Sports

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Lady Eagle junior Georgia Mattis heads the ball past the Highlands goalkeeper for the first goal of the night on Wednesday, March 8. Mattis has helped lead the Lady Eagles to a 4-0-1 start by scoring four goals in five games.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Lady Eagle junior Georgia Mattis heads the ball past the Highlands goalkeeper for the first goal of the night on Wednesday, March 8. Mattis has helped lead the Lady Eagles to a 4-0-1 start by scoring four goals in five games.

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Rabun Gap girls soccer starts off undefeated in first five games

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The Rabun Gap-Nacoochee girls soccer team is off to a 4-0-1 start to their season after winning all three games last week. The Lady Eagles started with a 3-2 victory over Bob Jones Academy on Tuesday, March 7. Goals were scored by freshman Lea Blakeley, who scored twice, and sophomore Katie Barta.
Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Parker Smith gets a hit against Elbert County on Tuesday, March 14 in the seventh inning. Smith later scored as a part of a late rally from the Wildcats that ultimately fell short with Elbert County winning 9-5. The Wildcats next travel to Elberton for a double header on Friday, March 17.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Parker Smith gets a hit against Elbert County on Tuesday, March 14 in the seventh inning. Smith later scored as a part of a late rally from the Wildcats that ultimately fell short with Elbert County winning 9-5. The Wildcats next travel to Elberton for a double header on Friday, March 17.

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Wildcat baseball hits four-game skid with Athens Christian losses

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The Rabun County baseball team is now 5-4 after falling to Athens Christian in all three contests last week. Traveling to Athens on Tuesday, March 7, the Wildcats lost 11-1 before hosting a doubleheader on Friday, March 10.
Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. TFS senior Addie Higbie scores against Rabun County on Tuesday, March 7. On Thursday, March 9, Higbie scored a school record six goals against Elbert County, reaching 22 goals on the season, which is also a record for most goals in a season for a girls player. Higbie was the previous record-holder with 21 her junior year. Higbie and the Lady Inidians next take on Elbert County on Thursday, March 16, for senior night.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. TFS senior Addie Higbie scores against Rabun County on Tuesday, March 7. On Thursday, March 9, Higbie scored a school record six goals against Elbert County, reaching 22 goals on the season, which is also a record for most goals in a season for a girls player. Higbie was the previous record-holder with 21 her junior year. Higbie and the Lady Inidians next take on Elbert County on Thursday, March 16, for senior night.

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Higbie sets two school records as Lady Indians reach 7-2 record

News Staff
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Both Tallulah Falls soccer teams have begun 2023 strong.   girls Addie Higbie eclipsed a pair of school records on Thursday night at Elbert, helping guide the No. 8-ranked Lady Indians to an 8-1 win. The region win was a second in a row for TFS.
Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Frankey Moree (13) and Rohajae Pinder celebrate after a victory over No. 1 ranked Elbert County on Friday, March 10. The victory was the first win in school history over a top-ranked opponent as the Indians are now 4-6 and 1-2 in the region. TFS next takes on Commerce in a double header on Friday, March 17.

Photo courtesy Austin Poffenberger. Frankey Moree (13) and Rohajae Pinder celebrate after a victory over No. 1 ranked Elbert County on Friday, March 10. The victory was the first win in school history over a top-ranked opponent as the Indians are now 4-6 and 1-2 in the region. TFS next takes on Commerce in a double header on Friday, March 17.

