Honorable mentions
Basketball
Louisa Jacobs, Lakeview Academy: 17 points against Towns County last Saturday.
Maddie Haymore, Lakeview Academy: 17 points against Towns County last Saturday.
Tyler Ward, Lakeview Academy: 20 points against Commerce last Tuesday.
E.J. Young, Lumpkin County: 22 points against White County last Friday.
Ashley Brown, Lumpkin County: Averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds in two games last week.
Jessica Harper, Flowery Branch: Averaged 21 points in two games last week.
Bryan Whelchel, Flowery Branch: 25 points against East Hall last Tuesday.
Zach Barrett, Flowery Branch: 18 points against East Hall last Tuesday.
Andraya Carter, Buford: 22 points against Gainesville last Saturday.
Blanche Alverson, Buford: Averaged 21 points in two games last week.
Jaymee Carnes, Gainesville: Averaged 19 points in two games last week.
George Manomano, Gainesville: Averaged 19 points in three games last week.
Juwan Jeffries, Gainesville: 16 points and 10 rebounds against West Forsyth last Tuesday.
Blake Sims, Gainesville: 18 points against West Forsyth last Tuesday.
Darius Minor, Jefferson: Averaged 18.3 points in three games last week.
Luke Crumley, White County: 23 points against West Forsyth last Saturday.
Jasmine Jenkins, East Hall: 17 points against Gainesville last Friday.
Kymmon Woods, East Hall: Averaged 25 points in two games last week.
Dustin Duckworth, East Hall: 19 points against Gainesville last Friday.
Shunquez Stephens, West Hall: Averaged 15 points and 14 rebounds in two games last week.
Jayla Moon, West Hall: 10 points and 12 rebounds against Flowery Branch last Friday.
Devaris Finch, Johnson: 29 points, 19-for-20 from the free throw line against West Forsyth last Friday.
Peyton Roberston, Chestatee: 16 points and 9.5 rebounds in two games last week.
Brandon Smith, Chestatee: 19 points against Pickens last Tuesday.
Brandon McKinney, Riverside Military: 22 points against Union County last Tuesday.
Jessi Phillips, Dawson County: 20 points against Jefferson last Tuesday.
Wrestling
Caleb Morris, White County: 103-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals last Saturday.
Danny Bell, Flowery Branch: 119-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals.
Ben Yu, Flowery Branch: 152-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals.
Chris Burnett, Lumpkin County: 135-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals.
Jake McClure, Lumpkin County: 171-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals.
Brandon Roberts, Lumpkin County: 189-pound champion at the Area 7-AAA traditionals.
Branden Jovaag’s performance on the basketball court last week may rival that of his grades.
The Chestatee High senior shooting guard, who sports a grade point average above 4.0, averaged 28.5 points in two games last week, the latter, a 36-point effort against Creekview on Friday.
“It was one of my best weeks, efficiency-wise,” Jovaag said Monday. “Coach really emphasized a floor spread, which gave our point guard a chance a drive and draw help, and that got me open shots.”
But last week was far from a breakout week, as the 6-foot-3 senior has been the team’s leading scorer all season. Despite his efforts, the War Eagles’ record doesn’t rival that of their 22-win campaign last year, but Jovaag feels that Chestatee (10-12 5-5 Region 7A-AAA) has a chance to be a sleeper in next week’s Region 7-AAA tournament.
“We’re starting to play better as a team, that’s going to help us when we get into the must-win games,” Jovaag said. “We just gotta go out and play.”
Jovaag’s means of scoring often comes from behind the 3-point line, much like Tennessee State guard and former teammate Parker Smith. His rangy frame also gives Jovaag the ability to pull down rebounds and push up another shot in the post.
“He is so comfortable in his own skin that the kind of things that happen around him don’t really affect
him,” War Eagles coach Russ Triaga said. “He never goes out of his way to be anything other than what he is.
“That has helped Branden become the player he’s become.”
Regardless of Chestatee’s final record this season, Jovaag’s dedication to both basketball and academics have further constructed the standard for War Eagle basketball players that follow behind him. As he finishes his career as the school’s third all-time leading scorer, he will graduate as one of the top students in his class.
“I’m just lucky to have kids like that,” War Eagles coach Russ Triaga said. “You can go home and feel good about what you’re doing everyday when that’s the kind of kids you’re coaching.”
With both grades and talent on his side, Jovaag has shown interest in playing college basketball. He is currently interested in Birmingham Southern College, Oglethorpe University and Piedmont College.
“I plan to just go to a smaller college so I can play,” Jovaag said. “And if it has pretty good academics.”
Once Jovaag heads off to college, he looks forward to seeing his brother, sophomore Jon Aaron Jovaag, lead the next generation of Chestatee basketball players.
In the meantime, he will continue to test his younger brother’s abilities in one-on-one games.
“I try to dominate him,” Jovaag said, laughing.