December 29, 2016 — Gwinnett Daily Post

JAPAN’S SOLEMN VOW, 5A

Prime minister promises never to wage war again

GRAND OPENING Buford opens new arena with tournament win • Sports, 9A

Gwinnett Daily Post THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

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Vol. 47, No. 62

Youth pastor charged with statutory rape ship with the girl when he counseled Gwinnett County police her at New arrested a youth pastor at Bridge a Lawrenceville church Church in Tuesday on charges that he December Nicholas carried on an inappropriate 2015. The Kelley relationship with a 14-yearrelationship old girl. “turned sexually inapproPolice said Nicholas Kel- priate” this past summer, ley, 34, began his relation- according to Gwinnett

BY CAILIN O’BRIEN

cailin.obrien @gwinnettdailypost.com

County Police Cpl. Deon Washington.

“The sexual contact took place at the church and at various parks in Gwinnett County,” Washington said.

New Bridge Church said in a statement the inappropriate behavior “occurred outside of scheduled church meeting and events, which allowed the accused to circumvent safety proce-

dures established as church policy” to protect students.

The victim was sneaking out of her house to meet Kelley on Monday when she suffered a nervous breakdown because she suspected her parents would find out about the relationship. The breakdown sent her to the hospital, where her parents found out what had been

going on.

The situation was brought to the lead pastors’ attention on Tuesday, according to the church’s statement. The pastors called a meeting with Kelley during which he admitted to “varying degrees of inappropriate physical interaction with the student.”

The staff called the police and Kelley has been

“terminated from his employment,” according to the statement.

Kelley was booked into the Gwinnett County Detention Center that day at 1:24 p.m. He is being held without bond on charges of statutory rape, child molestation and aggravated sexual battery, according to

See PASTOR, Page 7A

Brookwood band to play in London

BY KEITH FARNER keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

Added interest

Senior Devneet Singh, left, helps sophomore Naman Luthra during a recent after-school meeting of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance club at the Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology. Last year, the club had 25 certified volunteers, and now has 49 volunteers — enough to fill a classroom and then some. (Staff Photos: Keith Farner)

The postcard picture in the heart of London is already in the mind of the band director.

The Brookwood High School band is not only traveling to London to play in the New Year’s Day parade, it will be featured as part of the grand finale with four other bands from the United States, and in the final group of the parade that’s annually broadcast around the world.

“I am most excited about coming around the corner, seeing the grandstand spot, seeing Westminster out in front, Big Ben to the left, the kids are there, they’re doing it,” Brookwood’s Director of Bands Laura Stanley said. “They will never forget this. I’m excited about that moment, and it’s a way to celebrate.”

Brookwood is set to perform in London after it made plans for months for five flights to cover a travel party of 292.

That includes 199 students, who fundraised for months to reach $3,400 each and received donations from individuals and businesses. The band’s final rehearsal was on Dec. 15 and all their instruments were shipped the next day.

Two other members of the Brookwood faculty, along with band president and vice president Ben and Lyn Risher are in the travel party. They have three kids

See BAND, Page 2A

School clinic Thriving GSMST tax filing club doubles membership proposal may be result of OSD fallout

BY KEITH FARNER

MORE ONLINE

keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com

Having teenagers interested in filing taxes is not something that happens in every high school, but at Gwinnett’s top high school, a club of tax assistance volunteers is thriving.

In its second year, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance club, or VITA, is growing at the Gwinnett School of Math, Science and Technology. Last year, the club had 25 certified volunteers, and now the club has 49 volunteers — enough to fill a classroom and then some. The group also changed its meeting schedule to weekly instead of every other week.

Senior Devneet Singh was among the leaders of the club who helped start it and spread the word on morning announcements and among teachers at GSMST. She said there’s a large group of underclassmen in the club.

“It’s really exciting to see that there are freshmen because they can continue the program for the next four years,” she said.

It’s the kind of club that fosters applicable skills to use after high school, Singh said.

She originally thought the idea would fit at GSMST because

Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for more photos.

file their taxes. The program received approval from the IRS and the United Way of Atlanta oversees all groups of this kind in the metro area.

Students receive community service hours for their effort.

The program is designed to help people who make about $54,000 a year or less. The IRS-certified volunteers also offer electronic filing.

Most of those tax returns have basic forms of income, and basic forms of deductions.

GSMST teacher Elfi Funk serves as the club’s sponsor, but she maintains that it’s largely led by students, though she received training through “Link and Learn” and TaxSlayer. She credited GSMST sophomore Ryan Lunch leads a recent training session the students’ showing at the for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance club at the school. school’s club fair to present it as true community outreach. of the culture at the school that just from learning and That, coupled with strong ofand the students’ intellectual certifying, you can actually ficers, sent a positive message curiosity. go out into the community, throughout the school that’s “This is such a valuable help adults and be able to have attracting new members. skill on top of the the fact that such a big impact. So I think “Yes, they can help othyou’re helping your commuthat’s what a lot of people are ers, but they could also help nity,” she said. “It’s also the attracted to.” themselves later in life,” Funk community service aspect a Several members of the club said. “But they are incredibly lot. A lot of people when I was last spring helped several doz- engaged, and I think they see advertising the club in the be- en people at Hebron Baptist See CLUB, Page 7A ginning were kind of amazed Church on Saturday mornings

BY KEITH FARNER keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

Two state lawmakers who represent portions of Gwinnett said they expect the issue of how to improve failing schools to move toward the health care realm.

Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, said one response to the proposed Opportunity School District being voted down in November is that the Sen. Renee focus may shift from the Unterman academic nature of the issue to reasons why children are sick or have poor attendance. Rep. Brooks Coleman, R-Duluth, suggested an audit for schools that have high poverty rates to identify the core issues.

Rep. Brooks “What are the probColeman lems? Is attendance bad?

Well, what’s causing that?” Coleman asked. “Is it illnesses? Are they sick a lot?

