Banks County Jan. 24 in Elberton. (Photo by Dan Giles)

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Lady Devils beat Banks, again!

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
  For the first time in school history, the Elbert County Girls Basketball team has beaten Banks County twice in a single season.  The Week 11 bellwether win came in the midst of region play, but topping Banks a third time this season  may provide the key for Elbert to reach the state playoffs.
Mat Devil junior Jamal Rucker (top) defeated East Jackson’s Ryan Sparks by pin in the second round of 126-pound division of the Inferno Invitational Jan. 25 in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

Mat Devil junior Jamal Rucker (top) defeated East Jackson’s Ryan Sparks by pin in the second round of 126-pound division of the Inferno Invitational Jan. 25 in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Mat Devils finish second in host meet

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
The Mat Devils finished  as runners-up in the annual Inferno Invitational Jan. 25 in the Inferno.  Jackson County won the 15-team traditional style meet with 198 points, followed by Elbert with 125 points and Rabun Gap with 110.
Lady Blue Devil freshman (left) drives to the basket during Elbert County’s 49-15 win at Oglethorpe High School Jan. 17 in Lexington. (Photo by Dan Giles)

Lady Blue Devil freshman (left) drives to the basket during Elbert County’s 49-15 win at Oglethorpe High School Jan. 17 in Lexington. (Photo by Dan Giles)

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Elbert’s region play heats up

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
With two weeks left in region play, the Lady Blue Devils find themselves battling the best in the state. Elbert (13-7, 5-4 in Region 8-AA) split a pair of conference games in Week 10. To start the week, the Lady Devils fell 49-45 at No. 6 state-ranked Union County Jan. 14 in Blairsville.
Blue Devil freshman Christian Harris (center) shoot between Patriot defenders during Elbert County’s 76-37 region win at Oglethorpe County Jan. 17 in Lexington.(Photo by Dan Giles)

Blue Devil freshman Christian Harris (center) shoot between Patriot defenders during Elbert County’s 76-37 region win at Oglethorpe County Jan. 17 in Lexington.(Photo by Dan Giles)

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Devils battle for region wins

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Blue Devils battle for region relevancy continued in Week 10. Elbert County split a pair of conference games, losing 63-45 at Union County Jan. 14 but beating Oglethorpe County 76-37 Jan. 17 in Lexington. The Devils wrapped up the week with a 57-52 loss to St.
Mat Devils Alex Maxwell (left) and Qwen Moss react after falling 45-27 to eventual state champions Chattooga High School during the state team dual wrestling championships Jan. 16-18 in Macon. (Photo by Cary Best)

Mat Devils Alex Maxwell (left) and Qwen Moss react after falling 45-27 to eventual state champions Chattooga High School during the state team dual wrestling championships Jan. 16-18 in Macon. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Devils ride emotional roller coaster in duals

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
The Elbert County wrestling team battled through injuries and setbacks to finish in third place during the state team dual championships Jan. 16-18 in Macon. After the No. 3 seeded Elbert received a first-round bye, it handily defeated Lamar 55-17 in the quarterfinals.
Mat Devils (L-R) Jamal Rucker, Alberto Cervantes, Jake Keblish, Tyshawn Hughes and Marty Bailey react to senior Brice Noggle getting a pin during Elbert County’s 34-27 win over Oglethorpe County during the Area 6-AA Dual semi-finals Jan. 11 at Jasper County High School in Monticello. (Photo by Cary Best)

Mat Devils (L-R) Jamal Rucker, Alberto Cervantes, Jake Keblish, Tyshawn Hughes and Marty Bailey react to senior Brice Noggle getting a pin during Elbert County’s 34-27 win over Oglethorpe County during the Area 6-AA Dual semi-finals Jan. 11 at Jasper County High School in Monticello. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Elbert edges Oglethorpe for state bid

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
The 2020 Area 6-AA Duals was a teeth-gnashing affair. Elbert County took Oglethorpe County down to the last match before winning the semifinals 34-27 Jan. 11 at Jasper County High School in Monticello.