Score Atlanta Vol. 11 Issue 11 by Score Atlanta

Time to look great!

VOLUME 11 ISSUE 11 | MARCH 27-APRIL 2, 2015

YOUR SOURCE FOR SPORTS IN GEORGIA

DAN’S PLAN A look at what each new Falcon brings to the franchise | Pg. 5

Oh, what a month! | Pg. 4 Kyle Sandy reflects on some of March’s biggest storylines.

Playoff Push | Pg. 8 Rivals clash as spring sports reaches final month of the regular season.

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Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015

STARTING LINEUP PUBLISHER/EDITOR I.J. Rosenberg

COLUMNISTS

ON THE COVER

PREP COVER

ART/CREATIVE DIRECTOR DJ Galbiati Blalock

MANAGING EDITOR Craig Sager II

MARKETING/ Lauren Goldstein PARTNERSHIP DIRECTOR

BUSINESS MANAGER Marvin Botnick

BEAT WRITERS Ricky Dimon (Braves) Brian Jones (KSU) Dan Mathews (UGA) Craig Sager II (Falcons) Kyle Sandy (Hawks, GSU, Gladiators) Colin Hubbard (Tech) STAFF WRITERS Jalisa Smith Matthew Cason

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Copyright 2015 Score Atlanta Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. Score Atlanta is published in print every other week on Fridays and a digital version is posted to ScoreAtl.com in-between print issues. Views expressed in Score Atlanta are not necessarily the opinion of Score Atlanta, its staff or advertisers. Score Atlanta does not knowingly accept false or misleading editorial content or advertising nor is Score Atlanta responsible for the content or claims of any advertising or editorial in this publication. No content (articles, photographs, graphics) in Score Atlanta may be used for reproduction without written permission from the publisher.

TEAM SCOOP AND VOICES

06 12 13

COVER PHOTOS COURTESY OF GSU SPORTS COMMUNICATION, DAVID MCGREGOR AND AP IMAGES..

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SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com is to study the game and compare and contrast styles, once the ball is tipped everything goes out the window.

March is a mixture of emotions for fans and players alike. As a fan, if you have a horse in the race that is a high seed, it takes guts to pick against them and it can be heart wrenching to know you need your favorite school to lose to be able to win your bracket pool. With all the crunching of the numbers, at the end of the day the NCAA Tournament is a complete crapshoot. Teams can have poor shooting performances, referees can botch calls (see SMU-UCLA), and injuries can occur but that is what makes the tournament so great. The games aren’t played on paper; they are won and lost on the court. For the high majority of these players that are seniors, this is their final time playing basketball on a big stage. Many will simply graduate and pursue a career in

something other than basketball while some will chase the dream overseas and will eventually become a distant memory in a few years. The passion that these players play with is real. The literal blood, sweat, and tears are real. It is a special feeling knowing that an entire fan base or sometimes an entire nation is behind you and rooting for you to succeed. Georgia State gave us a great story. After a 75-67 loss to Xavier ending the Panthers’ magical season, Coach Ron Hunter’s emotions spilled over in the postgame press conference. “What a great week. Unbelievable week. There’s nothing to be sad about, especially for me,” Hunter said. “We’ll be back. ... But it’s not even about that now,” the coach added, turning to his son. “As a coach, best time of my life. But as a father -- I love this kid, man. I love you.” The fact that March Madness is unpredictable is the reason why the first two days of games played are the least productive work days all year. Eyes are glued to unsung heroes and schools that you never knew existed and wouldn’t even fathom trying to find on a map hold your emotions—and sometimes wallets— in their hands. It’s the one time of year where someone can not watch a lick of basketball the entire season, but can confidently say, “this will be the perfect bracket”. As important as it

were featured, that then grew to three games in 1994 and eventually would continue to grow into a seven game festivity spanning two days. Corky Kell passed away in 1995, but his lasting impact on the state would be the continued growth and opportunities the Corky Kell Classic would present. Dave Hunter, Ralph Williams and Mrs. Carole Kell announced at Corky’s funeral that the Kickoff Classic would be renamed The Corky Kell Kickoff Classic from that day forward. Under Dave Hunter’s guidance, the event has continued to blossom and has become the premier football event in the southeast and possibly the nation. The purpose of the event is twofold: To promote high school football in a showcase event in a top-notch facility and to provide an environment for the high school athlete, band members, cheerleaders and all

support staff to exhibit their abilities Hunter, who went 6-4 all-time in the Classic as head coach of Brookwood, is proud to carry on the event with the name of his dear friend Corky. Hunter explained, “Kids are so excited to play in the Dome. It is a meaningful first game that not all schools can say they have”. Last year’s event was no exception. With the games all being played at McEachern High School due to a scheduling conflict with the Falcons, fans were treated to one of the most memorable Corky Kell Classics to date. Valdosta pitched the eighth shutout in Corky Kell history as it defeated Brookwood 310. Ohio State-signee Joshua Norwood picked off two passes and recorded a team-high six solo tackles. Eventual state champion Colquitt County made an appearance at the event and began its warpath to its first state championship since 1994. State champions have become a staple at the event as the defending champion in Georgia’s highest classification has opened their season in the Corky Kell Classic five straight seasons. The night cap last year was one not to soon be forgotten. Former reigning back-toback state champion Norcross held off Tucker in overtime, 32-29. The Tigers rallied back from 22-7 to force overtime, but a costly fumble in the backfield allowed Norcross to fall on the ball and secure the victory after Blake Bingham

