2010 BCN Sports End of the Year

Leopards dominate subdivision play with best record in years
The Banks County High School Leopards started the 2010 football season with a shadow of a 2-8 overall 2009 record hanging over head and a looming question before them - how would the Leopards handle playing with the mountain schools?

Banks County joined the ranks of the north-side of region 8-AA as the region was once again subdivided as several teams came into the region. Head coach Blair Armstrong was happy with the split, and was confident that Banks County would hold its own against the 8A-AA side better than if the Leopards stayed on the south side. Playing on the north side, Banks contended with Dawson County, East Hall, Fannin County, Rabun County and Union County.

It’s no secret that Banks County struggled with finishing in the past, letting a couple of games slip past at the end during the 2009 campaign, but this year, Armstrong made it a point to make the players face their hang-up and motivated them to take the reigns and keep their heads high. ...

Fourth winning season for Leopards’ cross-country
Banks County’s cross-country boys team continued a dominating performance in 2010 on what is considered to be one of the toughest courses in the area.

The home course for the Leopards’ cross-country team has plenty of terrain and hills and even with a change this season to switch parts of the course for a more balanced run, the Banks County course takes it’s toll on the runners. ...

Gowder takes third at state
While several Banks County student athletes had standout performances during 2010, one particular athlete blew away the competition.

Freshman golfer, Cara Gowder worked through the season, earning several low medalist awards in team rounds. ...

Girls’ tennis into Sweet 16
In the 2010 lady netters campaign, the Banks County girls made it into the state playoffs, but were cut short as the team finished the season in the Sweet 16.

On April 21, the Lady Leopards faced Heard County in the first round of the state playoffs where the Banks County netters took a 4-1 victory and secured a spot inside the sweet 16. ...

Changing of the guard on the Baseball diamond
The Banks County diamond Leopards secured their third consecutive winning season this year, 14-12 overall, on the diamond and stage is set for the 2011 season as the Leopards return several players, but the biggest news from 2010 for the Banks County baseball program was the change in coaching staff as head coach Joe Lord announced he was stepping down.

“After 10 years of coaching high school baseball, the time has come for me to hand over the reigns to someone else,” Lord said.

Lord spent the last six years serving as the diamond Leopards’ head coach and three years prior as an assistant for the BCHS program. During his time, Banks County progressed from an 0-15 ball club to a winning team, including the 2009 bid for the state playoffs into the second round.

Coach Dean Goodwin stepped into the role left by Lord. ...