Is it the fact they’re not getting enough food? Let’s analyze, audit. What do you think is the root cause that your school

See CLINIC, Page 7A

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2A • Thursday, December 29, 2016

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Heart transplant recipient takes life one beat at a time

By Erika Wells

erika.wells @gwinnettdailypost.com

A Loganville man didn’t think he’d made it all the way to the finish line after he successfully underwent a heart transplant.

But he thought he was pretty close until he encountered a major obstacle.

The same medicine that is supposed to be keep him alive is causing other serious health issues.

This past summer, Rickey Harrison, 62, survived an 8-hour procedure performed by cardiac surgeon Dr. Duc Q. Nguyen at Emory Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta. Nguyen said Harrison was one of the best patients and would be on the mend.

Harrison’s loved ones were overwhelmed with emotion when he was added to a Georgia heart transplant list on Aug. 30, said his daughter Heather Minton of Loganville. To be eligible for the list, Harrison’s family initially had to raise $5,000, which was matched in a state transplant fund account, she said.

He and his family tried to take in the magnitude of the situation — an anonymous donor saved Harri-

above and beyond to make sure he is comfortable, Visit gwinnettdailypost.com Minton said. for a photo gallery.

They coordinated meal deliveries for Harrison improving; he is currently and his wife at their home after he left the hospital. in Stage 3 kidney failure.

They’d set up the arrange(There are 5 stages).” ment through Meal Train, Minton said her family didn’t know why her dad’s a website that organizes health had been declining meal giving during major for years until they learned life events. In Harrison’s case, he’ll have to stick to he needed a new heart. a strict low-sodium diet.

“It’s hard to deal with, Though Harrison is back that’s for sure; but it’s in the hospital undergoing something you have to tests, Minton is helping his get through if you want wife put together a motorto hang around longer,” cycle ride in his honor set Harrison said shortly before the surgery. “Going for April 22 in Athens.

“I didn’t know if he through the whole process could make it through all is mind-boggling.” of this, but he has,” Mary Harrison, a former car and motorcycle enthusiast, Harrison said. “It’s been one thing after another — Loganville resident Rickey Harrison, left, is recovering from a heart transplant. Here hasn’t been able to work, he poses for a portrait at his daughter Heather Minton’s wedding with Heather and his and he and his wife, Mary, bless his heart — but he’s doing OK. … He tries to wife, Mary. (Special Photo) continue rack up bills. be active and get up and Minton started a son life. move around. Sometimes ber. and medication will cost a GoFundMe account in “My dad said this was he’s up and sometimes Leading up to the total of $100,000. late July and has tried to a wake-up call,” Minton he doesn’t feel so great, surgery, Harrison and That same medication is spread the word through said. “It’s kind of crazy his family were told the now affecting his already social media and by word but we’re taking it day by how it happened so quick- 12-month period after an day.” struggling kidneys, Minton of mouth. As of Tuesday, ly, but you still think about heart transplant is the most said. He felt fine until To donate, visit gofundabout $12,700 of their goal how somebody had to die crucial. During this time, me.com/rickeysheartfund about three weeks ago. had been donated. in order for him to get a or send contributions to Harrison has been taking “The new heart was They have a long way heart. You know that’s how costly medicine to prevent hopefully supposed to Rickey’s Transplant Fund, to go, and the last few it works, but it still doesn’t his body from rejecting the help improve his kidney 1017 Silver Thorne Drive, months have been chalmake that part any easier.” heart in the future.

Loganville, Ga. 30052. function, but the doublelenging, but Harrison has He had a few post-op He will gradually taper edge sword here is that made it through with sup- The family has an account side effects, but he was at Wells Fargo, with 100 off the immunosuppresthe rejection medication port of loved ones. fortunate his body did not sants — anti-rejection percent of the proceeds that he is on also has an Harrison’s family, reject the organ and he going toward the Harridrugs — but his family effect on the kidneys,” she friends and members of was released mid-Septem- expects regular checkups said. “The kidneys are not the community have gone sons’ expenses. more online

Gwinnett Republicans hosting Eggs and Issues Gwinnett County Republicans will get a chance to hear from state legislators next week about what they should expect from the Georgia General Assembly’s upcoming legislative session.

The Gwinnett County Republican Party will host an Eggs and Issues Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Jan. 7 at the party headquarters in Gwinnett Place Mall. The breakfast is largely a chance to discuss what issues legislators expect to see coming up in the legislative session.

There will also be a presentation about a victim’s rights bill known as Marsy’s Law. The doors will open at 8 a.m., but the meeting itself is not expected to begin until 8:30 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased at www.gwinnettrepublicans.com. Admission will be $3 to only attend without having breakfast.

It will cost $5 for admission and coffee, or $10 for admission and a full breakfast.

The mall is located at

Political Notebook

administration of taking actions that “emboldened our adversaries while abandoning our allies” by not vetoing the resolution.

“Today’s abstention vote in the wake of this blatant one-sided and anti-Israeli resolution sends a clear message that the Obama Administration Curt Yeomans is willing to turn its back on one of our strongest 2100 Pleasant Hill Road allies in the Middle East,” in unincorporated Duluth. Hice wrote. “I look forHice criticizes U.S. ward to working with the abstention on Israel vote Trump Administration to U.S. Rep. Jody Hice, strengthen our partnership R-Ga., is calling on Pres- with Israel, rather than ident-elect Donald Trump weakening it.” to bolster Upcoming U.S. supState Rep. Buzz port for Brockway, Israel in R-Lawthe wake renceville, of a U.S. is expected abstento address tion vote the United Rep. Jody on a U.N. Tea Party Hice Security of Georgia Rep. Buzz Council resolution calling during Brockway on Israel to stop settleits Jan. 5 ment activities in Palestin- meeting at Briscoe Field’s ian territory.

