Sports

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillespie smiles while addressing his team after its 14-3 road victory over Bremen on Sept. 12, 2025. Gillespie and the Wildcats will begin spring practice on May 4 in preparation for 2026 and Gillespie’s second season as the RCHS head coach.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County head football coach Rance Gillespie smiles while addressing his team after its 14-3 road victory over Bremen on Sept. 12, 2025. Gillespie and the Wildcats will begin spring practice on May 4 in preparation for 2026 and Gillespie’s second season as the RCHS head coach.

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Rabun football announces spring practice dates, White County scrimmage

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
School’s football team is already beginning its preparation for the 2026 season. In May, the program will hit the next stage of those preparations when spring practice begins. The GHSA allows for football teams to have 10 practice sessions spread across 13 consecutive school days in the spring.
Submitted. The Rabun County boys basketball team will receive these championship rings pictured above once the rings are completed later this year. The Wildcats went 30-2 this season, winning the Class A Division I state title over Southwest on March 13 in the Macon Coliseum for the school’s first-ever hoops championship.

Submitted. The Rabun County boys basketball team will receive these championship rings pictured above once the rings are completed later this year. The Wildcats went 30-2 this season, winning the Class A Division I state title over Southwest on March 13 in the Macon Coliseum for the school’s first-ever hoops championship.

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Rabun County reveals rings for boys basketball state title

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
TIGER – During the March 26 championship celebration for the state championship-winning Rabun County boys basketball team on campus, RCHS gave a preview of the Wildcats’ state title rings.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County High School basketball team walks onto the floor for its championship celebration on RCHS’ campus on March 26.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County High School basketball team walks onto the floor for its championship celebration on RCHS’ campus on March 26.

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Honoring your Wildcat hoops champions

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
TIGER – The celebrations continued for the state champion Rabun County High School boys basketball team on Thursday, March 26, when RCHS hosted a championship celebration for the team and community on campus.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Denise Zaldivar and Hayden Bass were among the Lady Cats who walked with Rabun County Recreation Department soccer players as part of “Rec Night” on March 31 at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Denise Zaldivar and Hayden Bass were among the Lady Cats who walked with Rabun County Recreation Department soccer players as part of “Rec Night” on March 31 at Frank Snyder Memorial Stadium.

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Lady Cats roll past Banks County on ‘Senior Night,’ ‘Rec Night’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, April 2, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County High School girls soccer team improved to 7-7 on the season on March 31, as the Lady Cats picked up a dominant 7-0 victory over region foe Banks County at home for “Rec Night” and the girls’ “Senior Night.”
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Senior second baseman Ty Truelove tries to convince the umpire he got the tag on Elbert County baserunner Brody Baker, but Baker is called safe in the Blue Devils’ 7-3 win over the Wildcats on March 31.

Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Senior second baseman Ty Truelove tries to convince the umpire he got the tag on Elbert County baserunner Brody Baker, but Baker is called safe in the Blue Devils’ 7-3 win over the Wildcats on March 31.

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Wildcats drop home game 7-3 to visiting Blue Devils in first-of-three series

Enoch Autry - Publisher
Thursday, April 2, 2026
Rabun County dropped a tough game to region foe and No. 10-ranked Elbert County at home 7-3 Tuesday evening, but the Wildcats -- now 8-12 -- provided they can go toe-to-toe with the Blue Devils.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rusty Baker made a cake for the event, provided by the RCHS Athletic Booster Club to celebrate the state championship team at Wildcat Grill on March 19.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. The Rusty Baker made a cake for the event, provided by the RCHS Athletic Booster Club to celebrate the state championship team at Wildcat Grill on March 19.

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RCHS Booster Club hosts boys basketball title celebration at Wildcat Grill

Wesley Branch
Thursday, March 26, 2026
TIGER – The Rabun County community gathered in large numbers at Wildcat Grill in Tiger for a celebration for the Rabun County boys basketball state championship team and the RCHS cheerleaders on Thursday, March 19.
Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County High School Boys basketball team was recognized and congratulated for their Class A Division I state championship win during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. The team captured its first state title win with its 52-43 defeat of Southwest in a loud and packed Macon Coliseum on March 13.

Megan Horn/The Clayton Tribune. The Rabun County High School Boys basketball team was recognized and congratulated for their Class A Division I state championship win during Monday’s Board of Education meeting. The team captured its first state title win with its 52-43 defeat of Southwest in a loud and packed Macon Coliseum on March 13.

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BOE honors basketball crowning achievement

News Staff
Thursday, March 26, 2026
Rabun County High School’s state championship-winning boys basketball team was recognized for their historic accomplishment during a special presentation at Monday’s March 23 Board of Education meeting.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. David Adcock was named Coach of the Year.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. David Adcock was named Coach of the Year.

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RCHS hoops earn All-State honors

Wesley Branch
Thursday, March 26, 2026
With basketball season officially over, the honors have rolled in for the Rabun County boys and girls basketball teams.
Submitted photo. The Rabun County Middle School boys soccer team poses with the region-winning trophy after defeating Habersham County 2-0 in the championship game on March 14.

Submitted photo. The Rabun County Middle School boys soccer team poses with the region-winning trophy after defeating Habersham County 2-0 in the championship game on March 14.

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Rabun Middle School boys soccer claims region title, 14-0 season

Wesley Branch
Thursday, March 26, 2026
When the Rabun County middle school boys began the season, it was thought to be a rebuilding year after losing several eighth grade contributors who moved up to the high school.