MainStreetNewsSports

This is the week. The start of another Banks County High School football season begins Friday night.

The Leopards are going to take the field at 7:30 p.m. as they host Washington-Wilkes in the season opener.

Banks will be looking for a win over the Washington-Wilkes Tigers to set the tone for the year.

[Full Story »] 

The countdown to the 2009 Banks County football season is in single digits. There are only nine days left before the gridiron Leopards can start working towards their goal of a state title.

The excitement and anticipation is heavy as the calendar flips closer to the Aug. 28 opener. Banks is looking for a win, according to coach Blair Armstrong. The 1-0 record would boost the team as it starts region play on Sept. 4.
[Full Story »] 

Banks County’s Junior Leopards recently completed their second annual football camp, which coach Blair Armstrong described as “a huge success.”

The three-day camp at the high school was designed for boys ages 7-12 and allowed the young football players to get a taste of what’s in store once they reach the varsity level.

Armstrong and the rest of the BCHS Leopard football staff helped lead drills and demonstrated with varsity players the skills used on offense and defense.

On the final day of the camp, the boys were put through the “Eliminator” competition, which Armstrong uses with varsity players during the summer workouts. [Full Story »] 

The 2009 Banks County cross country team has some large expectations for the coming season.

Coach Kelly McDuffie said the girls are hard at work to make a return to the state tournament; the boys finished 15th last year.

“I am really excited about this year,” said McDuffie. “The girls are working super hard and I expect to see them appear back in the state tournament. Except for one boy varsity runner, we will be returning all seven of the eight runners who traveled to state last year and finished 15th.”

[Full Story »] 

After waiting all spring and through a long, hot summer, Banks County football is back on the field.

The Leopards donned pads and helmets Monday to officially start season practice.

The fact that the Leopards broke an 11-year playoff drought has increased expectations — everyone is looking to the team to return to the playoffs this season. [Full Story »] 

Just over a month separates the Banks County High School Leopards from another run at the state class AA football playoffs.

Building on the successes of last year’s season, coach Blair Armstrong has spent the summer encouraging and preparing the players to be ready to take the field through camps and summer programs.

One of the recent camps the Leopards attended sized up Banks County to 12 AAAAA, AAAA and AAA schools. At the defensive camp in Carrollton, Banks brought home two first places out of the four classes. [Full Story »] 

The Leopards closed out the summer baseball season by participating in the inaugural Jackson County Shootout.

Jackson County’s Summer Shootout hosted 20 teams at four venues last Thursday through Saturday. Banks County’s ballpark played host to 10 games out of the 40 game series.

Opening up the Shootout for the Leopards was a Thursday match up against Oconee County. Banks County suffered a 10-0 loss to the hard hitting Oconee Warriors. [Full Story »] 

Banks County is helping Jackson County Comprehensive High School host the inaugural Jackson County Baseball Summer Shootout, starting Thursday and running through Saturday.

Banks County, East Jackson and Commerce are host sites for the weekend, as 20 teams travel to the area to participate.

“This is the first time we've ever hosted a summer tournament, but we believe it's one of the things we needed to do to help get our program where we want it to be,” said JCCHS head baseball coach Tommy Fountain. “We're so excited about the teams coming in and are looking forward to a great weekend.”
[Full Story »] 

High school baseball season is over, but the Diamond Leopards are already looking ahead for next spring.

The summer baseball season is well under way and Banks County coach Joe Lord is encouraged by what he is seeing coming together for next year’s team.

“I have been very encouraged by the overall attitude and dedication that our players are showing this summer,” Lord said. “The philosophy of summer baseball is somewhat different. The record really doesn't mean too much, you just look for improvement each time out. We have a lot of holes to fill after graduating 10 seniors, so right now we're trying to figure out where guys can help us the most.” [Full Story »]