Flying Machine RestauAs a permanent veto rant, 510 Briscoe Boupower holding member levard No. 510 in Lawof the U.N. Security renceville. The meeting Council, the U.S. had the will begin at 7:30 p.m. power to stop the resoluPolitical Notebook tion. In a Facebook post appears in the Thursday on Dec. 23, Hice accused and Sunday editions of the President Barack Obama’s Gwinnett Daily Post.

Gwinnett Daily Post Follow us on Instagram @gwinnettdailypost

Man charged with molesting child

By Cailin O’Brien

home Dec. 21 between 5 p.m. and 11 p.m., Gwinnett County Police according arrested a man Wednesday to waron charges that he molested rants. The a juvenile. victim was Andrew Andrew Zuniga, 19, reportedly Zuniga from Atlanta is accused of physically sodomizing and molesting injured during the crime. the underage victim against Zuniga was booked into her will at a Lawrenceville the Gwinnett County De-

cailin.obrien @gwinnettdailypost.com

•From Page 1A going, including one who graduated last year.

Multiple Brookwood faculty members have attended or played in the London parade, Stanley said it shows the strength of the music education programs across Georgia.

“Music is so strong in the South,” Stanley said.

“That word of mouth and reputation that the schools bring to the table through the London committee is really something that gets these names out for these schools.”

Stanley said her top priority was making sure that all the kids who wanted to go and would fundraise and work to get on the trip could go.

“Without the community, it wouldn’t have happened,” Stanley said.

“Besides just financial donations, there’s been so much of that, just the reaching out, ‘What can I do to help?’ People with kids not even in band.

People who have said, ‘I’ve taken a trip with that many people.’ Brookwood is such a tight community and even though they don’t necessarily have kids in the band, family and friends do. They hear the excitement at home and church, and places they’re all together.”

Stanley is making a return visit to the parade after she attended it in college when her parents, Elden and Wanda Moates, led the Fannin County High School band in the 2002 event. Elden and Wanda retired as band directors at the middle school and high school levels in Fannin County in 2005 after 30 years.

Stanley was in college as a music major at the University of Georgia when her parents made it a point to bring all three of their children for the trip. Stan-

tention Center at 11:15 a.m. and is being held without bond on charges of aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated child molestation.

Many details of the investigation into Zuniga’s case are confidential because of the child involved, Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Deon Washington said.

Band

Brookwood High School band members rehearsed throughout the fall to prepare to play in the London New Year’s Day Parade. The Brookwood group counted a travel party of 292, which covered five flights and 199 students. The band’s final rehearsal was on Dec. 15 and all their instruments were shipped the next day. (File Photo)

ley and her parents agreed that the London parade is one of the best trips a high school band can make.

Elden said he took Fannin bands to such destinations as Hawaii and Mexico, but London was the most wellorganized.

“I knew at that point it would be a life-changing moment,” Stanley said.

“Seeing it and participating in it, I’ve always said, after all these trips I’ve been on, that London trip was my favorite.”

Along with Stanley, there’s also a family connection with Brookwood freshman Sarah Appleby and her father, Daniel, who went with his Lake Worth (Fla.) High School Trojan Band to the same parade in 1991 as a freshman.

Stanley’s now been on both sides of the trip, and she said the organization side is much more stressful, but also more fun, because she sees the excitement in the students, especially some who have never traveled out of the country.

The parade is unique in that bands must be invited to participate, and the audience is several hundred thousand in person, and several million on television. The Brookwood

Moates/Stanley story will be aired live on BBC/CNN during the parade.

In September, a fourman film crew and organizers of the London New Year’s Day Parade visited Brookwood, and it was appealing enough to be the featured story for the Brookwood High School band’s participation in this year’s event. The crew took a weeklong trip around the United States and visited bands in Alabama, Florida, Texas and California before it returned to London.

Stanley said the excitement building around the band and the school is like starting and running a car.

The acceleration is increasing.

The theme of the parade is “Lights, Camera, Action” and Brookwood plans to play the main theme from “Robin Hood.”

The Brookwood group plans to visit just about every landmark in the London area, including Westminster Abbey; Buckingham Palace; St. Paul’s Cathedral; London Underground, also known as “the tube”; a cruise on the Thames River; the London Eye; the Piccadilly Circus; the musical “Wicked”; and the Imperial War Museum.

Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 3A

gwinnettdailypost.com

world&nation World Trump rooster statue takes China by storm A giant rooster sculpture, sporting the President-elect’s signature hairdo and hand gestures, has been erected outside a shopping mall in Taiyuan, in China’s northern Shanxi Province.

The sculpture was commissioned by the company that owns the mall and will be its mascot, Cao Mingliang, the deputy director of planning department from N1 ArtWalk Mall, told CNN. Cao said a series of products and smaller replicas will be available for sale in the future, though some are already being sold on Taobao, the Chinese e-commerce giant owned by Alibaba.

At least four stores are selling the Trump rooster, with prices starting from $57 to a whopping $1,739 for a statue that’s 32 feet tall.

Lynchings kill one every three days in Venezuela CARACAS — Roughly one person is being lynched in crisis-ridden Venezuela every three days as frustrated residents take revenge on suspected criminals, a monitoring group said on Wednesday.

The Venezuelan Observatory of Violence, which monitors crime, said mob killings have become a generalized phenomenon across the country, with 126 deaths reported in 2016 versus 20 last year.

“Due to being repeated victims of crime for more than a decade, and the feeling of not being protected, many people have decided to take justice into their own hands,” the OVV said in its latest annual report.

In the past, it said, lynchings of suspected murderers and rapists were relatively uncommon, but this year angry crowds have increasingly attacked petty criminals too, with police often turning a blind eye.

Abe: Japan will never wage war again

By Jeff Mason Reuters

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a symbolic visit to Pearl Harbor with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, commemorating the victims of Japan’s World War II attack and promising that his country would never wage war again.

The visit, just weeks before Republican President-elect Donald Trump takes office, was meant to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance amid concerns that Trump could forge a more complicated relationship with Tokyo.

