Sports

TFS Athletics. Ariel Kelsick, reigning Singles Player of the Year, returns to help lead the Lady Indians, who won the Class A Division I Region 8 championship last season.

TFS Athletics. Ariel Kelsick, reigning Singles Player of the Year, returns to help lead the Lady Indians, who won the Class A Division I Region 8 championship last season.

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Season Preview: TFS tennis kicks off 2024 season

News Staff
Friday, January 26, 2024
The Tallulah Falls tennis teams will have their first matches of the 2024 season on Thursday, Jan. 25, as both the girls and boys travel to Gainesville High School.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Wildcat Hayes Free lines up his shot against Elbert County.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Wildcat Hayes Free lines up his shot against Elbert County.

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Wildcats ‘prey’ over Blue Devils 79-61 in first region win

Wade Cheek
Friday, January 26, 2024
The Rabun County High School boys basketball team earned its first region win of the 2023-24 season on Friday, Jan. 19, when the Wildcats bested Elbert County 79-61 in Elberton.  With the victory over the Blue Devils, RCHS is now 7-13 this season and 1-2 in region.
Photo provided to The Clayton Tribune. RCMS seventh and eighth-grade Lady Cats stand with their hardware after earning runner-up after last Saturday’s middle school tournament championship game. RCMS defeated Stephens County 50-20 in the semi-final but lost to Elbert County in the title game 42-36. (From left) Lady Cats Kinsey Huff, Cheyenne Queen, Irie McElroy, Maci Dixon, Millie Southards, Sophie Provance, Shay Woods, Cecelia Fields, Danni Blalock and Lydia Gergani. Melissa Weeks is the head coach.

Photo provided to The Clayton Tribune. RCMS seventh and eighth-grade Lady Cats stand with their hardware after earning runner-up after last Saturday’s middle school tournament championship game. RCMS defeated Stephens County 50-20 in the semi-final but lost to Elbert County in the title game 42-36. (From left) Lady Cats Kinsey Huff, Cheyenne Queen, Irie McElroy, Maci Dixon, Millie Southards, Sophie Provance, Shay Woods, Cecelia Fields, Danni Blalock and Lydia Gergani. Melissa Weeks is the head coach.

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RCMS Lady Cats earn runner-up in postseason tourney

Wade Cheek
Friday, January 26, 2024
The Rabun County eighth-grade girls basketball team advanced to the championship game of this year’s postseason tournament that featured area teams such as Elbert County, Stephens County, Franklin County and Habersham Central.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Lady Cat hoopers (from left) Conley Spivey, Chloe Erlewine, Loren Mazarky, Jamie McCall and Mili Watts celebrate their fellow basketball teammates from the sideline of last Friday’s region battle with Elbert County on Jan. 19. The Lady Cats have a lot to be happy about these days. As of Thursday, Jan. 25, RCHS head coach DeeDee Dillard and the Lady Cats are 16-5 and 3-1 in region play. RCHS also is currently the No. 4 team in Georgia Class A Division I.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Lady Cat hoopers (from left) Conley Spivey, Chloe Erlewine, Loren Mazarky, Jamie McCall and Mili Watts celebrate their fellow basketball teammates from the sideline of last Friday’s region battle with Elbert County on Jan. 19. The Lady Cats have a lot to be happy about these days. As of Thursday, Jan. 25, RCHS head coach DeeDee Dillard and the Lady Cats are 16-5 and 3-1 in region play. RCHS also is currently the No. 4 team in Georgia Class A Division I.

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Lady Cats fall in top-five matchup with Athens Christian; rebound in win over Elbert

Wade Cheek
Friday, January 26, 2024
Region-play is now in full-swing for the Rabun County girls basketball team.  So far, the Lady Cats have taken two of their first three games against their Region 8 opponents with wins over Commerce and Elbert County.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS grappler Celton Littrell sizes up his Athens Christian opponent during last weekend’s area duals match on Jan. 13. The 175-pounder won the match, helping the Wildcats go 2-2 throughout the day after defeating the Eagles and area opponent Towns County.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS grappler Celton Littrell sizes up his Athens Christian opponent during last weekend’s area duals match on Jan. 13. The 175-pounder won the match, helping the Wildcats go 2-2 throughout the day after defeating the Eagles and area opponent Towns County.

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Wrestling Wildcats get first taste of area competition in Area Duals match

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 18, 2024
The Rabun County High School traveled to Commerce last Saturday, Jan. 13, to compete in its first area match of the 2023-24 season.  Overall, the Wildcats went 2-2 by defeating Athens Christian and Towns County but falling to Commerce and Elbert County.
TFS Athletics. TFS senior Austin Ball.

TFS Athletics. TFS senior Austin Ball.

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TFS soccer’s Ball signs LOI with Belmont Abbey College

News Staff
Thursday, January 18, 2024
Prior to the upcoming start to the Tallulah Falls School soccer team’s 2024 season, Indian standout Austin Ball signed his letter of intent to play collegiate soccer for Belmont Abbey College over the next four years.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. After giving him the game ball from her 1,000th career point, Rabun County Lady Cat senior Ellie Southwards hugs her father Gabe Southarsds in the stands on Jan. 13 at home in Tiger.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. After giving him the game ball from her 1,000th career point, Rabun County Lady Cat senior Ellie Southwards hugs her father Gabe Southarsds in the stands on Jan. 13 at home in Tiger.

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RCHS honors hooping seniors; Southards scores 1,000th point

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 18, 2024
The Rabun County High School basketball seniors were honored last Friday, Jan. 12, during their respective games versus Prince Avenue Christian.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. With her Lady Cat players surrounding her, Rabun County girls basketball coach DeeDee Dillard hugs senior Mili Watts after Dillard logged her 400th career coaching win with a 49-38 triumph over region foe Commerce at home on Jan. 10. Dillard began coaching at RCHS in 2006.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. With her Lady Cat players surrounding her, Rabun County girls basketball coach DeeDee Dillard hugs senior Mili Watts after Dillard logged her 400th career coaching win with a 49-38 triumph over region foe Commerce at home on Jan. 10. Dillard began coaching at RCHS in 2006.

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‘Meanest mama on the mountain’

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 18, 2024
During the winter of 2006, the Rabun County High School girls basketball team underwent a major change within its program.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Grappler Justin Cody.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. RCHS Grappler Justin Cody.

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Wildcat grapplers kick off 2024 with eight champions

Wade Cheek
Thursday, January 11, 2024
The Rabun County High School wrestling team made its 2024 return to the mat Saturday, Jan. 6, at Cherokee High School where eight Wildcats placed first in their respective weight classes. RCHS placed second overall in the mountain tournament behind Smoky Mountain High School.
Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Tallulah Falls Sam Ketch prepares to launch the discus during his senior season for the Indians. Ketch, who also excels in the shot put, has signed with Davidson College to join its track and field team.

Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Tallulah Falls Sam Ketch prepares to launch the discus during his senior season for the Indians. Ketch, who also excels in the shot put, has signed with Davidson College to join its track and field team.

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TFS track-and-field star Ketch signs LOI with Davidson College

News Staff
Thursday, January 11, 2024
Standout track and field athlete Sam Ketch has penned his Letter of Intent to compete for Davidson College as the senior is set to continue his athletic and academic career at the next level.