Spring sports round-up

REBOUNDING from its first loss of the season, the Jefferson boys’ tennis team topped Jackson County 3-2 on the road Tuesday in a cross-town meeting.

The Dragons won at all three singles positions to move to 3-1.

Zach Bost prevailed at no. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0; Ben Daniel won at no. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0; and Jordan Tyler grabbed a 6-0, 6-3 victory at no. 3 singles.

Jackson County got wins from both doubles teams — Matthew Compton and Preston Esco (7-6, 6-3) and Alec Housholder and Nathan Konarski (6-4, 6-3).

Jefferson dropped its first match of the year back on Thursday, falling to North Oconee 3-2 at home.

Bost (6-0, 6-1) and Blair Buffington (6-2, 6-3) supplied wins at no. 1 and 2 singles respectively, but the Dragons lost at the remaining three positions.

GIRLS’ TENNIS

•JEFFERSON 3, JACKSON CO. 2: The Jefferson girls pulled out a narrow victory over cross-town rival Jackson County Tuesday on the road.

Jefferson got wins from Taylor Bost at no. 2 singles (6-0, 6-1), Tristan McGarity at no. 3 singles (6-1, 6-1) and the tandem of Chelsea Runkel and Amanda Burgamy (7-5, 6-4) at no. 1 doubles.

For Jackson County, Mafan picked up a win at no. 1 singles and Dorthy Maisonneuve and Jasmine Baker won at no. 2 doubles.

The Jefferson girls were coming off a 4-1 loss to North Oconee Thursday at home. McGarity provided the Lady Dragons’ lone win with a 6-3, 6-3 victory at no. 3 singles.

GIRLS’ SOCCER

•JACKSON CO. 8, ELBERT CO. 0: The Jackson County girls’ soccer team picked up its first victory of the season in resounding fashion Friday at Elbert County behind a hat trick from Katie Phillips.

In addition to Phillips’ three goals, Kristen Betz (two goals), Liliana Villa, Sydney Baird and Gabbi Kastner also accounted for scores.

Coach Kim Myers also noted the efforts Rachel Pasko. “Rachael Pasko had a strong defensive game at sweeper,” she said.

The victory moved Jackson County to 1-0 in subregion play.

BOYS’ SOCCER

•JACKSON CO. 2, ELBERT CO. 1: The Jackson County boys’ soccer team picked up its second victory with a win Friday at Elbert County. Philip Burzo scored off a corner kick played by Miguel Guereca, and Dakota Thompson scored off an assist by Patrick Ventura.

Coach Joseph Brubaker pointed to the team’s defensive effort.

“The defense held strong under some late pressure from Elbert’s speed,” he said.

The victory moved Jackson County to 1-0 in subregion play.

GIRLS’ GOLF

•RABUN CO. 105, JACKSON CO. 113: Jackson County’s girls’ team dropped a Monday match on the road to Rabun County.
Beth Bates led the Lady Panthers with a 56, followed by Jordan Garner’s 57.

“Rabun’s top scorer managed a 43 that was the difference,” coach Carl Cole said. “We feel like we are getting better and as weather conditions improve and we play more we will be posting much better scores. All in all it was not a bad day for our girls with chilly conditions and having never played the course.”

Four days earlier, Jackson County’s girls golf team lost on the road to Apalachee, 100-105.

Garner led the Lady Panthers with a 51.

Cole noted the contributions of Garner, who is a freshman.

“Jordan has been a great addition to the team,” Cole said. “As a freshman she is our leading scorer for the past two weeks.”

•JEFFERSON 93, NORTH OCONEE 107: Hanna Chapman posted a 40 to lead the Lady Dragons to a 14-stroke victory over North Oconee Tuesday.

“Hanna had one of the best rounds in school history for the girls program,” Jefferson coach Tom Parker said.

Kara Perry added a 53.

Prior to the win over North Oconee, Jefferson fell to Banks County Thursday in a seven-hole match on the road at Hammer’s Glen.

Chapman led the Lady Dragons with a 36, while Perry added a 42. Cara Gowder fired a 29 for Banks County.

BOYS’ TRACK

•JEFFERSON TRACK TEAM WINS TRI-MEET: The Jefferson boys tallied 87 points to win a tri-meet with Commerce (51) and Banks County (13) Thursday at home.

Derrick Perkins won three events (300-meter hurdles, 110-meter hurdles and triple jump) to lead the Dragons to the season-opening victory.

Also picking up wins were Mason Hamrick (pole vault, 12-0.0), Carson Newman (discus, 140-0.0), Josh Watkins (400 meters, 55.0) and Michael Stephenson (800 meters, 2:35).

Jefferson’s 4 x 400 ‘A’ team — Watkins, James Howard, Alec Jameson and Perkins — won that event with a finals time of 3:55.84.

BOYS’ GOLF

•JEFFERSON 173, BANKS COUNTY 220: Led by Jacob Price’s 40, Jefferson downed Banks County 173-220 Thursday at Hammer’s Glenn in Homer.

Patrick Hilton (42), Josh Flowers (44) and Nick Stowe (47) rounded out the scoring.