kicked a 28-yard field goal in the Blue Devils lone overtime possession. The final game of the 2014 slate was possibly the best the event had ever seen. Host McEachern battled into the early morning with North Gwinnett in an epic shootout. The visiting Bulldogs would go on to win 52-49 in a game that finished just after 1:30 A.M. North Gwinnett trailed 21-7 in the first half, but Middle Tennessee State-signee John Urzua would set the stadium ablaze with a Corky Kell record 490 yards passing and seven touchdowns with his final score coming on a fake-spike touchdown pass to end the game. This year’s Classic promises to provide even more unforgettable memories. The same 14 schools will have a chance to build on last years’ experience as the two Friday night games remain at McEachern while the five Saturday games move back to the Georgia Dome. There will be no shortage of talent with division-one bound players that have already committed like Archer’s Kyle Davis (South Carolina) and Kobe Smith (NCST) in attendance along with other undecided top prospects Kiel Pollard, Bailey Hockman, Tyler Smith, Chandler Tuitt, Julian Rochester, E.J. Price, Dylan Singleton, Isaiah Pryor, Jamyest Williams, Leonard Williams, Tabarius Peterson and Josh Imatorbhebhe all taking the stage. Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.

SANDY’S SPIEL

THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF MARCH BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

he first week of the NCAA Tournament is now complete, and I don’t think there is anyone questioning why they call the tournament “March Madness”. My bracket along with 99.9 percent of everyone else’s bracket has been shattered with the likes of Virginia, Villanova, Baylor, Iowa State, and Kansas all failing to advance to the sweet sixteen. The heartbreak has been palpable for some higher seeds, but that means some underdogs got to put on the glass slipper for a moment and steal the spotlight. Atlanta’s own Georgia State was the darling of the tournament with the storyline of an injured head coach with his star player being his son, and of course the return of Kevin Ware to the tournament after a gruesome injury just two seasons ago.

CORKY KELL HISTORY

THE CORKY KELL’S ANTICIPATED RETURN TO THE DOME BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

hen each new football season approaches, anyone familiar with high school football in the state of Georgia can’t help but think about the Corky Kell Classic. The Classic signifies the true kickoff to the new football season as some of the state’s top programs and hotbeds for collegiate talent meet on the gridiron in a football jamboree. The event was originally known as the “High School Kickoff Classic” and began in 1992 at the new Georgia Dome. Cobb County Athletic Director Corky Kell along with McEachern High School, Brookwood High School, and the Gwinnett County Athletic Director were the ones that brought the idea of bringing together some of the state’s top programs and pitting them against each other to open up the season to the forefront. The event has expanded from its humble beginnings. In the first two years four teams

DON’T HATE, APPRECIATE… It is important to remember to enjoy the tournament and to appreciate studentathletes putting everything out on the line. Don’t get bogged down with the stress of your bracket crumbling (which it always does), or the fact that your favorite team got ousted way too soon. March is a month long celebration of talent, teamwork and togetherness. The tournament brings families and friends alike together to root on their favorite teams or pray for the wildest of finishes. The excitement that the tournament brings makes it unparalleled to any other sport. If your team makes the field of 65, you have a chance no matter what the pundits say. A 16-seed will beat a number one very soon and when that happens, the entire tournament will be turned upside down. Though some argue about the quality of the college game with players leaving early and low scoring, we can all agree that there is nothing quite like March Madness. Photo courtesy of GSU Athletics.

Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015 Polynesian archipelago comprising of 177 islands in the south Pacific Ocean. Tamme brings the experience of playing with Peyton Manning for three years in Indianapolis and three years in Denver. Tamme is highly skilled and his background as a defensive back and kick returner in high school saw him win four state titles with Boyle County (KY). Tamme’s versatility gave him success on special teams and while playing for the Kentucky Wildcats, he blocked punts against Florida and Louisville during his sophomore season. Atlanta currently has five tight ends, including Micky Shuler, Kyle Miller and last year’s starter Levine Toilolo.

ON THE COVER

ATLANTA FALCONS

THE MOTIVES BEHIND ATLANTA’S OFFSEASON SIGNINGS BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

hree months have passed since Atlanta’s season-ending 34-3 loss to the NFC South champion Carolina Panthers and the roster has seen several major changes since the new coaching staff has stepped into place. Now, it’s time to revisit the roster moves and breakdown the motive behind each signing. New head coach Dan Quinn led a Super Bowl defense in Seattle and his connection and familiarity with the incoming talent has been a common theme this offseason. Confidence between the coordinators and new signings is also prevalent. Linebacker O’Brien Schofield was added to the roster on March 16 and is the perfect rotating piece for Quinn to use for depth. After three years in Arizona, O’Brien was a member of the Super Bowl-winning Seahawks team two years ago and he played every position on the Seattle defensive line last season. Schofield also carries a mentality that Quinn hopes will reside in this year’s defense. “I want to be a spark on this defense,” ex-

plained Schofield. “I want to show it with my work ethic and my effort on the field. I want to be disruptive and be a violent force that shows up on film.” Offensive lineman Jared Smith is another Seattle product and was signed to the Falcons on March 19. Smith was a seventh round pick in 2013 and played defensive line at New Hampshire before switching to offense in the pros. Smith’s defensive background and quickness off the ball coined him the nickname “Fat Rabbit” while playing in Seattle. March 19 also saw the Falcons add tight ends Tony Moeaki and Jacob Tamme. Moeaki was no longer needed in Seattle after the trade of former New Orleans Saints Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham and Tamme brought a level of experience that should translate well to working with an experienced quarterback like Matt Ryan. Moeaki’s nickname, “The Leaping Tongan” was given to the 6-foot-3, 245-pound former Iowa Hawkeye for his ability to make acrobatic catches and for his native Tonga, a

