Sports

The Franklin County Lions went 3-0 in the Bearden Border Wars tournament to win the tournament championship.

The Franklin County Lions went 3-0 in the Bearden Border Wars tournament to win the tournament championship.

Lions win inaugural Bearden Border Wars title

Franklin County Lion Coach Jason Shaver played high school ball for Seneca High School in Seneca, S.C. Shaver's Lions dominated three teams from his home state to win the championship of Franklin County's first Bearden Border Wars tournament.
Lady Lion Emily Carson drives into the lane during action Friday in the Bearden Border Wars tournament at FCHS.

Lady Lion Emily Carson drives into the lane during action Friday in the Bearden Border Wars tournament at FCHS.

Lady Lions notch first win in tournament

In their first game in the Bearden Border Wars tournament Saturday, the Franklin County Lady Lions played a solid second quarter but lost to Wade Hampton from South Carolina In their second game Monday, they played a solid first half and got their first win of the season against Pendleton, S.C.
Pictured at Kalyn Jinks’ scholarship signing last week with Reinhardt University are (front, from left) sister Kylie Jinks, mother Vanessa Jinks, Kalyn Jinks, father  Brett Jinks, brother Kayne Jinks, (back) FCHS Basketball Coach John Strickland, Assistant Softball Coach Cherokee Bell, Softball Coach and Athletic Director Jason Oliver, Reinhardt Head Softball Coach Jade Geuther, FCHS Principal Roger Wilkinson and FCHS Tennis Coach Chuck Holland.

Pictured at Kalyn Jinks’ scholarship signing last week with Reinhardt University are (front, from left) sister Kylie Jinks, mother Vanessa Jinks, Kalyn Jinks, father Brett Jinks, brother Kayne Jinks, (back) FCHS Basketball Coach John Strickland, Assistant Softball Coach Cherokee Bell, Softball Coach and Athletic Director Jason Oliver, Reinhardt Head Softball Coach Jade Geuther, FCHS Principal Roger Wilkinson and FCHS Tennis Coach Chuck Holland.

Jinks signs to topple catchers for Reinhardt Lady Eagles

Coach Jason Oliver said a couple of memories stand out in his mind about Kalyn Jinks. One came in the team’s drive for the school’s first state softball championship last season. “When she ran over the catcher from Jefferson, that stands out to me,” Oliver said.
Pictured at Jaden Cheek’s scholarship signing with Clemson University last week are (front, from left) Carson Cheek, Megan Cheek, Cullen Cheek, Jaden Cheek, Jeff Cheek, Joe Cheek, (back) Joey Cheek, Sherri Cheek, Alex McLeroy, Mike Carson, Ellene Carson, Tucker Ruark, Matt Ruark, McKinlee Turner, Terri Cheek and April Ruark. Jaden is also the granddaughter of the late Raynell Cheek.

Pictured at Jaden Cheek’s scholarship signing with Clemson University last week are (front, from left) Carson Cheek, Megan Cheek, Cullen Cheek, Jaden Cheek, Jeff Cheek, Joe Cheek, (back) Joey Cheek, Sherri Cheek, Alex McLeroy, Mike Carson, Ellene Carson, Tucker Ruark, Matt Ruark, McKinlee Turner, Terri Cheek and April Ruark. Jaden is also the granddaughter of the late Raynell Cheek.

Cheek to become one of first Clemson Softball Tigers

Coach Mike Miller said he began working with Jaden Cheek on her hitting after she was left off an 8-year-old Little League Softball All-Star team. She was determined not to let that happen again and worked “incredibly hard,” he said, to make sure it didn’t.
Franklin County Lions 10-and-Under team members are Kolson Howell, Gavin Wells, Aiden Westmoreland, Essien Lockleer, Josh Baughcum, Kade Gentry, Kewonta Riley, Hunter Barnes, C.J. Davis, Rayan Wilson, Kennan Burtch, Jeromyah Knox, Janareon Riley, Carson Cheek, Colton Milsaps, Blake Abercrombie, Kendaus Burtch, Josiah Jackson, Sihon Wigfall, Myles Kelley, Gage Bryant, Hunter Blackmon, Crate Phillips, Connor Fuhrman, Eli Bridges and Alijah Kibler.  Coaches are Jeremy Barnes, Brian Scott, Aaron Kibler, Brent H

Franklin County Lions 10-and-Under team members are Kolson Howell, Gavin Wells, Aiden Westmoreland, Essien Lockleer, Josh Baughcum, Kade Gentry, Kewonta Riley, Hunter Barnes, C.J. Davis, Rayan Wilson, Kennan Burtch, Jeromyah Knox, Janareon Riley, Carson Cheek, Colton Milsaps, Blake Abercrombie, Kendaus Burtch, Josiah Jackson, Sihon Wigfall, Myles Kelley, Gage Bryant, Hunter Blackmon, Crate Phillips, Connor Fuhrman, Eli Bridges and Alijah Kibler. Coaches are Jeremy Barnes, Brian Scott, Aaron Kibler, Brent H

10-and-Under Lions Super Bowl bound

The Franklin County Recreation Department’s 10-and-Under Lions football team will play in the North Georgia Youth Football Association’s Super Bowl Saturday at 3 p.m. at Cherokee Bluff High School in Flowery Branch. The Lions will face the Cherokee Bluff Junior Bears.
Franklin County contests against Stephens County and Hart County will be region contests beginning with the 2020-21 school year.

Franklin County contests against Stephens County and Hart County will be region contests beginning with the 2020-21 school year.

New 8AAA to include biggest rivals

There will be plenty of familiar faces in the new Region 8AAA beginning at the start of the 2020-21 school year. New region alignments announced Tuesday by the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) has Franklin County remaining in 8AAA.
Lion Josh Beasley hauls in a tipped pass for a touchdown Friday night against Jackson County. (Photo by Manus)

Lion Josh Beasley hauls in a tipped pass for a touchdown Friday night against Jackson County. (Photo by Manus)

Lions beat Panthers to set up Hart showdown

Victories in back-to-back games has the Franklin County Lions football team on the verge of the state playoffs. The Lions, in fact, have two chances to clinch a berth in the playoffs.
Lion Keaton Burton (right) took fourth-place overall to lead the Franklin County boys’ cross country team to the state meet for the first time in at least 12 years. (Photos by Scoggins)

Lion Keaton Burton (right) took fourth-place overall to lead the Franklin County boys’ cross country team to the state meet for the first time in at least 12 years. (Photos by Scoggins)

Boys break drought to qualify for state meet; Woods will also run

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   The Franklin County cross-country program christened its own course this season, and it had immediate benefits.
The Franklin County Lady Lions softball team were disappointed Monday in not winning a second straight state championship but still played in the game for the second year in a row and got to host the game on their home field. (Photo by Scoggins)

The Franklin County Lady Lions softball team were disappointed Monday in not winning a second straight state championship but still played in the game for the second year in a row and got to host the game on their home field. (Photo by Scoggins)

A very strong second: Lady Lions fall in historic state championship game

By Shane Scoggins Publisher   The two best teams in Georgia’s Class AAA met to decide the state championship Monday. And it was historic.