Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock drives to the basket in Rabun County’s 71-48 win against Elbert County on Jan. 20. Blalock posted a triple-double in the win. Navy-commit Blalock finished the night with 10 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock drives to the basket in Rabun County’s 71-48 win against Elbert County on Jan. 20. Blalock posted a triple-double in the win. Navy-commit Blalock finished the night with 10 points, 15 assists, 10 rebounds and three steals.

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RCHS hoops splits home stand

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County boys and girls basketball teams were back at home on Tuesday night, Jan. 20, as the hometown squads split against region opponent Elbert County. The Lady Wildcats fell to the Blue Devils, 54-49, sliding to 14-4 on the season.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton fights off defenders for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 45-7 season-opening win over Marshall on Aug. 30, 2025. Stockton, who finished seventh in Heisman voting this season, will return to Georgia for his redshirt senior season in 2026.

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Stockton set to return to UGA for his final season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
With both the deadline for NFL Draft decisions – Jan. 14 – and transfer portal decisions – Jan. 16 – having passed, former Rabun County standout Gunner Stockton will be officially returning to the University of Georgia for his final season of college football.
File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

File/Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Willie Goodwyn goes in for a touchdown on Oct. 20, 2023, for Rabun County on the road against Athens Christian in the Wildcats’ win. Goodwyn has announced he is transferring from Cincinnati to Tulsa.

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Former RCHS Wildcat Goodwyn announces his transfer to Tulsa

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Former Rabun County standout and Cincinnati Bearcat Willie Goodwyn announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal on Dec. 16. Just over a month later, on Jan.
Photo courtesy Randy Crump. Valentina Arias Camargo was the top finisher in the 100 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, and in the Mixed 200 Free Relay events in The National Long Course Swimming Championship.

Photo courtesy Randy Crump. Valentina Arias Camargo was the top finisher in the 100 Free, 100 Fly, 200 Free, and in the Mixed 200 Free Relay events in The National Long Course Swimming Championship.

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Camargo has major international success while representing Panama

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tallulah Falls School athletes like Valentina Arias Camargo not only excel locally, but also internationally. Over the holiday break, the senior from Juan Diaz, Panama, had the opportunity to swim and represent her country in The National Long Course Swimming Championship. From Dec.
Photo courtesy Audrey Borchers. Brian Neely pushes the ball up the court in TFS’s 75-33 road win over Riverside Military Academy on Jan. 13. The Indians are ranked third.

Photo courtesy Audrey Borchers. Brian Neely pushes the ball up the court in TFS’s 75-33 road win over Riverside Military Academy on Jan. 13. The Indians are ranked third.

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Tallulah Falls cruises past Riverside for back-to-back wins

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
No. 3-ranked Tallulah Falls won a 75-33 game on Jan. 13 at Riverside Military Academy, securing a back-to-back win and moving to 3-1 in region play. The Indians (9-6) raced out to a 21-8 lead after one, and stretched the advantage to 39-21 going into the break.
Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Marta Beltran had 10 points in Tallulah Falls’ Jan. 17 win over ranked Bethlehem Christian 46-35 at home.

Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Marta Beltran had 10 points in Tallulah Falls’ Jan. 17 win over ranked Bethlehem Christian 46-35 at home.

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TFS girls secure first top-10 win this season over No. 9-ranked Bethlehem Christian

(not verified)
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Tallulah Falls reeled off its second straight win in a 46-35 home victory Jan. 17 against No. 9-ranked Bethlehem Christian. It marks the first top-10 win for the Lady Indians this season, and third all-time. TFS jumped out to a 20-4 opening quarter.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. A smiling Rabun Gap senior RJ Lacossade from Turks and Caicos cuts Rabun Gap boys assistant basketball coach Darrick Cureton’s hair in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School locker room on Jan. 12. Lacossade has been cutting hair for several years now, cutting his own hair and other students at RGNS.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. A smiling Rabun Gap senior RJ Lacossade from Turks and Caicos cuts Rabun Gap boys assistant basketball coach Darrick Cureton’s hair in the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School locker room on Jan. 12. Lacossade has been cutting hair for several years now, cutting his own hair and other students at RGNS.

Rabun Gap’s Lacossade’s journey to 1,000 points

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
RJ Lacossade left his home in Turks and Caicos at the age of 14 to pursue a higher level of basketball. Just over three years and more than 1,000 points later, he is still chasing his dream and striving to make his family, and country proud.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County junior linebacker JK Fruster celebrates with assistant coach Ty Maxwell after the Rabun County defense forces a turnover in the Wildcats’ 49-42 road win over Dalton on Sept. 5, 2025.

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Rabun releases 2026 Wildcat football schedule

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
The Rabun County football team officially released its schedule for the 2026 season on Thursday, Jan. 8, in a post on the team’s official X (formerly known as Twitter) account as RCHS will face both former Coach Shaws with their current teams.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Millie Southards and Athens Academy’s Millie Pugmire fight for a loose ball on the final possession of Rabun County’s 51-48 win over Athens Academy on Jan 13. Southards knocked the ball free on the last possession, sealing the win for the Lady Wildcats.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Millie Southards and Athens Academy’s Millie Pugmire fight for a loose ball on the final possession of Rabun County’s 51-48 win over Athens Academy on Jan 13. Southards knocked the ball free on the last possession, sealing the win for the Lady Wildcats.

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RCHS girls & boys hoops capture close victories over Athens Academy

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
TIGER – There was no shortage of nail-biting basketball in Tiger on Tuesday night, as both the Rabun County boys and girls basketball teams made a key defensive stop in its respective wins over Athens Academy. The No.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior Lydia McNabb fights off a Carolina Day defender in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. The Lady Eagles had over three weeks in between games due to the holiday break.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap senior Lydia McNabb fights off a Carolina Day defender in Rabun Gap’s 59-27 win over Carolina Day on Jan. 8. The Lady Eagles had over three weeks in between games due to the holiday break.

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RGNS basketball pick up first wins in new year after return from break

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 15, 2026
RABUN GAP – After a three-week break from the court, Rabun Gap boys and girls basketball made their return to the hardwood on Jan. 8 versus fellow NCISAA opponent Carolina Day. The Lady Eagles, who had not played in 22 days after their loss to Winston Salem Christian on Dec.