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Athletes Beyond Bartow: Updates on local pro and college athletes

December 23, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com



Most of the collegiate athletes with Cartersville and Bartow County connections are on holiday breaks, but a few were in action this past week. 


In college football news, offensive linemen Jonah Gambill (Memphis) and Shadre Hurst (Tulane) had bowl games this past week. At the same time, Devin Henderson (Liberty) and Sacovie White (Georgia) prepared for upcoming games. Gambill and the Tigers won the Frisco Bowl. Hurst and the Green Wave lost at the Gasparilla Bowl. Henderson and the Flames will play in the Bahamas Bowl on January 4, and White and the Bulldogs will face Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl/CFP Quarterfinals on New Year’s Day.


Three college wrestlers were on the mats last week and five locals saw basketball action.



CHINA — CBA PRO BASKETBALL


Ashton Hagans

ASHTON HAGANS — Xinjiang Flying Tigers (5th yr. pro; Cartersville native; University of Kentucky; Newton HS) … totaled 15 points with 12 assists, two steals, and four rebounds in wins last week over Tianjin and Shandong. Xinjiang (15-4) is tied for third in the 20-team league behind first-place Guangsha and second-place Shanxi. The Flying Tigers play at Beijing on Tuesday and at Liaoning on Saturday. 





COLLEGE FOOTBALL


JONAH GAMBILL — University of Memphis (R-Sr., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Tigers’ offensive line that helped produce 474 yards in a 42-37 win over West Virginia last Tuesday (Dec. 17) at the Frisco Bowl in Texas. The win likely assures a final Top 25 ranking for Memphis. The Tigers (11-2) were just inside the Top 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings, the AP Poll, and the Coaches Poll in the final rankings before the bowl games. Gambill appeared in 47 games — most were starts — during his five-season career.


SHADRE HURST — Tulane University (So., Cartersville HS) … a starter on the Green Wave’s offensive line that helped produce 194 yards of offense in a 33-6 loss to Florida last Friday at the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa. Hurst started all 14 games this season for Tulane, and the guard even caught a 5-yard pass in September at Louisiana-Lafayette. Tulane finished the season with a 9-5 record. Hurst has now appeared in 30 games for the Green Wave.


SAM PHILLIPS — UT-Chattanooga (R-Jr., Cartersville HS) … a wide receiver, Phillips has entered the transfer portal after 28 games, 117 receptions, 1519 yards, and seven touchdowns with the Mocs. Chattanooga was 7-5 in 2024.  He caught 50 passes this past season for 823 yards and three touchdowns and will be a redshirt senior.




COLLEGE WRESTLING


BRYCE KRESHO — Franklin & Morris College (Jr., Cass HS) … went 3-2 and placed fourth this past weekend at the Sheridan Open in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Diplomats return to the mats December 29-30 at the Ken Kraft Midlands Championships in Evanston, Illinois.

Tyler-Xavier McKnight

TYLER-XAVIER McKNIGHT — Davidson College (So., Cass HS) … reached the semifinals before falling and went 4-1 to finish third in the 149-pound bracket at the Wilkes Open this past weekend. He was one of six Wildcats reaching the Wilkes-Barr, Pennsylvania podium. Davidson will wrestle next at the Chattanooga Southern Scuffle on January 4-5.


JAXON SMITH — University of Maryland (R-Jr., Woodland HS) … went 1-2 in a quad-duals meet this past weekend in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. The Terrapins went 0-3 as a team, endangering their current No. 24 ranking. Smith, ranked sixth nationally in the 197-pound division, defeated an 11th-ranked opponent from Pitt but lost to his 22nd-ranked opponent from host Rider and eighth-ranked opponent from South Dakota State. Maryland (4-3 in duals) will face Binghampton, Columbia, and Lock Haven on January 5 in the Armbar at the Armory in Albany, New York.



COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Former Cass Colonel Braxton Benham averaged over 22 points in two games last week for Berry College.


BRAXTON BENHAM — Berry College (Sr., Cass HS) … in a 62-60 home loss to Belhaven University last Thursday and an 81-68 win this past Saturday over Earlham College, Benham totaled 45 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, and four steals. The Vikings (6-5) will play Ferrum College in the first game of the Christopher-Newport Tournament on Sunday before facing either Misericordia or CNU on Monday, December 30.


DAVID JINKS — University of Maine-Augusta (Fr., Excel Christian Academy) … totaled five points and grabbed one rebound in losses last week at Paul Smith’s College and Maine-Fort Kent. The Moose (3-12, 3-5) return to action on January 17 at Vermont State-Randolph.


MEGAN SCHULTZ — Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (Fr., Woodland HS) … scored three points and grabbed one rebound last Tuesday in a 66-38 loss at Brewton Parker College. The Fillies (5-9, 0-3 Southern States Athletic Conference) will host Thomas University (Fla.) on January 4.


LONDAISHA SMITH — St. Andrews University (Sr., Cass HS) … scored 16 points with three rebounds, two assists, and two steals on December 16 in a 75-55 home loss to Milligan University. The Lady Knights (5-8, 2-5 Appalachian Athletic Conference) visit Bryan College (Tenn.) on January 4.

Alissa Winters has moved into the Bears' starting lineup.


ALISSA WINTERS — Truett-McConnell University (Fr., Adairsville HS) … through 12 games this season, including starts in the last eight games, Winters has totaled 29 points, 19 rebounds, 10 assists, five steals, and two blocks as the Lady Bears have gone 6-6 overall and 4-3 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. TMU plays at Montreat College (NC) on January 4.

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