Click here for footage of Mancin in last week's win over Eagles Landing
Honorable mentions
Soccer
Cassidy Elrod, Flowery Branch: Three total goals in two playoff games last week.
Rudy Vazquez, West Hall: Three total goals in two playoff games last week.
Joy Smith, Flowery Branch: Two total goals in two playoff games last week.
Baseball
K.J. McAllister, North Hall: Three hits, two doubles and two RBIs against Lumpkin County last Friday.
Davis Partrick, North Hall: Six strikeouts in six innings pitched and two hits against Lumpkin County last Friday.
Ryan Pitts, North Hall: 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs against Pickens last Monday.
Chris Beck, Jefferson: 12-strikeout no-hitter against North Oconee, home run and five RBIs against Banks County last Friday.
Ralston Cash, Lakeview Academy: 4-for-4 with two home runs, four runs and five RBIs against Prince Avenue Christian last Tuesday.
Ross Biegler, Lakeview Academy: 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs against Prince Avenue Christian last Tuesday.
Tyler Ward, Lakeview Academy: Two hits, a double and two RBIs against Prince Avenue Christian last Tuesday.
Will Anderson, Lumpkin County: 5-for-6 with two doubles, six RBIs and three stolen bases against Johnson last Monday.
James Wilson, Flowery Branch: 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs against Gilmer last Monday.
James Mills, Flowery Branch: Pitched a complete game, had two hits at the plate against West Forsyth last Thursday.
Track and field
Paul Malquist, Gainesville: Won the pole vault with a height of 15 feet in the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Tyler Porter, Jefferson: Won the pole vault with a height of 14 feet at the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
Daniel Drummond, Flowery Branch: Won the discus with a distance of 170-11 feet and won the shot put with a distance of 57-1.5 feet at the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Gainesville 4x100 team: Tai-ler Jones, Teryan Rucker, Xavier Ervin and Blake Sims won with a time 42.75 seconds at the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Nolan Clark, North Hall: Won the 1600-meter run with time of 4 minutes, 26 seconds and won the 3200 with a time of 9:40:46 at the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Scott Chilton, Flowery Branch: Won the 400 with a time of 50.80 seconds at the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Terrell Penland, West Hall: Won the 100 with a time of 10.96 seconds an the Region 7-AAA meet last Tuesday.
Deon Orsborne, Commerce: Won the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.77 seconds in the Region 8-A meet last Wednesday.
Brad Baker, Riverside Military: Won the 400 with a time of 51.68 seconds in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
Marlon Veazie, Riverside Military: Won the 100 with a time of 11.27 seconds in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
J.J. Damons, Jefferson: Won the 200 with a time of 22.77 seconds in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
Josh Kles, Jefferson: Won the discus with a distance of 146-6 feet in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
Derrick Perkins, Jefferson: Won the 110 hurdles, with a time of 15.46 seconds in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
Lyn Hester, Banks County: Won the shot put with a distance of 48-9 feet in the Region 8-AA meet last Wednesday.
There’s a first time for everything.
North Hall High goalkeeper Mary Mancin found that out in last Saturday’s state quarterfinals against Eagles Landing, when she was assigned the role of shooting a penalty kick, rather than stopping it.
"It was the first time I had taken a PK in a playoff game, ever," Mancin said. "It was very nerve-racking. I wasn’t even thinking, I was just concentrating on putting the ball in the back of the net."
She did just that, and gave Class AAA’s third-ranked Lady Trojans (16-3) a one-shot lead in the penalty kicks.
But Mancin’s job wasn’t done. She was the goalkeeper, after all.
The senior captain returned to the goal on the final Eagles Landing attempt, and successfully repelled the Golden Eagles’ shot to break a scoreless tie and send the Lady Trojans to their second straight state semifinals appearance.
"It was insane," Mancin said. "I was so proud to say that we made it to the final four again."
The win is North Hall’s third consecutive shutout, all in the playoffs and all with Mancin in the net. She now has 11 clean sheets on the season and holds the all-time school record for shutouts.
"(The playoffs) have been very stressful," Mancin said. "It’s been a great run though. But I’m not satisfied yet. I want to win a state championship."
The Lady Trojans look to keep their season alive when they play host to fifth-ranked Spalding at 6:30 p.m. today. While North Hall has allowed fewer goals, Spalding has scored 23 more on the season.
The scoring differential doesn’t concern Lady Trojans coach Nathan Wallace, who is confident his goalkeeper is among the state’s best.
"She has performed like we thought she could," Wallace said. "She has not let us down one bit.
"She’s tough as nails, and she’s ready for it."
Mancin’s success in the net comes from years of seasoning and playing the position full-time since sixth grade. Doing so has taken her through various clubs and even to different countries, when she traveled to Brazil as part of the Olympic Development Program.
"Before coming over here (North Hall), I remember watching her before I knew who she was," said Wallace, who previously coached the North Hall Middle School team. "Even as a freshman, I thought she was amazing.
"She’s very quick. She can read the ball very well, she can see the shots coming off and what knows angles she needs have."
Mancin earned the chance to take her career to the next level when she signed with Columbus State University on National Signing Day last February. She selected the school for its national success and the likelihood of a starting spot her freshman year.
"I wanted to play all four years, so I picked Columbus State," Mancin said. "They’re third in nation in Division-II, and they have an amazing coaching staff."
Despite the excitement of signing with an elite program, Mancin’s sights are still set on the ultimate prize in front of her right now: a state title.
"I’m very excited we’re getting to play at this level," Mancin said. "It’s a huge experience."