“I offer my sincere and everlasting condolences to the souls of those who lost their lives here, as well as to the spirits of all the brave men and women whose lives were taken by a war that commenced in this very place,” Abe said.

“We must never repeat the horrors of war again.

This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken.”

Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor with torpedo planes, bombers and fighter planes on the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, pounding the U.S. fleet moored there in the hope of destroying U.S. power in the Pacific.

Abe did not apologize

Nation Dear. Mr. Thief: Cops leave epic note to shoplifter

Police in Marietta, Ga., put up a humorous post on Facebook, addressed to a shoplifter at a pawn shop who apparently still has a lot to learn about the theft game. Like, not leaving your ID. Or fingerprints. Or not doing your dirty work in full view of the cameras.

“Sir, you must have forgot that you gave the clerk your driver’s license with ALL of your personal information as well as providing him with your fingerprint when completing the pawn French president ticket before you stole from him which, by the way was pardons woman also all on camera,” the post reads. for killing her Then the cops issued the violent husband man a challenge — and PARIS — French Presi- chided him for making their dent Francois Hollande job a little too easy. on Wednesday made a “Please at least try to rare use of his presidential hide. The judge has already powers to pardon a woman signed the warrant. When who had been convicted in you make it this easy it 2012 of the murder of her takes all the fun out of violent husband. chasing bad guys!

Jacqueline Sauvage had “... Fortunately (for us) been sentenced to 10 years he turned out to be just as in jail for shooting dead the bad at hide & seek as he is husband who had beaten at stealing. He was picked her up for decades. up by our Morning Watch Her three daughters Officer after a search, it was sought a presidential quite short.” pardon, gathering over Police identified the man 380,000 signatures in an as Dale Jonathan Tice and online petition. said he was arrested at a lo“It is a long battle that cal motel on theft and drug has just ended … but our charges. fight continues for all other women,” Sauvage’s lawyer Administration Janine Bonaggiunta told plans sanctions, BFM TV. She confirmed that retaliation for Sauvage had left prison, election meddling accompanied by one of her The Obama administradaughters.

— From wire reports tion is preparing to an-

People George S. Irving, Tony winner, dies

LOS ANGELES — George S. Irving, a veteran comic and voice actor who won a Tony for “Irene,” died Monday in New York of natural causes. He was 94.

The gruff-voiced Irving was born in 1922 as George Irving Shelasky in Springfield, Mass. He received the 17th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre in 2008.

Irving was married to the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Barack Obama honor those who actress Maria Karnilova, died at Pearl Harbor, appearing together 75 years after Japan’s attack on Hawaii. (CNN) from 1948 until her death in 2001. He is survived by two children and three grandfor the attack, a step that the deepest wounds of war Obama, President of the children. would have irked his can give way to friendship United States” on the conservative supporters, and a lasting peace.” other. many of whom say U.S. Abe became the first They then threw flower Fisher to appear economic sanctions forced Japanese prime minister petals into the water. in new episodes Japan to open hostilities. to visit the USS Arizona After their remarks, of ‘Family Guy’ “This visit to Pearl Memorial, built over the both leaders greeted Harbor was to console the remains of the sunken and Abe embraced U.S. LOS ANGELES — souls of the war dead, not battleship USS Arizona, veterans who survived the Carrie Fisher, who died to apologize,” Chief Cabi- although three others Pearl Harbor attack.

Tuesday, is set to appear in net Secretary Yoshihide including his grandfather In China, which has Suga told a news conferhad made quiet stops in repeatedly urged Japan to two forthcoming episodes of Fox’s animated comedy ence in Tokyo, adding the Pearl Harbor in the 1950s. show greater repentance “Family Guy.” Variety trip had showed that the The two leaders stood for World War II and allies would contribute to solemnly in front of a wall Japan’s invasion of China, confirmed that Fisher comworld peace and prosper- inscribed with the names Foreign Ministry spokes- pleted voice-acting work for the two episodes, which ity. of those who died in the woman Hua Chunying will premiere on dates yet Obama, who earlier 1941 attack and took part said real reflection was to be determined. this year became the first in a brief wreath-laying needed, not show.

Fisher first guest starred incumbent U.S. presiceremony, followed by a “Reconciliation bedent to visit Hiroshima, moment of silence. tween inflictor and victim on the animated comedy as Angela, supervisor to Seth where the United States “In Remembrance, must and can only be dropped an atomic bomb Shinzo Abe, Prime Minis- established on the basis of MacFarlane’s Peter Griffin in 1945, called Abe’s visit ter of Japan” was written sincere and deep reflection at the brewery where he a “historic gesture” that on one wreath and “In by the inflictor,” Hua told works, in 2005. She voiced the character in 20 epiwas “a reminder that even Remembrance, Barack a daily news briefing. sodes that have aired, most recently in an episode that a bluff on the Peralta Trail. premiered Dec. 4.

It happened the afternoon Fisher died Tuesday of Sunday, Dec. 11. The hik- morning, four days after ers were stuck on the face of suffering what was dethe bluff — unable to climb scribed as a massive heart or descend. attack on a flight from LonThe rescue was a two-part don to Los Angeles. She operation. The hikers had had been in the U.K. shootto relocate to a less steep ing an episode of Amazon area before the Ranger team and Channel 4’s comedy could pick them up. series “Catastrophe,” on “Four Pinal County which she has a recurring role. She was 60 years old.

Police in Marietta, Ga., put up a humorous post on Face- Sheriff’s Office Search and book, addressed to a shoplifter at a pawn shop who Rescue volunteers with apparently still has a lot to learn about the theft game. special equipment were Amazon plans to (Marietta, Ga., Police Department/Facebook) flown by the DPS Ranger helicopter and inserted into discount movies, nounce, as soon as Thurs4-year-old son, Miguel, the canyon near the locagames and video day, a series of retaliation were found Monday in tion where the hikers were subscriptions measures against Russia for Barahona’s Upper Manhat- stranded,” according to a LOS ANGELES — meddling in the U.S. electan apartment.