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TFS baseball makes school history with victory over No. 1 Elbert County

News Staff
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
The Indians went to Elberton and gave the No. 1-ranked Blue Devils all they could handle, forcing Elbert County to win on the final at-bat with a walk-off 7-6 win. TFS put the pressure on early with a pair of runs in the first, but an Elbert four-run second gave the home team the 5-2 lead.
Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Lady Cat Abby Sego (center) celebrates with Quetzaly Diaz, 7, and Aurora Barcenas after Diaz’s goal against Hart County on Thursday, March 2. The Lady Cats fell to Tallulah Falls on Tuesday, March 7. The RCHS girls next travel to take on Athens Christian on Friday, March 10, to start a three-game road trip.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Lady Cat Abby Sego (center) celebrates with Quetzaly Diaz, 7, and Aurora Barcenas after Diaz’s goal against Hart County on Thursday, March 2. The Lady Cats fell to Tallulah Falls on Tuesday, March 7. The RCHS girls next travel to take on Athens Christian on Friday, March 10, to start a three-game road trip.

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RCHS soccer falls to region foe Tallulah Falls

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The Rabun County soccer teams are 10 games into the 2023 season, with both teams over .500. Both teams fell to Tallulah Falls on Tuesday, March 7, before they travel to take on Athens Christian on Friday, March 10.   Boys The boys are 6-4 after falling to Tallulah Falls.
Photo courtesy of Chris May. Youth birding competition coordinator Tim Keyes poses with the Bufford Bluebirds team. For the first time in three years, the birding competition has returned, with the deadline for signups March 31.

Photo courtesy of Chris May. Youth birding competition coordinator Tim Keyes poses with the Bufford Bluebirds team. For the first time in three years, the birding competition has returned, with the deadline for signups March 31.

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Youth birding competition returns to its roots

News Staff
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga.  – Georgia’s popular Youth Birding Competition returns to its roots this year while still offering the wider timeframe for birding adopted during the pandemic.

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RCHS Wildcat boys tennis defeats Franklin

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The Rabun County boys tennis team defeated Franklin, N.C., on Tuesday, Feb. 28, for their second win of the season. With the basketball season concluded, RCHS added more players and was able to field a No.
Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Kiley Turner won both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles in the first track meet of the season. Turner helped the Lady Cats to a one point victory.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. Kiley Turner won both the 100 and 300 meter hurdles in the first track meet of the season. Turner helped the Lady Cats to a one point victory.

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Track & field holds first home meet of the season

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
The Rabun County track and field teams competed in the first home meet of the season against Union County and Stephens County on Wednesday, March 1. The track and field teams are led by head coach Tim Corbett.
Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County Recreation Department hosted the first professional pickleball exhibition in North Georgia, with professionals playing singles and doubles matches on Sunday, March 5. Pictured from left in the foreground are Shea Underwood, David Spearman, Mark Price and David Hebert. After the event, Price led a three-day pickleball camp.

Luke Morey/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County Recreation Department hosted the first professional pickleball exhibition in North Georgia, with professionals playing singles and doubles matches on Sunday, March 5. Pictured from left in the foreground are Shea Underwood, David Spearman, Mark Price and David Hebert. After the event, Price led a three-day pickleball camp.

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Rec department hosts four pickleball professionals

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
North Georgia saw its first professional pickleball exhibition on Sunday, March 5. Held at the Rabun County Recreation Department, the Rabun Pickleball Club hosted four professional pickleball players.
RGNS Athletics. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School senior Ece Arabacioglu (20) celebrates a second straight state championship with her Lady Eagle teammates in the background on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Lady Eagles secured back-to-back state titles with a 53-43 victory over Cannon School at Calvary Day School. RGNS finished the season with a 25-7 record.

RGNS Athletics. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School senior Ece Arabacioglu (20) celebrates a second straight state championship with her Lady Eagle teammates in the background on Saturday, Feb. 24. The Lady Eagles secured back-to-back state titles with a 53-43 victory over Cannon School at Calvary Day School. RGNS finished the season with a 25-7 record.

Lady Eagles repeat as state champs

Luke Morey
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
For the second straight year, the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee girls basketball team won the NCISAA 4A state championship. The No. 3 seed Lady Eagles secured the state title with a 53-43 victory over No. 1 seed Cannon School at Calvary Day School on Saturday, Feb. 25.