Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head girls basketball coach Dale Earnhardt directs his team during a timeout in its Jan. 30 game against Buford. Earnhardt recently notched his 450th career victory as a head basketball coach.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap head girls basketball coach Dale Earnhardt directs his team during a timeout in its Jan. 30 game against Buford. Earnhardt recently notched his 450th career victory as a head basketball coach.

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Rabun Gap’s Earnhardt secures 450th career victory

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 5, 2026
In the year 2000, Dale Earnhardt – not that Dale Earnhardt, even though they share the same birthday and are from neighboring counties in North Carolina – was hired to be the head football coach at Asheville School in Asheville, N.C.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School junior Joonatan Tartu fights through the Buford defense for an and-one layup in Rabun Gap’s 61-56 win over Buford on Jan. 30. Tartu converted the and-one pictured above and made an important block late in the game in the Eagles’ victory.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School junior Joonatan Tartu fights through the Buford defense for an and-one layup in Rabun Gap’s 61-56 win over Buford on Jan. 30. Tartu converted the and-one pictured above and made an important block late in the game in the Eagles’ victory.

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RGNS boys basketball wins nail-biter at Buford

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 5, 2026
BUFORD – Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s boys basketball team fought off several distractions and surges by its opponent on Jan. 30 to secure a 61-56 road win over Buford.

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Schedules updated for winter sports after snow storm

Wesley Branch
Thursday, February 5, 2026
With the impacts of the heavy snowfall of Winter Storm Gianna, several sports events in Rabun County over the weekend and early into this week have been rescheduled or canceled for Rabun County, Rabun Gap-Nachoochee School and Tallulah Falls School.

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Schedules updated on local sports after winter storm

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 29, 2026
As Rabun County continues to recover from the impacts of Winter Storm Fern, changes have been made to the sports schedule for the three area schools – Rabun County, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee and Tallulah Falls. These schedule amendments were provided to The Clayton Tribune as of press time.
Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Director of Soccer and Assistant Athletic Director Bart Sasnett speaks with the Rabun Gap boys soccer team before its game versus Christ School on Sept. 11, 2025. Sasnett led the RGNS soccer program for three years, winning two state titles with the boys team. Sasnett will take over as the head men’s coach at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla., on Feb. 1.

Wesley Branch/The Clayton Tribune. Rabun Gap Director of Soccer and Assistant Athletic Director Bart Sasnett speaks with the Rabun Gap boys soccer team before its game versus Christ School on Sept. 11, 2025. Sasnett led the RGNS soccer program for three years, winning two state titles with the boys team. Sasnett will take over as the head men’s coach at Eastern Florida State College in Melbourne, Fla., on Feb. 1.

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Sasnett leaving Rabun Gap for return to college coaching

Wesley Branch
Thursday, January 22, 2026
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School Director of Soccer and Assistant Athletic Director Bart Sasnett is making a return to the college coaching ranks.
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 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.
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.
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.