OFFENSIVE BOOST…. The tight end position is expected to have a much bigger role this season and after Atlanta cut ties with wide receiver and slot connoisseur Harry Douglas, two new additions will also be asked to help fill the void. Atlanta brought in wideouts Nick Williams and Leonard Hankerson. Both targets spent time with new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in Washington. Williams was a 2013 college free agent out of UConn where he set the school record for career return yards (2,045).. Hankerson played in just one game last season while recovering from a year-long ACL/LCL injury suffered on Nov. 21 of the 2013 season. Hankerson helped the Washington offense finish ninth in the NFL in 2012 with 369.7 yards per game and compiled 81 catches for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns in his time with the Redskins prior to his injury. Atlanta’s young secondary will look much the same this year but journeyman Phillip Adams was added to compete for playing time. Adams has now spent time with five different teams during his six years in the pros, but it was the opportunity to reunite with Quinn that attracted him to the Falcons. “I like Quinn’s style and the energy that he brings to his squad,” expressed Adams. “That’s what really set me off in wanting to get back to Atlanta and be around that again.” QUINN CONNECTION… The Quinn connection was also seen on March 11 with the signing of offensive guard

Mike Person. Person played for San Francisco and Indianapolis before his time with the St. Louis Rams last season and he spent the 2013 season with Quinn and the Seahawks. Person showed his durability at Montana State where he started 34 straight games and is familiar with new Falcons offensive line coach Chris Morgan, who served as an assistant offensive line coach in Seattle last year. DEFENSIVE EMPHASIS… On March 10, Atlanta added linebackers Justin Durant and Brooks Reed. This duo changes the middle of the Atlanta defense and adds experience and veteran leadership that should blend well with the young corps the Falcons have relied on the past two seasons. Durant is a “run-and-hit” style linebacker that brings a fast and physical style when he steps on the field. “When I get to the football, I am going to try to make as much noise as possible,” said Durant. He spent the last two seasons with the Cowboys and enters his ninth season in the pros. Reed arrives in Atlanta after playing four seasons with the Houston Texans. Reed earned the game ball Week 1 last season after leading the Texans to a victory over the Redskins with five tackles, a sack, one tackle for loss and three quarterback hits. Reed learned from the best as he played, practiced and trained with 2014 NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt. Atlanta’s defensive line received a boost after the signing of Adrian Clayborn on March 16. Clayborn , the No. 20 overall pick of the 2011 draft spent four years with Tampa Bay. Clayborn was drafted by new Atlanta assistant head coach and defensive passing game coordinator Raheem Morris and is finally healthy after setbacks in 2012 (knee) and 2014 (biceps). Clayborn was a standout at Iowa and Georgia Tech fans saw his ability in 2010 when he recorded nine tackles and two sacks while earning FedEx Orange Bowl MVP as the Hawkeyes took a 24-14 victory. With all the connections seen between the new staff and the new signees, it is clear that Quinn’s plan is in place. Photos courtesy of the Atlanta Falcons.

Golden State

Dennis Schroder

Georgia State

Atlanta won the first “Battle

The Hawks have been moving pieces around as injuries and rest for the playoffs becomes a part of the remainder of the season and Schroder continues showcasing his emerging talent. Schroder is averaging 19.5 ppg his last two games, while shooting 5-9 from threepoint land.

The Panthers were the highlight of March Madness opening weekend as RJ Hunter drilled a game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer to stun No. 3 seed Baylor. Georgia State’s upset helped balance out UGA’s underwhelming performance in the tournament.

By Kyle Sandy

of the Best” with a 124-116 home victory over the Warriors on Feb. 6. However, last Wednesday’s trip to Oracle saw the Hawks fall 114-95 and gave the West’s best the top record in the NBA.

SCORE LIST By Brian Jones

PROUD PANTHERS

Even though Georgia State is out of the NCAA tournament, they made the state of Georgia proud by winning the first round game against Baylor. They shocked the world by beating the Bears, and they were in the national spotlight because of it. The Panthers have a chance to be one of the best mid-major teams for years to come.

DAWG GONE IT

The Bulldogs did not have much success in the NCAA tournament as they fell to Michigan State in the first round. But it was a successful year for the Bulldogs because they had a winning record in the conference and they were able to win 20 games for the second consecutive season. Great job by Mark Fox and the Bulldogs.

MAKING HIS DEBUT

Braves outfielder Nick Markakis made his spring training debut this week, and he did not disappoint as he went 2-for3 against the Houston Astros on Monday. The Woodstock native is expected to be a key contributor in the lineup this season, and a hot start like this gives him and the Braves much needed confidence.

QB BATTLE

The Bulldogs are in the thick of spring practice, and the biggest story so far is the quarterback battle between Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Jacob Park. All three have done good things in spring practice, and it looks like the choice for the No. 1 quarterback will not be decided until the fall. Mark Richt and Brian Schottenheimer have a tough decision to make.

BLACK AND GOLD

The time has finally come. The first spring game for the KSU football team will be this Saturday, and it should be a packed house at Fifth Third Bank Stadium. The gates open at noon, but the parking lots open at 10 a.m. Be sure you get there early to see the Owls in action.

WHO’S NOT

WHO’S HOT

SCORE ATLANTA | www.ScoreAtl.com

Atlanta Hawks

Georgia Basketball

KSU Basketball

Atlanta was unstoppable against the Western Conference earlier this season, but now the team has seen a three-game losing streak for the first time this season against the mighty West. The Hawks have just six home games left until the playoffs to get back on track.

UGA hung around with Michigan State for much of the first half but a game-changing run eventually grew the deficit to 35-22 at the half. The Bulldogs scored 41 points in the second half and fell 70-63 which begs the question what could’ve been if they had stopped the bleeding earlier.

The Owls parted ways with Jimmy Lallathin this week after just one season as the Men’s head basketball coach. Lallathin led KSU to three Atlantic Sun wins in the second half of last season before going 10-22 this season.

