Athletes Beyond Bartow: Former Canes prepare for title game, college hoops in conference races
As former Cartersville High School stars Miller Forristall and Trevor Lawrence prepared this week for their College Football National Championship Game, several other local ‘Athletes Beyond Bartow’ made contributions with their college programs.
Forristall is a redshirt sophomore tight end for the Alabama Crimson Tide and Trevor Lawrence is a true freshman quarterback for the Clemson Tigers. The two programs solidified their positions at the top of college football December 29 with national semifinal wins over Oklahoma and Notre Dame, respectively, and will now face one another Monday night in Santa Clara, CA. This week, former Woodland wrestler Jake Huffine competed in the Southern Scuffle that included some of the best college programs in the nation and seven local basketball players contributed with their programs.
WRESTLING
JAKE HUFFINE — Chattanooga (Jr., 133-lb wt. class, Woodland HS)… went 1-2 at the Southern Scuffle January 1-2 hosted by the Mocs. Chattanooga placed 14th of 23 schools in the event won by Penn State. Oklahoma, Iowa State, Stanford, and Navy rounded out the top five teams. Huffine defeated Sean Cannon of Northern Colorado 6-2 in his opening match before falling to Stanford’s Mason Pengilly 5-3 in the second round. He later lost 3-1 to Cody Trybus of Navy. The Mocs travel to Hampton, Virginia this Friday and Saturday for the Virginia Duals.
BASKETBALL
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… had a double-double that included 19 points and 11 rebounds to go with three assists and four steals Saturday, but the Patriots were edged by Young Harris College 120-119 in a Peach Belt Conference game in Florence. FMU (7-2, 3-1) will try to bounce back from their first league loss Wednesday at home against USC-Aiken and will travel to Clayton State Saturday afternoon. KIMORA McCLINIC — Middle Georgia State University (So., G, Cartersville HS)… saw four minutes of playing time had one assist and was 0-for-1 from the floor in the Knights’ 82-66 loss last Thursday at Martin Methodist. For the season, McClinic is averaging just under two points and two rebounds per game in about nine minutes per contest. MGSU (5-7, 1-4 Southern State Athletic Conference) hosts Mobile University Thursday and Stillman College Saturday.
JANA MORNING — Berry College (So., G, Cass HS)… scored only two points, but had 13 rebounds and eight assists in a 69-63 loss Friday night at Millsaps College. Sunday, she scored three points and had two assists in a 73-59 loss at Birmingham Southern College. Morning is averaging over five points and five rebounds per game along with three assists and two steals per game. Berry (4-10, 0-3) hosts University of the South Friday night and Centre College Sunday afternoon.
JAYLON PUGH — Furman University (Fr., G, Cartersville HS)… entered late in the game Saturday and made his only shot — a three pointer — as the Paladins beat Citadel at home, 101-85. The bucket by Pugh put Furman over the century mark against their Southern Conference rival. Pugh has appeared in nine games, averaging three points and one rebound in just under nine minutes per appearance. Furman (14-2, 3-1 Southern Conference) plays at VMI Thursday night and at UNC-Greensboro Saturday.
JOSIE SUMMERVILLE — North Park University (Fr., F, Adairsville HS)… averaging 16 minutes in two games last week, Summerville totaled 15 points, 10 rebounds, one block, and one steal. The Vikings lost both games, falling 76-39 at Carthage College (WI) Wednesday and 77-65 Saturday at home against Augustana College (IL). NPU (6-9, 2-4 Collegiate Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin) hosts Illinois Wesleyan University Wednesday night before traveling to Carroll University (WI) Saturday afternoon.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett-McConnell University (Jr., G, Excel Christian Academy)… started Saturday at home against Allen University (SC) and grabbed six rebounds in an 87-81 win. He also played nine minutes and nailed his only three-point attempt in a 68-60 home win last Wednesday over Tennessee Wesleyan. TMU (9-6, 4-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) plays at Reinhardt University Tuesday night, hosts Bryan College (TN) Thursday night, and travels to Columbia International University Saturday afternoon.
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (Jr., F, Woodland HS)… saw three minutes of action as a reserve Saturday afternoon as the Nighthawks lost 86-77 at 25th-ranked UNC-Pembroke. UNG (6-4, 1-3 Peach Belt Conference) entertains Columbus State Wednesday night and USC-Aiken Saturday afternoon in PBC matchups.