DPS news release.

Black Friday, Cyber Montion, according to American Barahona, unconscious day and… Digital Day? officials briefed on the and unresponsive on her Graham, White Amazon wants shoppers to plans. living room floor, had a among those add yet another sales event The actions are extelephone cord wrapped to their calendars — only pected to include expanded around her neck. The child participating in this time, it’s all about digisanctions and diplomatic was discovered underwater inauguration tal goods. measures, the officials said, in a bathtub. Both were proDonald Trump’s inauguThe e-commerce giant in what the administration nounced dead at the scene, ral committee announced plans to discount more deems a proportional repolice said.

Wednesday six faith leadthan a thousand movies, sponse to a Russian operaIsaac Duran Infante, ers who will participate in TV shows, music albums, tion that went beyond cyber whose relationship with the swearing-in ceremony games and other digital hacking activities common Barahona five years ago items for its first-ever Digiamong nations. while he was a student and of the president-elect.

Archbishop of New York tal Day this coming Friday.

Russia will respond to she was a teacher led to her Cardinal Timothy Michael Also included are select any “hostile steps” that the being fired, was arrested Dolan; the Rev. Dr. Samuel subscription plans for video U.S. may take in response Tuesday.

Rodriguez, president of the services, and discounts for to allegations of hacking “He admitted to us he some of Amazon’s own during the 2016 election, went there because of that, National Hispanic Chriscontent subscriptions. tian Leadership Conferaccording to the official to end the life of Felicia Amazon hasn’t released representative for the minBarahona,” Chief of Detec- ence; and Paula White, the full list of discounted pastor of New Destiny istry. tives Robert Boyce told titles yet, but some included reporters Wednesday, refer- Christian Center, will ofin teasers for the event fer readings and give the ring to the suspect.

“While Former student include movies like “The invocation. he was there he decided to charged with Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean Lego Movie,” “Bolt” and kill his son as well.”

“Storks,” video games like and founder of the Simon murder of his “Titanfall 2” and “Fifa 12” Wiesenthal Center; the ex-teacher, child Rescue copter as well as software titles Rev. Franklin Graham, plucks stranded president of Samaritan’s like Turbotax and Microsoft A 23-year-old man who as a high school student Purse and president of the Office. hikers off trail There will also be deals fathered a child with his Billy Graham Evangelistic The Arizona Department Association; and Bishop for Amazon Music Unteacher is facing two counts of Public Safety on Wednes- Wayne T. Jackson, selimited as well as a few of murder after his former video subscription services, day released stunning video nior pastor of Great Faith lover and their son were including IAC’s DailyBurn, of its Ranger helicopter found dead, according to Ministries International crew coming to the rescue of will also offer readings and the UFC Fight Pass and New York police.

Quello Concerts. a pair of hikers who found The bodies of Felicia give the benediction.

— From wire reports themselves “cliffed out” on Barahona, 36, and her — From wire reports

Hatchimals toys hatch into duds for some children on Christmas

By Selena Larson CNN

Hatchimals, perhaps the most sough-after toy of the holiday shopping season, left some parents and kids frustrated on Christmas morning.

Parents lucky enough to get their hands on the item, which was largely sold out in stores for weeks, are complaining the product doesn’t hatch.

Must read The toy “hatches” from an egg when children knock, tap or rub on the shell after about 30 minutes of playtime. The Hatchimal inside responds with lights and sounds and eventually hatches into a creature kids can talk and engage with.

“Unfortunately, with toys that incorporate a high level of

technology, there are also some cases where the product may not perform as well as expected,” said a spokesperson for Spin Master, Hatchimals’ parent company. “We are committed to doing everything possible to resolve these issues.”

But unhappy customers continue to air their frustrations with the toy on Twitter.

“I have been calling (the company) for 2 days. It keeps telling

me to call back later. #Hatchimals is a dud & store won’t take it back,” tweeted Jessica Brown.

Spin Master told CNN it has since increased its customer support staff to help customers troubleshoot the issues.

“We have increased the number of customer case representatives, extended our hours and increased the capacity for callers in the queue to help prevent calls dropped due to the holiday

volume,” the spokesperson said.

“We are reviewing each and every consumer inquiry.”

Hatchimals isn’t the only product in hot water after Christmas. Consumers experienced connectivity errors related to the Barbie Hello Dreamhouse, an app-connected smart home for Barbie.

Mattel said on Twitter that it is aware of the issue and is working to fix it.

4A • Thursday, December 29, 2016 To Your Good Health

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today

20%

Keith Roach

Spasms of esophagus mistaken for heart attack DEAR DR. ROACH: Can you provide any tips for dealing with “jackhammer” esophageal spasms?

Eleven months ago, I had my first attack of these dreadfully painful spasms, which lasted for about 30 minutes. The immediate trigger was red wine. In subsequent small experiments, I have discovered that they can be triggered by both red and white wines.

I have avoided wine since then, but recently I had another painful attack that lasted for about 60 minutes. I was near the end of a sushi dinner and assume that the trigger probably was the vinegar used in the sushi rice (which I will now avoid). The spasms, which rate a 10 out of 10 on the pain scale, were about 10 seconds apart. Since it is possible that they will occur again, I am wondering if there is any way to stop them once they have started. When I phoned a local health hotline, the nurse suggested deep breathing and peppermint. I used both of these, but I don’t know whether they helped or if the spasms simply subsided with time.

— A.M. ANSWER: Esophageal spasm is a condition where the nerve control of the muscles of the esophagus is chaotic, leading to uncontrolled contractions. Most people complain of pain or discomfort in the chest, often associated with difficulty swallowing. It can be mistaken for a heart attack.

The diagnosis is made by measuring the pressures inside the esophagus.

I have not read much about dietary triggers for esophageal spasm, so I am interested to hear that you have been able to identify foods that trigger symptoms in you. Avoiding triggers is a key treatment in many diseases, and often requires keeping a diary in order to identify consistent triggers.