NUMBERS

OUR TWO CENTS

By Kyle Sandy

Our email newsletter is something we take a lot of pride in at Score. If you aren’t familiar with it, it is a high school sportsheavy publication that we produce each day to fill in our readers on the latest happenings in Georgia prep sports. We send it out Monday through Friday throughout the year and Monday through Saturday during the fall. Not only do we cover popular sports like football, basketball and baseball, we also cover every other varsity sport the GHSA fields. If you like Georgia high school sports at all, sign up for our email newsletter by visiting www.tinyurl.com/scorenewsletter and enter your email address(es) that you’d like added to the distribution list.

TRIVIA QUESTION

WHAT TEAM RECORDED THE EIGHTH SHUTOUT IN CORKY KELL HISTORY LAST SEASON? ANSWER ON PAGE 14

“

SANITY AT LAST

“I thought our game plan was great. If they [Xavier] had just made a couple mistakes here and there, and they just didn’t.” - Georgia State head coach Ron Hunter after the loss to Xavier.

Weeks until the NBA Playoffs begin

1 6

Weeks until the Masters return to Augusta

Weeks left until the Corky Kell Classic kicks off the football season

Percent of brackets that picked Georgia State to upset Baylor

Georgia high school baseball players ranked in the national top 100 prospects

Regular season home games left for the Hawks

Teams that Wheeler will compete against in the Dick’s National Tournament

Straight Hawks losses to Western Conference opponents

Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015

when Blessed Trinity hosts Westminster (both boys and girls). In Class AAAAAA, Walton is going up against Etowah and Harrison on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

SPRING SPORTS

ST. PIUS, MARIST SOCCER SPLITS GAMES; LAMBERT BASEBALL GETS BACK ON TRACK BY RICKY DIMON | RDIMON@SCOREATL.COM

t may be the middle of the regular season, but Marist and St. Pius X were eager to make a statement in Class AAAA last Friday. Marist’s girls got the job done in the form of a 2-1 victory, although both teams walked away looking like serious state championship contenders. The War Eagles, who also trounced Columbia 10-0 last week, remained undefeated on the season. It was St. Pius X, however, that prevailed in the boys’ contest. Unbeaten and riding a streak of seven consecutive shutouts, the Golden Lions found themselves in the unfamiliar position of trailing at halftime. Marist’s 1-0 advantage, though, was short-lived. St. Pius X senior Edmundo Robinson scored twice to bring his team from behind for a 2-1 victory. Robinson and company have upcoming dates with Grady and Dunwoody before their spring break. The Marist boys, meanwhile, have games this week

against Cross Keys and Chamblee. The Lady War Eagles are set for consecutive contests Wednesday through Friday versus Cross Keys, Grayson and Chamblee. One of this week’s most intriguing matchups saw West Hall outlast Dawson County in an overtime thriller between Region 7-AAA rivals on Tuesday. Richie Castruita opened the scoring for West Hall before Sal Mendoza provided an equalizer for Dawson County just prior to halftime. The Tigers also answered in the second half, with Brandon Lung responding to a West Hall goal by Simon Cobian. Lung’s successful strike ultimately forced an extra frame with the score tied 2-2, but the Spartans took control when it mattered most. Cobian and Alejandro Romero found the back of the net in OT as West Hall prevailed 4-2. Two of the most highly-touted teams in Class AAA will be squaring off on Wednesday

LAMBERT BOUNCES BACK… Seth Beer helped No. 2 Lambert (8-2) get back on the winning track on Friday in Class 6A after blasting two homeruns in a 13-4 road victory over South Forsyth (4-6). Beer finished 2-4 with three RBIs while J.D. Dutka and Ian Kimbrell both finished with two hits and a homer apiece. No. 7 Archer (10-3) defeated Brookwood (9-3) behind the bats of Curtis Taylor and E.J. Ranel. Taylor blasted a three-run homerun and Ranel scored two runs and drove in two while finishing 3-4 on the night. In a battle of top three-ranked schools from Class 4A and 5A, No. 1 Buford (11-1) shutout No. 3 Gainesville 2-0. Buford’s Jake Higginbotham and Connor Bennett combined for 15 strikeouts as the Wolves won at Coolray Field. No. 5 North Hall (8-2) continued its hot start to the season and pounded White County (39) into submission with a 15-0 victory in three innings. The shortened game helped Aaron Miles pick up his second consecutive no-hitter. He also finished with three runs batted in. Coming off of back-to-back no-hitters, Class 3A’s top ranked Blessed Trinity Titans (9-2) recorded their third consecutive shutout

after posting a 13-0 win over McNair (4-4). Hayden Lehman struck out eight in four innings of work. Jack Dunn and Kentucky-commit Conor Davis both drove home two runs while five other players picked up an RBI. Senior Graham Guthrie scored three runs. No. 2 Greater Atlanta Christian (12-2) edged No. 3 Lovett (8-3) in a top five meeting, 3-1. Wes Bucher tossed a complete game and recorded 10 strike outs while Peyton McGuire drove in two to lead the way for the Spartans. On Friday, No. 5 Benedictine rallied for three runs in the final inning to knock off No. 7 Bacon County (10-1), 4-3. Warren Wright slashed a walk-off double to complete the comeback. The following day, the Cadets (9-4) shutout Calvary Day (5-4), 2-0 behind an Al Pesto complete-game shutout in which he punched out eight batters. Class A’s defending state champion No. 1 King’s Ridge (8-1) fell to No. 3 Mount Paran 7-4 in a rematch of last year’s state final, but quickly rebounded with a pair of wins including 11-0 over North Cobb Christian (3-7) and 14-1 at Christian Heritage (8-4). Mount Paran on the other hand has dropped back-to-back games since the win over the Tigers and now finds itself at 4-2 on the season. Photos courtesy of Marist HS, Bill Laube, Whitney Reddin and David McGregor.

Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015

A young athlete’s brain is still developing, so don’t take chances with a head injury. Bring him to Children’s, where doctors have the expertise to diagnose and treat concussions. And with ImPACT testing, we can compare a patient’s progress to a normal baseline score to help determine when he’s ready to play again. To schedule a baseline ImPACT test for your athlete or team, visit choa.org/baselinetesting. TM

Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015

Score Atlanta Baseball Rankings Class AAAAAA

Class AAA

1...........................Parkview 2............................ Lambert 3.........Kennesaw Mountain 4................................Milton 5...............................Walton

1..................Blessed Trinity 2................... Pierce County 3.......... Washington County 4...........................Jefferson 5............................ Jackson

6............................. Lassiter 7................................Archer 8.............................Valdosta 9.........................Woodstock 10.....................East Coweta

Class AAAAA 1........................ Greenbrier 2..........................Hardaway 3........................Gainesville 4........................ Starr’s Mill 5...........................Allatoona

Class AA 6......................... Creekview 7.................... East Paulding 8.......................Union Grove 9........Northside-Columbus 10........................Loganville

1.......................... Wesleyan 2..Greater Atlanta Christian 3................................ Lovett 4..........................Jeff Davis 5.......................Benedictine

6..................................Troup 7....................Mary Persons 8....................... Pike County 9...................Liberty County 10...........................Eastside

1......................King’s Ridge 2..................Tattnall Square 3.......................... Mt. Paran 4................Charlton County 5......First Presbyterian Day

Class AAAA 1...............................Buford 2....................... Whitewater 3.....................Locust Grove 4...........................St. Pius X 5..........................North Hall

6........................Hart County 7............ Westside-Augusta 8............................Callaway 9..............................Rutland 10....................Westminster

6.......................Thomasville 7....................Bacon County 8..............................Bremen 9............................... Vidalia 10..................Rabun County

Class AAAAAA

Class AAA

1....................... Brookwood 2...............................Walton 3...........................Campbell 4..................Chattahoochee 5............................ Lambert

1................Dawson County 2.............................Calhoun 3..................... Westminster 4..................Blessed Trinity 5...........................West Hall

6................................Duluth 7................... Meadowcreek 8.............................Wheeler 9.............................Marietta 10................ North Gwinnett

Class AAAAA

Class AAAAAA

1......................Johns Creek 2............................ Lambert 3.........................Centennial 4............................. Roswell 5..................................Pope

1................................Milton 2.............................Lassiter 3......................... Mill Creek 4...............................Walton 5..............Chattahoochee 6

6..........................Northview 7............................. Lassiter 8............................... Walton 9..........................Mill Creek 10.......................... Harrison

Northview 7.............................Lambert 8...................................Pope 9............................ Harrison 10................ North Gwinnett

Class A - AAAAA

1..................... Westminster 2................................ Lovett 3...........................Allatoona 4...........................McIntosh 5........................Cambridge

1........................Cambridge 2..................... Westminster 3..................Blessed Trinity 4....................................Kell 5...........................St. Pius X

6.. Greater Atlanta Christian 7...........................Wesleyan 8....................... Benedictine 9........................... St. Pius X 10.......................Starr’s Mill

6......................... Creekview 7................Lakeside-Evans 8........................... McIntosh 9...........................Wesleyan 10......................River Ridge

6..Emanuel County Institute 7......... Eagle’s Landing Chr. 8..............................Treutlen 9......................... Mt. Pisgah 10.............................Claxton

6..................Coahulla Creek 7..................Oconee County 8............................ East Hall 9.............................Jackson 10.............................Islands

Class AA 6............. Heritage-Conyers 7.........................Gainesville 8...........................Sequoyah 9......................... Riverwood 10...............Glynn Academy

Class AAAA 1...........................St. Pius X 2........ Woodward Academy 3............................ Johnson 4....................North Oconee 5..........................North Hall

Score Atlanta Girls Lacrosse Rankings

Class A

Score Atlanta Boys Soccer Rankings

1................................Dalton 2........................ Greenbrier 3................ Houston County 4...........................McIntosh 5........................ Starr’s Mill

Score Atlanta Boys Lacrosse Rankings

1..Greater Atlanta Christian 2...................... Thomasville 3.......................... Wesleyan 4.................Holy Innocents’ 5................................ Lovett

1..............................Paideia 2........... Stratford Academy 3........... Atlanta Intl. School 4.........Fellowship Christian 5......First Presbyterian Day

Class AAAAAA

Class AAA

1............................Harrison 2.............................Grayson 3...................... East Coweta 4.............................Lassiter 5...............................Walton

1..................Blessed Trinity 2..................... Westminster 3............................. Decatur 4.........................Adairsville 5.................Dawson County

6....................South Forsyth 7.............................Lambert 8........................... Parkview 9......................... Collins Hill 10.................................Pope

Class AAAAA 6.................. Pace Academy 7................................ Dublin 8....................... Benedictine 9...................... Long County 10............Riverside Military

Class A 6.................Eagle’s Landing 7........................Whitewater 8...........................LaGrange 9.......................... Carrollton 10.........Southeast Whitfield

Score Atlanta Girls Soccer Rankings

1...........................McIntosh 2........................ Starr’s Mill 3..........................Northgate 4..........................Columbus 5........................Gainesville

Class AA 6............. Heritage-Conyers 7.......................... Alexander 8.........................Greenbrier 9........................River Ridge 10............................... Rome

Class AAAA 6...........Savannah Christian 7..... Savannah Country Day 8.................St. Anne Pacelli 9..........Landmark Christian 10.............Hebron Christian

1................................Marist 2........ Woodward Academy 3...........................St. Pius X 4............................Veterans 5...............................Buford

6............................. Calhoun 7...................Savannah Arts 8................Lumpkin County 9..................Oconee County 10..................Pierce County

1..Greater Atlanta Christian 2................................ Lovett 3.......................... Wesleyan 4..................Pace Academy 5......................St. Vincent’s

