Sports

The 2020 Golf Devils are (L-R) Thomas Brady, Jake Harper, Ethan Cone, Ashford Bennett, Eli Goff, Tamar Burton, Nathan Thornton, Evan Yeargin, Brady Starrett, Slate Crook, Levi Johnson and coach Larry Kesler. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Golfers open season with high hopes

Cary Best

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

As the Elbert County golf teams tee off into new seasons against Franklin and Oglethorpe counties Feb. 20 at Arrowhead Pointe Golf Course inside Lake Richard B. Russell State Park, it will be with high expectations. Both the boys and girls teams won their respective area championships last season.

File photo by Cary Best

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Elbert falls at Jackson

Cary Best

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

The Diamond Devils, now 1-1 on the new season, dropped their second game of the year at Jackson County Feb. 12 in Jefferson. The Elbert County Blue Devils put together a seven-hit affair but committed as many errors on the night.

Blue Devil senior Brayden Eavenson scores as Tiger Nathan Durham (right) attempts to make a tag in the fifth inning of Elbert County’s 9-0 home-opening win over Washington-Wilkes Feb. 10 on Devils Field. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Devils start season with a win

Cary Best

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

The Diamond Devils opened the season with a 9-0 win over Washington-Wilkes Feb. 10 at Devils Field despite inclement weather. “It’s terrible conditions to play, but we knew we needed to get it in,” said Elbert County head coach Lance Ingram about the rainy night affair.

Senior Brice Noggle won the 182-pound GHSA Class AA Sectional A championship Feb. 8 at Lamar County High School. (File photo by Cary Best)

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Eight qualify for state

Cary Best

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Eight Blue Devils qualified for the Georgia High School Association’s (GHSA) 2020 Traditional State Championships Feb. 12-15 at the Macon Coliseum.

Lady Blue Devil freshmen (L-R) Aaniyah Allen, Terrace Hester and Niya Moon were all selected to Region 8-AA’s All-Region first team last week.

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Elbert wraps up basketball

Cary Best

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Elbert County’s basketball teams wrapped up their seasons last week during the second round of the Region 8-AA tournament. The Blue Devils went 9-18 overall and 5-9 in the region. Elbert entered the region tourney as the sixth seed and defeated Monticello 71-64 in the first round.

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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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.