Spring sports round-up

BOYS’ TENNIS

•ELBERT CO. 4, JACKSON CO. 1: Franco Paredes and Preston Esco won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 at no. 2 doubles, but Jackson County (0-4) fell to the Blue Devils Tuesday at home.
Jackson County lost 3-2 five days earlier (Feb. 24) at East Jackson with the Panthers winning both doubles positions.
Lex Mosely and Esco won at no. 1 doubles 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, while Nathan Konarski and Dylan Roussel won 6-1, 6-2 at no. 2 doubles.
The Panthers return to action Thursday at home against Oglethorpe County.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

•ELBERT CO. 4, JACKSON CO. 1: Mafan had no problems at no. 1 singles winning 6-0, 6-0 but Jackson County (1-3) fell at all other positions Tuesday against Elbert County.
Jackson County won its first match of the year five days earlier on Feb. 24 with a 3-2 win over rival East Jackson on the road.
Mafan won at no. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0; Rachel Glenfield took her match at no. 2 singles 1-6, 7-5, 6-0; and Morgan McLean had no problems in a 6-0, 6-0 victory at no. 3 singles.

•JEFFERSON 4, EAST JACKSON 1: Jefferson (1-2) won its first match of the season Tuesday (March 1) on the road at East Jackson.
Singles players Bell Blankenship, Taylor Bost and Tristan McGarity all won 3-0.
In doubles, Amanda Burgamy and Chelsea Runkel won 6-3, 6-3 at the no. 1 slot.
The victory came after a 3-2 loss Thursday at home to Hart County. Blankenship and McGarity provided the two victories. Blankenship won her match 7-5, 6-2, while McGarity won 6-4, 6-1.
The Lady Dragons return to the court Thursday at home against North Oconee at 4:15 p.m.

BOYS’ SOCCER

•JACKSON CO. 5, OGLETHORPE CO. 2: Patrick Ventura scored two goals Tuesday to lead Jackson County (1-2-1) to its first victory of the season. Christian Villa, Philip Burzo and Miguel Guereca each scored one goal.
“John Gee played great in the back,” coach Joseph Brubaker added.
With the win, Jackson County (1-2) rebounded from a 5-1 loss to Morgan County Friday (Feb. 25) with Villa scoring the lone goal for the Panthers.
“We tried several formations in an attempt to try to find what helps us better defend and transition to offense,” Brubaker said. “Hopefully we can get it figured out before the start of subregion play (against Elbert County on Friday).”
Jackson County returns to the field Friday at Elbert County at 7:30 p.m.

•EAST JACKSON 2, JEFFERSON 1: Brian Thao scored for the Dragons (2-1) Friday (Feb. 25) at East Jackson, but the Eagles responded with two goals to hand the Dragons the loss.
“We scored first and we kind of got out of our mode of play,” coach Jacob Marble said.
East Jackson quickly answered Jefferson’s goal and scored the game-winner with five minutes left. The teams play again March 25.
“Even though it stinks to lose, we get to play them again and it doesn’t count as a subregion game,” Marble said. “So they know how it feels to lose and they can learn from it.”
Jefferson returns to play Friday against East Hall at home at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

•EAST JACKSON 7, JEFFERSON 6 OT:
Jefferson (1-2) lost in overtime on penalty kicks Friday at East Jackson.
The teams were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.
“The wind and the sun played a big factor in it with the goalies, though they both played well,” coach Jacob Marble said. “For us, we had a couple of people still injured, some starters.”
The Lady Dragons (1-2) play again Friday at home against East Hall at 5:30 p.m.

•OGLETHORPE CO. 2, JACKSON CO. 0: Jackson County fell to 0-2 on the year with a Tuesday road loss to Oglethorpe County. The Lady Panthers return to action Friday at Elbert County at 5:30 p.m.

BOYS’ GOLF

•JEFFERSON 118, COMMERCE 152: Led by Patrick Hilton, Jacob Price, Blair Cain and Josh Flowers, Jefferson (1-0) won an abbreviated six-hole match Tuesday at Traditions of Braselton Golf Course. The match was called due to darkness.
“I am really pleased with the play from our team considering it was the first match of the season and everyone played without much light the last few holes,” coach Tom Parker said. “Freshman Jacob Price and junior Blair Cain did a great job in their first varsity match.” 


The Dragons play Thursday against Banks County at Hammer’s Glen at 3:30 p.m.

GIRLS’ GOLF

•JEFFERSON 65, COMMERCE 78: Jefferson (1-0) beat Commerce by 13 strokes in a five-hole match Tuesday at Traditions of Braselton Golf Club. Hanna Chapman and Kara Perry were the top scorers for the Lady Dragons.
“The girls were able to get going once the round started and shake off any first match jitters,” coach Tom Parker said.
The Lady Dragons play Thursday against Banks County at Hammer’s Glen at 3:30 p.m.