6................. Holy Innocents’ 7..............................Bremen 8....................Lamar County 9..................... East Laurens 10.............................Harlem

Class A 6............................ Spalding 7........................Whitewater 8..................... Locust Grove 9.................................Grady 10..................Mary Persons

1......First Presbyterian Day 2.........Fellowship Christian 3..............................Paideia 4...............Athens Academy 5.......... Savannah Christian

6..... Savannah Country Day 7............................. Aquinas 8...............Hebron Christian 9........ Providence Christian 10......................Brookstone

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UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA

10TH-SEEDED DAWGS FALL TO SPARTANS BY DAN MATHEWS | DMATHEWS@SCOREATL.COM

eorgia’s basketball season ended with a 70-63 loss at the hands of the seventh seed Michigan State Spartans. The loss ends the Bulldogs season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and with a 21-12 final record. In both the first and second halves, the Spartans went on runs to close out this win. Michigan State outscored Georgia 35-22 in the first half and shot 44 percent in the second half to finish it off. The lack of scoring at times is eventually what sophomore guard JJ Frazier says did them in. “We just couldn’t get into a rhythm to go offensively,” Frazier said. “We played good defensively. It’s just the offensive end wasn’t fluid like normal and it cost us.” That first half hole was created by Georgia only shooting 28 percent, as opposed to Michigan State almost shooting 50 percent. The Spartans were helped by strong play

GEORGIA STATE

THE PANTHERS CRASH THE PARTY BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

he dance may be over, but the memories will last a lifetime. Fourteenth-seeded Georgia State stunned the third-seeded Baylor Bears (24-10) in round one of the NCAA Tournament, 57-56. R.J. Hunter struggled for the majority of the game before he caught fire and sparked a 13-0 run to end the game. Over halfway through the second half, Hunter was just 1-of-8 from the field and had four points. He would hit his next four shots and finish with 16 points with his final one being a deep threepointer to give the Panthers the lead for good with 2.7 seconds remaining. His shot was so dramatic that his father and head coach Ron Hunter would fall off his stool and create one of the most memorable scenes in tournament history as he belly flopped onto the floor as his son capped off a dramatic comeback. Georgia State was outrebounded 40-to22, but the pesky Panthers forced 21 turnovers to negate the rebounding differential. Second

by their senior leader Travis Trice. Anytime Georgia looked like they were going to go on a run, senior forward Charles Mann says he hit a much needed shot. Thornton is one of the three seniors on this team and still had his Georgia warmup shirt on when he met with the media. That said, he wasn’t outwardly emotional after the loss. He flipped the time to reflect into a positive. “I’m very thankful for the opportunities that I’ve had here,” Thornton said. “I’m very grateful and humbled to have represented the University of Georgia in the way I have. So, that’s all I can do it be thankful and continue to represent the University of Georgia in the same way.” MOVING FORWARD… Georgia does have most of their roster coming back and Fox doesn’t anticipate any players will leave early for the NBA. This is their first trip to the tournament since 2011. This time around, Fox feels like the program is in a much different place going forward, as opposed to a few years back. “Last time we didn’t have any depth (and) we weren’t rebuilt, we just had a winning season at that point,” Fox said. “I just think that this group and the entire program is just on more stable ground right now.”

leading scorer Ryan Harrow was unable to play due to his prior hamstring injury. With the Bears solely focusing on Hunter, it was senior Ryann Green and sophomore Isaiah Dennis who picked up the slack. Green, who came in averaging under four points per game, scored a career-high 11 points while Dennis pitched in eight off the bench. THE CLOCK STRIKES MIDNIGHT ... Georgia State (25-10) met its match as they fell to sixth-seeded Xavier 75-67. The Musketeers (23-13) shot an astounding 81 percent in the second half and shot 67.6 percent the entire game to hold off the Panthers. It was the third-highest field goal percentage for any team in the last 15 NCAA Tournaments. Coach Hunter understood that Xavier was nearly flawless. “I thought our game plan was great. If they had just made a couple mistakes here and there, and they just didn’t,” Hunter said. “They beat us, we didn’t beat ourselves. We can walk away a little bit more proud.” R.J. Hunter scored a team-high 20 points while Ryan Harrow contributed six points in 19 minutes. Bench players Jalen Reynolds and Myles Davis combined for 38 points off the bench for Xavier to lead the way. The 25-win season gives Georgia State back-to-back 25win seasons and ties the 2001 team as the only ones to win a game in the NCAA Tournament.

GEORGIA TECH

GEORGIA TECH FAVORITES TO WIN COASTAL DIVISION IN 2015 BY COLIN HUBBARD | CHUBBARD@SCOREATL.COM

eorgia Tech is coming off of what was an outstanding 2014 campaign in which the Yellow Jackets captured the Orange bowl title and defeated cross-town-rival Georgia for the first time since 2008. And there is no sign of their dominance slowing up. Georgia Tech will have quarterback Justin Thomas back under center and will have seven starters returning on defense. However, there are some questions that need to be addressed heading into the new season. With the exit of standout receivers Deandre Smelter and Darren Waller, there is a big void to fill in the receiver category. Michael Summers will now have an opportunity to shine as the number one target for the Jackets while sophomore Ricky Jeune will get his chance to turn heads as well. Standing at 6-foot-3, Jeune will look to make the leap from predominantly being a special team’s player, to a number two wide receiver.