The nurse you spoke to gave you one treatment, peppermint oil, which has been shown to have benefit in at least one small trial.

Peppermint candies with a very high concentration of peppermint oil, such as Altoids, may be of benefit.

Pharmacological treatment is usually with calcium channel blockers, such as diltiazem, or with antidepressants (which work on the nerve cells, similar to the way they work in people with neuropathy, but are not used in the doses they would be for depression). Two classes of drugs that you might not expect to work, nitroglycerine and sildenafil (Viagra), also have shown benefit.

Botulinum toxin is sometimes injected into the esophagus for longer-term treatment.

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med.cornell.edu or request an order form of available health newsletters at 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. Health newsletters may be ordered from www.rbmamall.com.

HOroscopes

weather watch

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solunar tables

The solunar tables for lakes are based on studies that show fish and game are more active at certain times during the lunar period.

Major

The Gwinnett Daily Post (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 10860096) is published Wednesday through Friday and Sunday by SCNI, 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Periodical postage paid at Lawrenceville, GA 30044. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046-0603.

12:36-2:36 a.m............1:01-3:01 p.m.

Minor

7:38-8:38 a.m.............6:22-7:22 p.m.

pollen counts Trees: Low Weeds: None Grass: None

Lake

56

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lake levels

Full Yesterday

Lake

Allatoona (840.0) .........824.12

Full Yesterday

Lanier

(1071.0) .......1060.30

Blackshear (237.0) ........ 236.92

Nottely

(1779.0) .......1759.65

Blue Ridge (1690.0) .......1666.84

Oconee

(435.0) ........ 434.56

Burton

(1865.0) .......1865.15

Seminole (77.50)............76.92

Carters

(1072.0) .......1064.86

Sinclair

Chatuge

(1927.0) ....... 1917.35

Thurmond (330.0) .........318.81

(339.8) ......... 337.31

Harding

(521.0) .........518.01

Tugalo

Hartwell

(660.0) ........ 649.45

Walter F. George (188.0).....187.74

(891.5) ........ 889.20

Jackson

(530.0) ........ 528.63

West Point (635.0) .........628.19

today in history

lottery Wednesday Cash 3 Midday: 9-1-4 Cash 4 Midday: 0-2-2-4 Ga. 5 Midday: 0-4-4-1-7 Tuesday Cash 3 Midday: 8-9-0 Cash 3 Evening: 6-9-4 Cash 4 Midday: 9-1-3-0 Cash 4 Evening: 4-4-4-7 Ga. 5 Midday: 4-6-5-7-1 Ga. 5 Evening: 9-3-8-8-4 Fantasy 5: 1-6-16-19-20 Mega Millions: 2-28-30-3839, Mega Ball: 11

Today is the 364th day of 2016 and the ninth day of winter.

TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1170, Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury, was murdered.

In 1890, U.S. Army troops massacred an estimated 300 Lakota Indian men, women and children near Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota.

In 1940, Germany dropped hundreds of incendiary bombs on London.

In 1970, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Charles Goodyear (1800-1860), inventor; Andrew Johnson (1808-1875), 17th U.S. president; William Gladstone (1809-1898), British prime minister; Mary Tyler Moore (1936- ), actress; Jon Voight (1938- ), actor; Ted Dan-

son (1947- ), actor; Patricia Clarkson (1959- ), actress; Sean Payton (1963), football coach; Jude Law (1972- ), actor; Theo Epstein (1973- ), baseball executive; Mekhi Phifer (1974- ), actor; Danny McBride (1976- ), actor/comedian; Alison Brie (1982- ), actress.

TODAY’S FACT: OSHA imposed the largest fine in agency history on Oct. 30, 2009, assessing $87 million in penalties against oil company BP. A 2005 explosion at the company’s refinery in Texas killed 15 workers.

TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1978, Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes punched a Clemson player who had just intercepted a pass during the Gator Bowl. Ohio State went on to lose 1715, and Hayes was fired the next day.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “National injustice is the surest road to national downfall.” — William Gladstone

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Man wants to be ‘fun Dad’ while mom labors DEAR AMY: When my husband and I married about 10 years ago, we were both ambivalent about having children.

My husband is a kind, generous man. I’ve gradually come around to wanting kids. I’m 40 now, so it’s approaching “now or never” time for me.

My husband says he’s willing to have babies, if that’s what I really want.

But here’s the kicker; he’s willing to do things like teach the kid to throw a football or take them to Disneyland, but says he won’t do things like wake up in the middle of the night to feed a baby, change diapers, do extra laundry, etc.

So, basically, I’d be doing all the dirty work, while he would just get to swoop in and have fun with the kid when it suits him.

I picture myself being exhausted and frustrated with this scenario, but it’s the only one in which I save my marriage and also have children. I already feel resentful of him being “the good guy” in a child’s eyes, while I’m the boring nag.

Should I go ahead with a baby and hope he’ll get on board once we’re in the thick of it, or should I accept that this is a recipe for disaster?

— Worried DEAR WORRIED: The scenario you describe: one parent doing

in many moments of tough, hands-on parenting. There is a glory and grace in taking care of another human being, and that is what your husband would be missing.

Dear Amy: A few years ago I met a very intelligent, engaging woman at a social event. We Amy Dickinson soon struck up a friendship. One of many things the “dirty work” while that we had in common the other parent swoops was that she had faced in for the fun stuff, is ba- discrimination because sically the unarticulated, she is African American, unbalanced arrangement and I had faced my own that many parents have. challenges.

