Thanksgiving tournaments give teams time to gel with

each other before they enter the rigorous regular season. Some

games your team will draw a weaker opponent from a smaller

division and other games your team will draw a contender for a state

championship. Either way, the experience is invaluable.

Both the McIntosh boys and girls basketball teams went 2-1

in their holiday tournament, both losing to Newton County.

The girls saw some great play from Kim Schisler and

Megan Jankowski and last years team leader in rebounds, Jessi

Prahl, pulled in ten in the Lady Chiefs game against Mt. Zion. The

boys were led by Michael Patrick, who looks to be the team's top

scorer this season. Patrick had 27 points in the Chiefs first game

against LaGrange. McIntosh opens the regular season at Sandy Creek.

The Fayette County Tigers had a productive holiday

tournament as well. The girls went 2-1, losing to Collin's Hill, 61-44.

Jessica Pritchett, the teams leading scorer and rebounder began to turn it

on as the tournament went on, recording 16 points in their loss

and 14 points against Riverdale. The boys went 1-2, but their

second loss of the tournament was to McIntosh by a score of

52-50. The rivalry between the two schools promises to be

intense this year. Jay Chapman came off the bench for the Tigers to lead

the team in scoring in their last two games. The Tigers travel

to LaGrange for their regular season opener.

The Starr's Mill boys went 1-2, while the girls went 0-3 in

their first tournament as a varsity squad. The boys were led by

Brandon Alexander, who netted 17 points in the Panthers game against

top ranked Chattahoochee. The girlshad a tough time in their

first varsity tournament but point guard Jamie Vining has played

outstanding. She scored 14 points in the Lady Panthers loss to Buford while

stealing the ball twice and getting three assists. Starr's Mill

hosts Salem for their regular season home opener.

Both the Sandy Creek boys and girls teams are rebuilding this

year. The girls had it tough in their tournament this year with

losses to Lovejoy (43-37) and East Coweta (77-53). The key for

the girls is to improve their shooting and their defense. The boys

squad showed moments of athletic brilliance in their tournament, led

at home against McIntosh.

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