KENNESAW STATE

MEN’S BB LOOKING FOR NEW HEAD COACH, SPRING FOOTBALL GAME THIS SATURDAY BY BRIAN JONES | BJONES@SCOREATL.COM

he men’s basketball team will have another coaching change as head coach Jimmy Lallathin has been let go by the athletic department. Lallathin took over for former head coach Lewis Preston in the middle of the 201314 season, and he led the Owls to a 13-35 overall record. Despite the team’s struggles, the firing comes to a surprise because the season ended for the Owls three weeks ago, and Lallathin looked like he had the team going in the right direction since he led the Owls to 10 wins for the first time since the 2009-10 season. “I want to personally thank Jimmy Lallathin for his hard work as head coach,” Williams said in a press release. “Jimmy took over the program in mid-season and guided it through a difficult period of transition. Also, I would like to thank his wife and family for the support that they’ve shown the University. I will have no further comment at this time.” Currently, associate head coach David

The Yellow Jackets will also look to improve on what was a very lackluster pass rush on the defensive side of the ball. Georgia Tech surrendered 6.3 yards per play which was good enough to finish outside of the top 100 nationally. The Yellow Jackets found themselves outside of the top 100 yet again on number of sacks at just 1.43 per game. But with the rise of linebacker KeShun Freeman, defensive tackle Adam Gotsis and the return of Jabari Hunt-Days, who sat out the 2014 season due to academic ineligibility, the Jackets will have solid defensive pieces to build around for the immediate future. It is now up to Paul Johnson to keep his Georgia Tech team in the headlines rather than put off as an afterthought which has happened in recent past. The Yellow Jackets as of now seem to be headed in the right direction and will all but likely be ranked in the top 15 to start the season. ACC GOLD… Another week is in the books and the Jackets win total now stands at 17. After losing two out of three games at the hands of the North Carolina Tar heels this past weekend, the Yellow Jackets capped off their week by beating Auburn 4-1 in Atlanta. Georgia Tech trails Miami by one game for the Coastal division lead and will travel to take on Louisville this weekend. Brandon Gold leads the ACC in ERA with an 0.61 While Kel Johnson is tied for first in homeruns with 6 for the ACC lead.

Rivers will take over as the interim head coach until they hire a new head coach. BLACK AND GOLD… It’s that time. After a month filled with practices and weight training, the football team will hit the field for the Black and Gold game. The game will be at Fifth Third Bank Stadium, and the game will kick off on Saturday at 1 p.m. Some fans have already seen the Owls in action as the team has taken part in the two scrimmages the last two weeks. And based what went on in the two scrimmages, the defense looks like they are more polished than the offense. During the last two scrimmages, the offense has only scored three touchdowns. And the reason for the lack of production is physical and mental mistakes. But head coach Brian Bohannon is not too concerned about the offensive struggles. “We just can’t beat ourselves,” Bohannon said. “We got to give ourselves a chance to compete. It’s going to be hard just to block guys and tackle guys. But we can’t have missed assignments and penalties. Those are things we have to get corrected. “ For those who are attending the game, the parking lots will open at 10 a.m. There will be an Owls Walk at 10:45, and the gates will open at 12 p.m. For those who want to come to the game, limited tickets are available at KSUOwls.com.

Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015 ATLANTA HAWKS

SPURS DELIVER HAWKS THIRD STRAIGHT LOSS BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

tlanta (53-17) suffered a 114-95 setback to San Antonio (44-25) on Sunday and now ride a season long three-game losing skid. During the tough stretch Atlanta has allowed 114, 123 and 114 points in its last three games. The Hawks, who many call ‘Spurs East’, were outspurred by San Antonio. The recipe for success this season for Atlanta has been five to seven players a night scoring in double figures. The Spurs had six crack that mark led by Tiago Splitter’s 23 points while Atlanta had just four players reach double digits. San Antonio gave the Hawks a taste of their own medicine as they jumped out to a quick lead and led 26-13 after one and never looked back. Frustration boiled over in the third quarter as Coach Mike Budenholzer was ejected by none other than Joey Crawford. Budenholzer did not like how lopsided the foul count was with the Spurs taking 11 free throws before Atlanta made a trip to the line. Paul Millsap and Dennis Schroder were bright spots for

ATLANTA BRAVES

RODRIGUEZ HEATING UP AS ROTATION BATTLE CONTINUES BY RICKY DIMON | RDIMON@SCOREATL.COM

andy Rodriguez has all but locked up a spot in the Braves’ starting rotation. Part of the reason is Mike Minor’s injury, but Rodriguez has also earned it on his own accord. His scoreless streak over the course of his last three games is at 12 innings. Last Friday he went five innings without giving up a single hit while striking out five batters. “This is a veteran guy, we brought him in to get one of these spots,” manager Fredi Gonzalez told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “Now all of a sudden two are available because Minor is shut down for a little bit.” One of those could go to Mike Foltynewicz, who struggled through 2.2 innings against the Phillies on Tuesday. Foltynewicz’s spring has not gone as well as Rodriguez’s, but Minor’s plight gives the hard-throwing righty a chance. Eric Stults and prospect Cody Martin—one of the surprising stars of camp so far—are also in the mix. “He’s a guy that has a nice arm and a great

the Hawks. Millsap finished with 22 points and seven rebounds while Schroder added 18 points and five assists off the bench. Kyle Korver returned from his broken nose wearing a mask and struggled in his 29 minutes of action. He scored six points and finished with a season-high five turnovers. The Spurs will finish the regular season as the only team the Hawks were unable to beat. LOOKING AHEAD ... With 12 games remaining on the schedule and players like Kyle Korver and Thabo Sefolosha on the mend with Mike Scott to follow once the playoffs begin, Atlanta will be getting healthy at just the right time. Out of their final 12 games of the season, only three teams have a winning record in Phoenix (38-33), Washington (40-31) and Chicago (43-29). The soft schedule should allow them to right the ship and gain some momentum heading into the playoffs as the number one seed. Atlanta has been human since the All-Star break with a 10-6 record. Since their perfect 17-0 January, they have gone 13-9. Cleveland (46-26) has come on strong after a 19-20 start to the season and has gone 27-6 since that mark, but still trail the Hawks by eight games for the conference lead. UP NEXT ... The Hawks hit Orlando (22-50) on Wednesday at 7 P.M. in search of their first win since last Monday.

