Sports

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.
Lady Blue Devil Terrace Hester (right) scored 10 points in Elbert County’s 54-48 loss against Putnam County Jan. 7 in the Inferno in Elberton.(Photo by Cary Best)

Lady Blue Devil Terrace Hester (right) scored 10 points in Elbert County’s 54-48 loss against Putnam County Jan. 7 in the Inferno in Elberton.(Photo by Cary Best)

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Lady Devils play to mixed results

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
The Lady Blue Devils experienced a roller coaster of emotions last week. Elbert saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end with a 54-48 loss to Region 8-AA opponent Putnam County Jan. 7 in the Inferno.
Blue Devil sophomore Jamil Burton (right) led Elbert County’s 73-61 win over Putnam County with a career-high 28 points Jan. 7 in the Inferno in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

Blue Devil sophomore Jamil Burton (right) led Elbert County’s 73-61 win over Putnam County with a career-high 28 points Jan. 7 in the Inferno in Elberton. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Blue Devils search for region wins

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
The young Blue Devils split a pair of region games last week and will look to remain relevant heading into the second half of conference play this week. Elbert began the week with a 73-61 win over Region 8-AA school Putnam Jan. 7 in Elberton.
Lady Blue Devil freshman Aaniah Allen (center) scored 16 points in Elbert County’s 57-54 region victory at Banks County Jan. 3 in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

Lady Blue Devil freshman Aaniah Allen (center) scored 16 points in Elbert County’s 57-54 region victory at Banks County Jan. 3 in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

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Fantastic freshmen win seven in a row

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Elbert’s fantastic freshmen have blazed their way into school history. After racking up an undefeated middle school record of 33-0, the highly touted crew entered varsity ranks with much anticipation. Hardly anybody, however,  could have predicted their most recent successes.
Blue Devil freshman Quan Moss drives to the basket during Elbert County’s 71-31 loss at Banks County Jan. 3 in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

Blue Devil freshman Quan Moss drives to the basket during Elbert County’s 71-31 loss at Banks County Jan. 3 in Homer. (Photo by Cary Best)

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‘Struggling’ Devils look for wins

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Struggling was the word coach Don Hurlburt used to describe his current crop of Blue Devils. Elbert, now 4-10 on the season, has dropped its last six games in a row by a combined total of 122 points. To add insult to injury, the most recent losses came against two region opponents.
Mat Devils (L-R) Gavin Brady, Tyshawn Hughes and Brice Noggle each won their weight class during the East Metro Invitational Jan. 4 at Monroe Area High School. (Photo courtesy of Blue Devil Wrestling)

Mat Devils (L-R) Gavin Brady, Tyshawn Hughes and Brice Noggle each won their weight class during the East Metro Invitational Jan. 4 at Monroe Area High School. (Photo courtesy of Blue Devil Wrestling)

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Mat Devils to battle for state berth

Cary Best
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Winning nearly every tournament they’ve entered this season (19-1), a dominant Mat Devils team will enter the Area 6-AA Duals at Monticello High School Jan. 11 with momentum.