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Athlete of the Week: Towns County's Gabby Arencibia
Lady Indian shoots her way into record book
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The Blitz: St. Pius X at North Hall

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Honor roll

Swimming
Zach Miller-Hogg, Flowery Branch: Took 12th place in the 100-yard freestyle at the Georgia High School Swim Championships on Saturday.
Paul Powers, North Hall: Took fifth place in the 50-yard freestyle and ninth in the 100-yard backstroke at the Georgia High School Swim Championships on Saturday.

Basketball
Sterling Bailey: Scored 17 points with 15 rebounds in a win over Rabun County on Feb. 8.
Bubba Bonds, Commerce: Scored 24 points in a win over Towns County on Feb. 8.
Pat Burns, Habersham Central: Scored 20 points in a win over Flowery Branch on Saturday.
Andraya Carter, Buford: Scored 22 points in a win over Avondale on Friday.
Alex Flagler, Buford: Scored 16 points in a win over Cross Keys on Saturday, 11 in a win over Avondale on Friday and 14 in a loss to Greater Atlanta Christian on Feb. 8.
Jaz Grier, Commerce: Scored 20 points in a loss to Towns County on Feb. 8.
J.C. Hampton, East Hall: Scored 22 points in a win over Union County on Friday and 23 in win over Rabun on Feb. 8.
Adrian Humphrey, Riverside Military Academy: Scored 24 points in a loss to Lakeview Academy on Friday.
Morgan Jackson, East Hall: Scored 20 points in a win over Union County on Friday and 15 in a win over Rabun County on Feb. 8.
Jasmine Jenkins, East Hall: Scored 18 points in a win over Union County on Friday and scored 25 points with 11 rebounds in a win over Rabun County on Feb. 8.
Matt Hollis, Johnson: Scored 13 points in a win over Lanier on Saturday and 20 in a loss to Gainesville on Thursday.
Peyton Robertson, Chestatee: Scored 14 points with nine rebounds in a win over Franklin County on Friday and scored 16 points with nine rebounds in a win over White County on Feb. 8.
McKenna Rushton, North Hall: Scored nine points with 11 rebounds and 10 blocks in a win over Stephens County on Feb. 8.
Skylar Smith, Union County: Scored 20 points in a loss to Dawson County on Feb. 8.
Shunquez Stephens, West Hall: Scored 24 points in a win over Sprayberry on Feb. 8.
Deshaun Watson, Gainesville: Scored 20 points in a win over Monroe Area on Feb. 8.
Rebecca Webster, Gainesville: Scored 16 points with nine rebounds in a win over Johnson on Thursday and scored 23 points with six rebounds in a win over Monroe Area on Feb. 8.

Wrestling
East Hall wrestlers qualifying for state: Christian Vergara (171).
Flowery Branch wrestlers qualifying for state: Nick Lankford (119), Caleb Murphy (130), George Kudyba (189), Johnathon Martinez (285).
Johnson wrestlers qualifying for state: Daniel Martinez (285).
Lumpkin County wrestlers qualifying for state: Alex Ward (112 pounds), J.T. Todd (119), Aaron Salazar (145), Michael Hilliard (152), Lee Cagle (160) and Travis Burton (215).
North Hall wrestlers qualifying for state: Lee Sisson (189 pounds), Shane Doster (171), Tyler Krantzer (125) and Matt Joy.
West Hall wrestling qualifying for state: Logan Herford (145 pounds) and Tanner Yates (140).
White County wrestlers qualifying for state: Tyler Reeves (189 pounds), Seth White (171), Bradley McDougald (160), Dylan Shearer (145), Michael Limbaugh (135), Anthony Galimore (112), Billy Wurtz (103) and Caleb Morris (130).
Chestatee wrestlers qualifying for state: Aaron Anderson (215 pounds), Daniel Moreno (171), Taylor Wright (152), Cody Etris (135), J.W. Gilbert (112) and Jose Reyes (103).

There are nights when Towns County girls basketball player Gabby Arencibia just doesn’t miss.

Last season in a game against Commerce High, Arencibia made nine 3-pointers to set a single-game school record, a record that would stand for almost exactly one year.

Then last Tuesday night, once again against Commerce, Arencibia broke her own record with 13 3-pointers en route to 43 points in the Lady Indians’ 85-40 victory. With the win, Towns County (23-1, 12-0 Region 8A-A) completed an undefeated subregion schedule and earned the north subregion title.

The junior shot 50 percent from the field in the game, with four rebounds, three assists, three steals and three blocks for fifth-ranked Towns County.

And she did it without stepping onto the floor during the fourth quarter.

For her efforts, Arencibia is The Times Athlete of the Week.

“I was just feeling good, I guess,” Arencibia said of the performance. “My shot was going in.”

While she may have felt good during the game, she wasn’t feeling so hot during the before.

“I was sick,” the 5-fooot-10 guard said. “I wasn’t really thinking I was going to play that good. My head and throat were hurting a lot.”

As the game progressed and it seemed clear that Arencibia was having a stellar night, her teammates began to feed her the ball.

“One of my teammates told me I was getting close (to the record) and to keep shooting,” Arencibia said. “So I did.”
Shooting is something that the junior does often, according to Towns County coach Jim Melton.

“If we have late practice, she’s in the gym shooting during the guys’ practice.” Melton said. “I come on the weekends and open the gym and shoot with her or let her shoot.

“She’s sort of a gym rat.”

That’s why Melton wasn’t surprised by Arencibia’s performance against Commerce.

“It was fun to watch, but I won’t say it was a surprise,” Melton said.

With a player on a roll like that, the opposing defense will often start double-teaming and trying to keep the ball out of the hot player’s hands.

That wasn’t possible against Towns County.

“It’s not like it became they were forcing me the ball or that I was forcing up shots,” Arencibia said. “It just came within the offense. I came open and my teammates got me the ball.”

In addition to the 3-pointers record, Arencibia also broke the single-game scoring record at Towns County, previously set in 2008 by current Young Harris standout Nikki Wynn.

While holding two school records is special to Arencibia, a state championship would mean more.

After reaching the semifinals of the state playoffs as a freshman starter in 2008 and getting eliminated in the second round last season, Arencibia is ready to go deeper into the tournament.

“I just want to make it as far as we can,” she said. “I want to make the best of it. I’m feeling pretty confident about our team and I think we have a pretty good chance of going far.

“As long as we just keep doing what we’re doing, run our plays, and play the game we want to play and not the other team’s game, I think we should be fine.” 

Towns County opens play in the Region 8-A tournament at 7 p.m. tonight against the winner of Athens Academy and Social Circle at Commerce with a state playoff berth at stake.

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