body,” Gonzalez said of Foltynewicz. “He’s still learning. He’s still got to figure out that you’ve got to pitch. This is not throwing, and it’s not ‘see how [hard] you can throw.’ It’s about getting people out.” IN THE NICK OF TIME ... Nick Markakis, whom the Braves signed to replace Jason Heyward in right field, made his spring training debut on Monday after recovering from offseason surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Markakis went 2-for-3 as Atlanta topped Houston 14-10. “With his swing and approach, I’m thinking 25 to 30 at-bats,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said when asked how much work Markakis would require at the plate before being ready for regular-season action. “We can get him 30 in a week if we need to in those minor-league games. So I’m really shooting for Opening Day.” Barring any unforeseen setbacks, he should have no trouble readying himself for the opener. Markakis got three more at-bats on Tuesday and went 0-for-3, but he played six innings in the field without any issues. “Getting out there is a good feeling,” Markakis assured. “I still need to get some work out there by seeing some balls off the bat and make some more throws. I still have some time left…. I feel better than I thought I would right now. The swing feels good. It’s just a matter of timing now.”

ATLANTA FALCONS

FALCONS PREPARE FOR DRAFT WITHOUT COMPENSATORY PICKS BY CRAIG SAGER II | CSAGER@SCOREATL.COM

he Falcons will enter the draft with eight picks and will be without compensatory picks for the first time since 2011. Atlanta has used 11 compensatory picks since 2008, including two third round picks, two fourth rounders. Last year, Atlanta added linebackers Prince Shembo, Yawin Smallwood and Tyler Starr with its three seventh round compensatory picks. The 2015 Draft will be in Chicago this year and the date is set for April 30-May 2. Atlanta has the eighth overall pick and will also have the 10th pick in the second round. Atlanta has had the No. 8 pick three other times in franchise history. Tackle Bob Whitfield was taken out of Stanford in 1992 and defensive back DeAngelo Hall was taken at No. 8 in 2004. Atlanta drafted Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson in 2007. TIGHT END DEPTH… The days of Alge Crumpler and Tony Gon-

GWINNETT GLADIATORS

GELDERMAN TO VP AND GM BY KYLE SANDY | KSANDY@SCOREATL.COM

n old face will be promoted to a new role within the Gladiators organization. Last Friday the Gwinnett Gladiators announced that Joe Gelderman has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager of Business Operations. Gelderman will now oversee all of the organization’s day to day business operations. He has been a part of the organization since 2003 and has held positions such as Account Executive, Director of Game Operations, Director of Operations, and Vice President of Sales within the organization. Gelderman was promoted to Vice President of Sales in 2009 and has been in charge of hiring, training and guiding the growth of the Gladiator sales staff. His leadership has proven effective as the Gladiators have increased group sales revenue in each season. The front office set organizational records for group sales revenue in the 2013-2014 season and are on pace to eclipse that record in 2014-2015 thanks to Gelderman’s help.

zalez were a distant memory last season as Levine Toilolo carried the load at tight end and the franchise has made sure to bring in plenty of talent to compete for this year’s roles. On March 19, the Falcons added tight ends Tony Moeaki and Jacob Tamme to the roster. Moeaki played for Seattle but was no longer needed once the club brought in Jimmy Graham. Tamme played six total seasons with Peyton Manning (three in Indianapolis and three in Denver) and is expected to fit well with experienced quarterback Matt Ryan. A BIG THREE… The addition of these three veteran defenders highlights Atlanta’s biggest moves of this offseason up to this point. On March 10, Atlanta added linebackers Justin Durant and Brooks Reed and on the 16th Adrian Clayborn was welcomed aboard. Durant and Brooks bring veteran leadership to the heart of the defense and Clayborn adds a much-needed pass rush on the outside. Durant spent the past two years in Dallas where he helped revamp a dreadful 2013 defense last season and Reed played four seasons with the Texans alongside Defensive MVP J.J. Watt. Clayborn , the No. 20 overall pick of the 2011 draft, brings first round talent to a young Atlanta defense. Clayborn, led the NFL with 19 tackles for loss in 2013 and is finally healthy after setbacks in 2012 (knee) and 2014 (biceps).

SOLAR BEARS BLIND GLADIATORS ... Orlando (33-22-4-3) overpowered Gwinnett (17-40-3-3) on Saturday in Florida, 6-2. The Gladiators struck first at the 2:40 mark when Scott Arnold scored his eighth goal of the season, but Johnny McInnis would score the first of his two goals later in the first period and would tie the game up heading into the second period. Peter Sivak would score for Orlando before Greg Carey would answer three minutes later to knot the game back up. From that point on, the Solar Bears would seize control. Four unanswered goals would blow the Gladiators away. Gwinnett was aggressive on offense and would take the same amount of shots as Orlando would (39), but were unable to pick up the goals needed to keep the game close. Mike Lee saved 33 shots out of the 38 he faced in the loss. GETTING TO THE POINT ... Last Thursday marked the first of four straight games against the Solar Bears with the first three in Orlando before coming home on Tuesday to host the Bears. The new-look Gladiators had four players make their Gwinnett debuts and would battle hard before falling in a shootout, 4-3. Mike Lee saved 45 shots as he saw Gwinnett outshot 49-25 on the night. The Glads held a 3-2 lead early in the third period after a Greg Carey power play goal but Brett Findlay would find the net at the 17:06 mark to force overtime. In overtime Brock Montgomery scored on Orlando’s final shot to give the Solar Bears a 2-1 advantage in the shootout and a 4-3 win.

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Vol. 11 Iss. 11 | March 27 - April 2, 2015

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