Sports

OCHS boys basketball coach Carlos Strong (left) and his coaching staff run drills at practice last month. This was the first season as coach of the Patriots for Strong, a former Cedar Shoals and UGA basketball star, who played in the NBA. (Avery Cameron/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS boys basketball coach Carlos Strong (left) and his coaching staff run drills at practice last month. This was the first season as coach of the Patriots for Strong, a former Cedar Shoals and UGA basketball star, who played in the NBA. (Avery Cameron/The Oglethorpe Echo)

From the NBA to OCHS: Strong's journey to coaching

Jack Keys
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Carlos Strong barreled toward the basket. With a defender in his path, most high school freshmen likely would have compromised for a contested layup or found an open pass, but not Strong. Cedar Shoals’ young star took flight for a dunk, receiving a violent smack from his challenger in the process.
Bryan Park's new two-sided batting cage features new netting, turf floors and LED lights. The cage is 1,800 square feet and cost $20,000. (Mitchell Stone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bryan Park's new two-sided batting cage features new netting, turf floors and LED lights. The cage is 1,800 square feet and cost $20,000. (Mitchell Stone/The Oglethorpe Echo)

New batting cage adds space

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Little League baseball coach Daniel Anderson has found it difficult to find practice space at Bryan Park during inclement weather. With only one 10-year-old batting cage available, league officials knew it was time to expand, especially as Little League participation remains strong.
Ke’Mauri Brown (left) and his OCHS track teammates warm up during a practice last week. Brown hopes to PR in the long jump and help the Patriots reach state this spring. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Ke’Mauri Brown (left) and his OCHS track teammates warm up during a practice last week. Brown hopes to PR in the long jump and help the Patriots reach state this spring. (Photo/Kayda Hammock)

Track teams shoot for state this spring

Kayda Hammock
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Ke’Mauri Brown has new goals this year after advancing to the state track meet as a sophomore. “(I want to) really try to PR (personal record) in long jump and help the team out as much as I can this year,” Brown said.
Miles Mason became a four-time area champion last weekend and advanced to the Class A individual sectional tournament. He defeated Banks County’s Davion Knox in the final. (Donny Faust/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Miles Mason became a four-time area champion last weekend and advanced to the Class A individual sectional tournament. He defeated Banks County’s Davion Knox in the final. (Donny Faust/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Prep Roundup: Mason wins fourth area wrestling title to lead Patriots

News Staff
Friday, February 7, 2025
Oglethorpe County will send 10 wrestlers and one alternate to the Class A individual sectional tournament this weekend at Jeff Davis High School in Hazelhurst. Miles Mason and Paris Crowder won their weight classes at the individual area tournament last weekend to advance.
Oglethorpe County baseball players warm up during a recent practice. The Patriots will look to their pitching to lead them through Region 8-A Division I play this season. (AVERY CAMERON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

Oglethorpe County baseball players warm up during a recent practice. The Patriots will look to their pitching to lead them through Region 8-A Division I play this season. (AVERY CAMERON/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

OCHS baseball looks to improve in Campbell’s second season

Avery Cameron
Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Oglethorpe County’s Mike Campbell said his team is focused heading into his second season as coach. This year’s team has a mix of experienced leaders and rising talent to try to improve upon last year’s 12-17 record and third-place finish in Region 5-A Division I.
Local hunter Seth Robinson found success with his son, Harris, who took down his first buck on New Year’s Eve. It was one of 3,650 deer harvested in Oglethorpe County in the 2024-25 deer season.

Local hunter Seth Robinson found success with his son, Harris, who took down his first buck on New Year’s Eve. It was one of 3,650 deer harvested in Oglethorpe County in the 2024-25 deer season.

Hunters take 3,650 deer from county this season

Mitchell Stone
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Oglethorpe County has once again solidified its place as one of Georgia’s top counties for deer hunting, ranking fifth for total deer harvested in 2024-25.
The 12u flag football teams coached by Daniel Rotberg and Eric Pittard face off for the league title. Rotberg’s team won the championship with a 28-20 victory. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

The 12u flag football teams coached by Daniel Rotberg and Eric Pittard face off for the league title. Rotberg’s team won the championship with a 28-20 victory. (Photo/Anna Izquierdo)

Flag football has solid first season

Anna Izquierdo
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Growing Oglethorpe County’s inaugural Little League flag football program was a goal of recreation department athletic director Daniel Eubanks this season.
The Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team finished sixth at the Division 2 state duals in its first year as a team. Josh Austin expects the momentum gained from this season will continue to next year. (Submitted Photo)

The Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team finished sixth at the Division 2 state duals in its first year as a team. Josh Austin expects the momentum gained from this season will continue to next year. (Submitted Photo)

OCHS girls wrestling finishes sixth at Division 2 state duals

Kayda Hammock
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Coach Josh Austin had high praise for the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team, which finished sixth in the Division 2 state duals in its first season as a program.
Brooklyn Myers (with headgear) is congratulated by Tessa Cosby and other OCHS teammates after a victory to help the girls wrestling team advance to its first state dual championship. The Patriots are one of eight teams remaining in Division 2. (Submitted Photo)

Brooklyn Myers (with headgear) is congratulated by Tessa Cosby and other OCHS teammates after a victory to help the girls wrestling team advance to its first state dual championship. The Patriots are one of eight teams remaining in Division 2. (Submitted Photo)

Prep Roundup: Girls reach dual state championship

News Staff
Thursday, January 23, 2025
Akira Owens, Tristin Caldwell, Cayla Hartrum, Emily Gregory and Nyah McAphee won by pins to lead the Oglethorpe County girls wrestling team to a 60-18 victory over Ridgeland and into its first state dual championship.