Sports

File/Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Adelyn Thompson celebrates with Addy Beth Owens after knocking down the game-winning shot against Armuchee High School in the first round of the state playoffs last season. The Lady Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight for the 10th time in history.

File/Wade Cheek/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County’s Adelyn Thompson celebrates with Addy Beth Owens after knocking down the game-winning shot against Armuchee High School in the first round of the state playoffs last season. The Lady Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight for the 10th time in history.

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Reviewing a year of the emotions of sports

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
As 2026 arrives, The Clayton Tribune is highlighting important sports moments from 2025 for our area schools and student-athletes – Rabun County High School, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School and Tallulah Falls School.
Submitted Photo. TFS’ senior Mitchell McGahee earned a gold medal at the Gary Anderson Invitational 3-Position Match as TFS finished sixth.

Submitted Photo. TFS’ senior Mitchell McGahee earned a gold medal at the Gary Anderson Invitational 3-Position Match as TFS finished sixth.

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McGahee ties school record as TFS finishes 6th in nation

Wednesday, December 24, 2025
The rifle team had five athletes compete on Dec. 6 in the Gary Anderson Invitational 3-Position Match as senior Mitchell McGahee led the way for Tallulah Falls. This was a National Match with many locations from coast to coast hosting competitions with electronic targets.
Submitted Photo. Tallulah Falls’ Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph will continue her tennis career at Baron College.

Submitted Photo. Tallulah Falls’ Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph will continue her tennis career at Baron College.

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Daniel-Joseph signs with Barton College

Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Tallulah Falls’ all-time winningest tennis player, Jaeda-Lee Daniel-Joseph, has signed her Letter of Intent with Barton College. The senior will continue her academic and athletic career at the next level.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. abun Gap junior Joonatan Tartu shoots over Rabun County freshman Cord Burrell for a contested layup against Rabun County on Dec. 19. Rabun County took the win 64-59, improving to 9-1 while Rabun Gap fell to 10-5.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. abun Gap junior Joonatan Tartu shoots over Rabun County freshman Cord Burrell for a contested layup against Rabun County on Dec. 19. Rabun County took the win 64-59, improving to 9-1 while Rabun Gap fell to 10-5.

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Burrell’s spinning late layup lifts Rabun County over Rabun Gap

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
TIGER – Knotted at 59 with just over a minute to play Friday night, it was Rabun County junior Reed Burrell who delivered – as he did all night – to give Rabun County a late lead and eventual 64-59 win over crosstown opponent Rabun Gap.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to take a snap in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns, while running for 59 yards and a score in the win. Ole Miss now will face UGA in the playoffs on New Year’s Day.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton prepares to take a snap in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Stockton threw for 289 yards and four touchdowns, while running for 59 yards and a score in the win. Ole Miss now will face UGA in the playoffs on New Year’s Day.

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Georgia, Stockton set for Ole Miss rematch in CFP

Wesley Branch
Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Jan. 1, 2026, will mark the 50th time in history that Georgia and Ole Miss have squared off on the gridiron. That contest will be the most consequential of the 50, as a College Football Playoff semifinal slot is on the line.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton strolls into the end zone for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Last week, it was announced Stockton finished seventh in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Former Rabun County and current UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton strolls into the end zone for a rushing touchdown in Georgia’s 43-35 win over Ole Miss on Oct. 18. Last week, it was announced Stockton finished seventh in the 2025 Heisman Trophy voting.

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Stockton finishes seventh in Heisman voting

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 18, 2025
Former Rabun County and current University of Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton has had an excellent first season as the full-time starting QB for the Bulldogs – most recently finishing seventh in the coveted Heisman Trophy balloting.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock is escorted by his family on Senior Night against Towns County. Blalock recently announced his verbal commitment to continue his playing career at the Naval Academy.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County senior Huey Blalock is escorted by his family on Senior Night against Towns County. Blalock recently announced his verbal commitment to continue his playing career at the Naval Academy.

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No. 1-ranked RCHS boys roll past Towns on ‘Senior Night’

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 18, 2025
TIGER – The Rabun County boys basketball team improved to a 6-1 record on Tuesday night after picking up its second win over Towns County this season, 83-62.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County seniors hug head coach DeeDee Dillard and assistant coaches Bryce Dillard and Makenna Talcott as they come off the floor in Lady Cats’ 70-16 win over Towns County on Senior Night on Dec. 9.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County seniors hug head coach DeeDee Dillard and assistant coaches Bryce Dillard and Makenna Talcott as they come off the floor in Lady Cats’ 70-16 win over Towns County on Senior Night on Dec. 9.

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RCHS girls victorious on ‘Senior Night’ over Towns

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 18, 2025
TIGER – The Rabun County girls basketball teams capped off their senior night tradition and festivities with a dominant 70-16 win over visiting Towns County. The win improved the Lady Wildcats’ record to 5-1 and marked their second win this season over the Lady Indians.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County sophomore Joseph Gonzalez battles with a Hayesville (N.C.) wrestler in his first match of the night on Dec. 10.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun County sophomore Joseph Gonzalez battles with a Hayesville (N.C.) wrestler in his first match of the night on Dec. 10.

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Wildcat wrestling makes season debut at home

Wesley Branch
Thursday, December 18, 2025
TIGER – The Rabun County wrestling team made its home debut last week on Wednesday, Dec. 10, in a meet that consisted of matches against Hayesville High School (N.C.) and Habersham Central.