But most parents don’t Over the last year she declare their intention to was very upset about the behave this way ahead presidential election. We of time. It just works out were on opposite sides. I that way. let it go. She has presThis is not necessarily sured me to buy products a recipe for disaster, but from her home-based it is a lonely road for a business. I don’t use parent who is also in a her products, so I never marriage. participated. She has If you decide to have a vented about problems in baby, you should assume her life, and when I have you will be on your own. offered advice, she has Either you will be on been very condescending. your own with a husband She tends to drink and napping on the couch, or I think sometimes the you will be on your own liquor is talking. Lately because your marriage she’s insisted that, if I won’t survive this stress really like her, I need to and resentment. do things such as read What you don’t realcertain books on black ize is this: Caretaking, history, etc. nurturing and actual I really like this perhands-on active parentson, but I feel that I now ing — that middle-of-the- have to “buy into” our night stuff you refer to friendship.

— forms the foundation All I ask of people I of connection between care for is mutual respect parents and children. It and open dialogue. is very hard work, but Have I lost a friend? many parents (myself — Wondering included) wouldn’t trade DEAR WONDER-

Ask Amy

ING: True friends don’t “make” each other do things. They don’t force their friends to buy certain products or read specific books.

However, the flip side of this is also true. Sometimes friends purchase things they might not want or need in order to be supportive and participatory. And a friend seeking to gain insight about what her pal is thinking and feeling might voluntarily pick up a book reflecting the friend’s point of view or struggle.

It is obvious that you see this friendship as one-sided. This person seems to be demanding that you prove your friendship bona-fides.

Maybe the open dialogue can start with you.

DEAR AMY: Responding to “M,” the thin woman who was “skinny shamed” by strangers, I correct people by referring to myself as “fit.”

— Fit and Healthy DEAR FIT: People of all sizes can accurately describe themselves as “fit.” Thank you for the suggestion.

You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson.com.

Readers may send postal mail to Amy Dickinson, c/o Tribune Content Agency, LLC., 16650 Westgrove Drive, Suite 175, Addison, TX 75001. You can also follow her on Twitter @ askingamy or “like” her on Facebook.

Sign up to get Gwinnett Daily Post breaking news alerts and daily newsletters at www.gwinnettdailypost.com/newsletters.

Size up your situation and only make a move if you feel it will benefit you personally.

Too much of anything will work against you. If you use your imagination, you will discover you don’t need to rely on others. Change should come from within.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Consider what you might do in the new year to improve your health, finances or current environment.

Having a plan will give you the push you need to excel.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20Feb. 19) — An unexpected gift or financial gain is headed in your direction. Be grateful and consider how you can make someone else’s life easier. What you do for others will bring high rewards.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Get together with peers for a celebration. Networking will prove valuable and could lead to greater opportunities in the coming months. Focus on getting ahead.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — You’ll be anxious for change. Stay focused on the here and now and how you can make personal and professional improvements that will set you up for a brighter future.

TAURUS (April 20May 20) — Making travel plans or offering to help an organization you believe in will make your day. The people you encounter along the way will be informative and influential to your thinking.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Expand your interests, and research how you can master something that will help you get ahead. Don’t feel that you have to overspend. Work with what you already have going for you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — Travel, entertainment and time spent with people you find mentally stimulating will help you determine what you want to pursue over the upcoming year.

An unusual partnership looks promising.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Improving your surroundings, adding to your entertainment center or planning a party for friends and family will turn out well. Leave time for pampering and personal shopping.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) — Sales will be tempting, but don’t go over-budget or make a purchase without doing your research. What you think is a good deal is likely to fall short of your expectations.

LIBRA (Sept. 23Oct. 23) — Controversy must be put aside. Don’t struggle with negativity when you can just walk away from it. Focus on the people you love.

Positive change comes from doing what’s best for yourself.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24Nov. 22) — Make adjustments to where or how you live. Talk to people who can offer advice that will help you with your fear of failure. Trust and believe in yourself.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Someone from your past will have an impact on the changes you make heading into the new year. Romance is highlighted and will improve your life.

perspectives

gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline, Editor

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

Page 6 A • Thursday, December 29, 2016

Farewell to a job I loved Even the best things come to an end. After enjoying a quarter of a century of writing this column for Creators Syndicate, I have decided to stop. Age 86 is well past the usual retirement age, so the question is not why I am quitting, but why I kept at it so long.

It was very fulfilling to be able to share my thoughts on the events unfolding around us and to receive feedback from readers across the country — even if it was impossible to answer them all.

Being old-fashioned, I liked to know what the facts were before writing.

That required not only a lot of research, it also required keeping up with what was being said in the media.

During a stay in Thomas Yosemite National Park Sowell in May, taking photos with a couple of my buddies, there were four consecutive days without seeing a newspaper or a television news program — and it felt wonderful. With the political news being so awful this year, it felt especially wonderful.

This made me decide to spend less time following politics and more time on my photography, adding more pictures to my website — www.tsowell.com.

Looking back over the years, as old-timers are apt to do, I see huge changes, both for the better and for the worse.

In material things, there has been almost unbelievable progress. Most Americans did not have refrigerators back in 1930, when I was born. Television was little more than an experiment, and such things as air-conditioning or air travel were only for the very rich.

My own family did not have electricity or hot running water, in my early childhood, which was not unusual for blacks in the South in those days.

It is hard to convey to today’s generation the fear that the paralyzing disease of polio inspired, until vaccines put an abrupt end to its long reign of terror in the 1950s.

Most people living in officially defined poverty in the 21st century have things like cable television, microwave ovens and airconditioning. Most Americans did not have such things, as late as the 1980s. People whom the intelligentsia continue to call the “have-nots” today have things that the “haves” did not have, just a generation ago.

In some other ways, however, there have been some serious retrogressions over the years. Politics, and especially citizens’ trust in their government, has gone way downhill.

Back in 1962, President John F. Kennedy, a man narrowly elected just two years earlier, came on television to tell the nation that he was taking us to the brink of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, because the Soviets had secretly built bases for nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from America.

Most of us did not question what he did.

He was president of the United States, and he knew things that the rest of us couldn’t know — and that was good enough for us. Fortunately, the Soviets backed down. But could any president today do anything like that and have the American people behind him?

