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Athlete of the Week: Johnson's Juan Morfin
Senior scored five goals in two wins last week
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Honor roll

Baseball

Coleman Sullivan, Union County: Earned the win with 13 strikeouts while going 2-for-3 with an RBI from the plate in a win over Lakeview Academy on Saturday, and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored in a win over Towns County on Tuesday.

Jesse Tallent, Jefferson: Went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in a win over Clarke-Central on Thursday.

Basketball

Kaela Davis, Buford: Scored 22 points in a win over East Hall on Friday.

Alex Flagler, Buford: Scored 22 points in a win over Rabun County on Saturday.

Jasmine Jenkins, East Hall: Scored 30 points in a loss to Buford on Friday.

Peyton Robertson, Chestatee: Scored 20 points with four rebounds in a win over LaGrange on Friday.

Shunquez Stephens, West Hall: Scored 15 points with 12 rebounds in a win over Shaw on Saturday.

McKenna Rushton, North Hall: Scored 27 points with 12 rebounds in a loss to Carrollton on Friday.

Soccer

Cassidy Elrod, Flowery Branch: Scored four goals in a win over Cedar Shoals on Tuesday.

Katie Garth, Buford: Scored three goals in a win over Shiloh on Friday.

J.R. Hurst, White County: Scored three goals in a win and a loss last week.

Alexis Rebollar, Chestatee: Scored three goals in a win over Walnut Grove on Tuesday.

Tennis

Claire Crain, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Cristian Delgado, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Carlos Flores, Johnson: Won a singles match and a doubles match in straight sets last week.

Carlyn Ivey, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Parker McDonald, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Cady Nix, Johnson: Won two singles matches in straight sets last week.

Harlee Robson, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Emma Rowlett, Johnson: Won two doubles matches in straight sets last week.

Casey Tanner, Johnson: Won two singles matches in straight sets last week.

Maggie Turner, Johnson: Won two singles matches in straight sets last week.

OAKWOOD — After being eliminated in the opening round of the state playoffs last season, the Johnson boys soccer team was determined to make it back to — and farther into — this year’s tournament.

So far, so good for the 2011 season. The fourth-ranked Knights are off to a 4-0 start, with three wins coming in Area 8-AAA, and have their eyes set on dethroning defending region and state champion Gainesville.

Leading the charge has been midfielder Juan Morfin. The senior scored five goals in two Knights’ wins last week and, according to Johnson coach Brian Shirley, “makes the team better and makes the people on the team better by just being on the field.”

For his efforts, Morfin is The Times Athlete of the Week.

“He just brings out the talent of everyone he plays with,” Shirley said. “He’s been solid for us and plays wherever we need him to.

“But it doesn’t matter where he plays, if he gets opportunities to shoot on goal, he doesn’t usually miss.”

Morfin proved that on Feb. 22 against Lanier, scoring four goals and adding an assist in Johnson’s 6-1 win in Oakwood. On Friday, Morfin found the back of the net again as the Knights won a 2-1 contest at Chestatee.

“The whole team was working together last week, we we’re just playing really well as a unit,” Morfin said. “I had the opportunities to score and made the most of it.”

Morfin has started all four years of his high school career and believes his experience has taught him how to read, understand and break down a defense.

“Just playing for four years, you learn how to find weaknesses in the defense of the other team and capitalize on it,” Morfin said. “And then the goals just happen.”

The senior is confident that his team can have a successful season and make it out of the opening round of the state tournament.

“We’re a senior team, a lot of upperclassmen, and we’re trying to provide a lot of senior leadership,” Morfin said. “We try to take the underclassmen and show them how we’ve been successful and what they need to do.”

Despite the fast start and the bevy of seniors, Morfin knows the biggest roadblock for Johnson is still No. 3 Gainesville.

“That’s going to be the biggest game of the season, probably,” Morfin said, smiling. “I’m really looking forward to that.”

That anticipated meeting won’t come until April 15. Johnson returns to action, visiting North Hall at 7:30 Tuesday.

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