Sports

The Patriots' Amber Watkins goes around Hart County's Jaz Shealer at Oglethorpe County High School's girls basketball game on Monday, December 19, 2023. The Lady Patriots defeated Hart County 60-54. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Patriots' Amber Watkins goes around Hart County's Jaz Shealer at Oglethorpe County High School's girls basketball game on Monday, December 19, 2023. The Lady Patriots defeated Hart County 60-54. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

OCHS girls basketball players see momentum in season

Owen Warden
Wednesday, December 27, 2023
The Oglethorpe County girls basketball team has started strong.    After 10 games, the Patriots are 9-1, a better start than the previous three seasons. The only loss was to Hart County, which the team beat just three games later.
The Oglethorpe County volleyball team celebrates after the final point of its first-round state playoff win over Rabun County in October. Rabun County joins OCHS in the new Region 8-A Division I next fall. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The Oglethorpe County volleyball team celebrates after the final point of its first-round state playoff win over Rabun County in October. Rabun County joins OCHS in the new Region 8-A Division I next fall. (Cassidy Hettesheimer/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Move to 8-A Division I presents challenges

Trevyn Gray and Lauren Hill
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Oglethorpe County High School athletic programs are set for a new region, a move co-athletic director and football coach Mike Holland said was “necessary.”    Gone is five-team Region 5-A Division I.
KB Bonds

KB Bonds

Bonds grows in his first year at Shorter

Owen Warden
Thursday, December 21, 2023
KB Bonds has found a new home.   The former Oglethorpe County multi-sport star recently finished his first season as a defensive lineman at Shorter University, a Division II program in Rome.
Senior Denim Goddard, standing with coach Brianna Dickens, is recognized for scoring 1,000 career points after Oglethorpe County defeated Hart County 60-54 on Monday. Goddard reached the milestone in a game at Hart County on Dec. 9. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Senior Denim Goddard, standing with coach Brianna Dickens, is recognized for scoring 1,000 career points after Oglethorpe County defeated Hart County 60-54 on Monday. Goddard reached the milestone in a game at Hart County on Dec. 9. (McCain Bracewell/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Prep Roundup: Lady Pats are 7-1 after win over Hart

News Staff
Thursday, December 21, 2023
Kenzie Henderson scored 21 points, had 12 rebounds and blocked five shots to lead the Oglethorpe County girls basketball team to a 60-54 victory over Hart County on Monday night in Lexington.    The win avenged the Lady Patriots’ only loss this season.
Oglethorpe County’s Jake Turner gains a portion of his 1,318 yards rushing this season on this carry in the victory over Athens Christian. Turner is pursuing scholarship offers to play football in college. (Lauren Hill/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Oglethorpe County’s Jake Turner gains a portion of his 1,318 yards rushing this season on this carry in the victory over Athens Christian. Turner is pursuing scholarship offers to play football in college. (Lauren Hill/ The Oglethorpe Echo)

Turner searches for next opportunity

Owen Warden
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Oglethorpe County's Jake Turner finished his football career on a high note.   The senior rushed for 1,318 yards and 20 touchdowns to set a school single-season rushing record that surpassed the 1,309 yards he had last year.    He’s now turned his attention to the future.
Amber Watkins

Amber Watkins

Amber Watkins Q&A

Owen Warden
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
Forward Amber Watkins is entering her fourth and final season with the Oglethorpe County girls basketball team, which is coming off a Class A Division I Elite Eight appearance in last year’s state playoffs.
Both OCHS basketball teams are ranked in Class A Division I. Jaelin Lumpkin and the Patriots (3-0) are No. 1 in the MaxPreps ranking and in the top 10 in other rankings. The OCHS Lady Patriots (2-0) are No. 5 and No. 7 in two state rankings. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Both OCHS basketball teams are ranked in Class A Division I. Jaelin Lumpkin and the Patriots (3-0) are No. 1 in the MaxPreps ranking and in the top 10 in other rankings. The OCHS Lady Patriots (2-0) are No. 5 and No. 7 in two state rankings. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Prep Roundup: Patriots No. 1 in MaxPreps ranking

News Staff
Thursday, November 30, 2023
Oglethorpe County’s state ranked basketball teams continued their hot starts during the Thanksgiving break.   The Patriots (3-0) are No. 1 in the MaxPreps Class A Division I ranking, No. 7 in the GHSA Top 10 and No. 9 in Score Atlanta ranking.
Jake Turner (2) stomps into the end zone for his third touchdown in the Patriots’ 56-0 win over Athens Christian School this fall. OCHS will join Athens Christian and Athens Academy, among other area schools, in Region 8-A Division I next year. LAUREN HILL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Jake Turner (2) stomps into the end zone for his third touchdown in the Patriots’ 56-0 win over Athens Christian School this fall. OCHS will join Athens Christian and Athens Academy, among other area schools, in Region 8-A Division I next year. LAUREN HILL/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO

Sports Roundup: GHSA denies OCHS appeal to change regions

News Staff
Sunday, November 26, 2023
GHSA denies OCHS appeal to change regions   The Georgia High School Association denied Oglethorpe County’s appeal to switch regions for the 2024-26 academic years on Nov. 16.