No. 5 goes down: The Lady Bears hoops squad (6-2) knocked off the #5 team in the state – Southwest Atlanta Christian - last night 58-54 for their fourth win in a row. Alex Williams led with 14 points, Shamaz Denerson followed with 10. Madison McBride dealt nine assists. “It was a huge win for the program,” Coach Tony Watkins said. Last Saturday they topped OLM 47-12 behind balanced scoring from Eryn Delaney (11 points), Williams (9), Denerson (9) and Elandria Thurmond (7). They are action again Friday at home, again versus OLM. ...Girls JV (4-1) toppled OLM 36-18, led by McKenzie Bolden’s 13 points, six steals and three assists. ...Girls 7th grade lost to Lovett despite 14 points from Mary Hollis Schmidt.

Positive ripples: In swimming, Rebecca Hamm made the state cut in the 100-breast Tuesday night at Riverside Military Academy. “We have four individual cuts and three relays for state,” Coach Elizabeth Chura said. Stacia Schacter and Hamm finished one-two in the 200-IM and the 100-breast; Jenn McMinn won both the 50- and 100-free, Christine Georgakakos and Sophie Goldwasser earned points in the 100-free, 100-back and 500-free and Hannah Kissack and Ally Yankauskas were 2nd and 4th in the 200-free. ...The MS swam at Pace last Friday – Warner Ray, Claire Fanning, Kathleen Charron, Mark Kale, Clayton DeHaven, Chris Waldron, Hannah Weiss, Zach Waldron and Rachel Merkel continue to excel. Next up for the swimmers is the Madeline Brown Invitational at Marist Dec. 20th and the Holiday Swim Camp at Pace during break from 3 – 6 p.m.

Still on a roll: In the Northview Duals Saturday, the Bear wrestlers went 2-2 despite competing against 5A opponents. Chris Mann and Alfie Farris went 4-0 and Matt McCloskey and John Suto picked up big wins. Last night they topped 1A foes ELC and Landmark to run their dual meet record to 6-2. Farris and Mann upped their season records to 11-0, Suto had a great pin at 145, Christian Rasmussen went 2-0 and freshmen Jack Watts and Evan Thomas picked up key pins. The team drilled Whitefield and St. Francis last Wednesday in its home opener. ...The JV dropped a tough one to St. Francis last Wednesday despite wins from Court Fanning, Matt McCloskey and Gregory Sullivan. They went 2-2 at Northview, led by Sammie McMillan, Thomas and Earnest Finley. Jake McDowell picked up his first win Tuesday night. ...The MS topped Wesleyan, Woodward and St. Pius last Wednesday and competed at Union Grove Saturday. Trent Martin (105) and Stewart Brumbeloe (115) placed 4th in a very competitive bracket at Union Grove. Nick Biasucci (120) and Owen Penn (110) also wrestled well.

Hanging tough: The boys hoops squad drilled Landmark 62-32 Friday night and followed with a 74-63 loss to OLM the next day. Hamilton Bailey scored 26 and 29 points in the efforts; DeMarcus Acree 21 and 25. Darius Bowling pulled 10 rebounds against OLM. They dropped a tough decision last night to SWAC; Acree had 21, Bailey 16. The boys return home Friday for a rematch with OLM. “We need to get consistent for 32 minutes,” Coach Mike Harner said. ...JV boys upended Landmark last Friday; Austin McNeil led with seven points. They lost 54-45 Tuesday night with Jake Maziar leading the way with 16 points. “The kids played well against a team that hadn’t lost all year,” Coach Scott Myers said.

Game of the week: Saturday, Dec. 13th, 9 a.m., Wrestling – The Mat Bears, unbeaten against 1A schools, will do battle in the Pace Academy Invitational, with action going on all day.

Until next time,

“When you quit your dream, you die.”
Flashdance

From the desk of Sports Information Director Dunn Neugebauer