Years of lying presidents — Democrat Lyndon Johnson and Republican Richard Nixon, especially — destroyed not only their own credibility, but the credibility which the office itself once conferred. The loss of that credibility was a loss to the country, not just to the people holding that office in later years.

With all the advances of blacks over the years, nothing so brought home to me the social degeneration in black ghettoes like a visit to a Harlem high school some years ago.

When I looked out the window at the park across the street, I mentioned that, as a child, I used to walk my dog in that park. Looks of horror came over the students’ faces, at the thought of a kid going into the hell hole which that park had become in their time.

When I have mentioned sleeping out on a fire escape in Harlem during hot summer nights, before most people could afford airconditioning, young people have looked at me like I was a man from Mars. But blacks and whites alike had been sleeping out on fire escapes in New York since the 19th century.

They did not have to contend with gunshots flying around during the night.

We cannot return to the past, even if we wanted to, but let us hope that we can learn something from the past to make for a better present and future.

Goodbye and good luck to all.

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www. tsowell.com.

letters to the editor

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Please sign your name and provide an address and a daytime telephone number. Address letters for publication to: Letters to the Editor, Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 300460603. The fax number is 770-339-8081. Email us at: letters@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Ringing in the new year with new fears As usual, the year’s end brings reflections and ruminations on what was and what is to be. This time around, however, it feels as though an era is coming to an end.

That gentle frisson between past and future about which columnists customarily write feels vaguely apocalyptic as we approach the new year.

The usual regrets — too much ice cream, not enough exercise, too quick with a retort, not enough thank-you notes — all feel quaintly irrelevant juxtaposed against a collection of very real fears about the future.

During a year and a half of bitter political infighting — sister against sister, neighbor against neighbor — we’ve lost a better part of ourselves and unleashed armies of vengeful strangers.

To put a fine point on it, Donald Trump’s election has released a malevolent spirit upon the land. He invoked the magic message — essentially them vs. us — and the demons disembarked from their dark hiding places. He raided the lost ark, lifted the lid, and the whirlwind of humankind’s worst impulses escaped.

Hyperbolic, yes. But when the next leader of the free world casually comments that we need to build up our nuclear arsenal — and seems to welcome a

dent-elect is not in his senses — and he makes no sense.

Trump’s complete original quote, as usual offered via Twitter, was: “The United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.”

Kathleen Really? By “greatly” expandParker ing our already huge nuclear arsenal, other leaders will come return of the Cold War — alarm to their senses regarding nukes? expressed in the strongest terms Russian President Vladimir Pupossible is required. When tin expressed earlier on the same such alarm did find expression day that he wishes to boost his around the nation and the world, country’s nuclear strength, too. the president-elect huddled in Just great. his “fake news” bunker and And, really, again. What’s claimed that his remarks were with making such war-mongerquoted incompletely. He took ing threats when you’re not in special aim at NBC News, the White House yet? Tweeting tweeting that the network “pur- on matters of such import is posely left out this part of my unpresidential, not to mention nuclear quote: ‘until such time unmanly. Also, it’s insane! as the world comes to its senses I could pause here and write regarding nukes.’ Dishonest!” verbatim the emails and socialIf NBC left out the balance media comments certain to folof his tweet, shame on them, low these observations. They’re but the rest of what he said adds as predictable as a 3 a.m. tweet nothing to assuage the larger from Trump Tower. This, too, is concern that he thinks we need part of what’s frightening as we more nukes. Or, since this aptake our leave of 2016. People parently needs pointing out, that who voted for Trump refuse to he believes having more nukes critique his behavior through will have no effect whatsoever any lens but that of having won until the rest of the world comes a contest. to its senses. My guess is the “We won, you lost — get rest of the world is thinking the over it” is what now passes for exact same thing: This presia serious dialogue about matters

of immense importance.

The notion that people who still express concerns — including a growing list of psychiatrists and psychologists who’ve signed a letter suggesting the man isn’t well — are just sore losers is nonsense. When the president-elect of the United States so cavalierly threatens to unravel the fragile threads that hold civilization together, there are no winners. He or she who is not worried is not paying attention.

My personal stake, other than the fears herein described, is well and good. What’s bad for the republic is good for columnists and cartoonists, though this time, I admit, the muse’s generosity is less enjoyable.

These are also not simple partisan fears. Many Republicans I know are “slightly terrified,” as one Trump voter recently put it to me. That most, if not all, Democrats are, too, doesn’t have to mean they’re all excessively disappointed, though many surely are. Nor, as the incensed have written, does my non-support of Trump translate to support for Hillary Clinton.

We call that a non sequitur.

When it comes to abusing logic, Trump wins hands down.

Kathleen Parker’s email address is kathleenparker@ washpost.com.

Let’s move forward with hope for the future Gloom is a terrible way to ring out the old, and despair is of no help in trying to imagine the new.

So let us consider what good might come from the political situation in which we will find ourselves in 2017.

Doing this does not require denying the dangers posed by a Donald Trump presidency or the demolition of progressive achievements he could oversee.

It does mean remembering an important distinction President Obama has made ever since he entered public life: that “hope is not blind optimism.”

“Hope,” he argued, “is that thing inside us that insists, despite all evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us if we have the courage to reach for it, and to work for it, and to fight for it.”

It is this spirit that began to take hold almost immediately after Trump’s election.

Americans in large numbers, particularly the young, quickly realized that the coming months and years will require new and creative forms of political witness and organization.

Trump’s ascendancy is already calling forth social and political initiatives aimed at defending the achievements of the Obama years (particularly Obamacare), protecting the environment, standing up for immigrants and minorities, preserving civil liberties,

E.J. Dionne civil rights, voting rights, and highlighting how Trump’s policies contradict his promises to working-class voters. Here is a bet that the mobilization against Trump will rival in size and influence the tea party uprising against Obama.

Another positive for the future: Trump’s campaign forced elites and the media to pay attention to the parts of the country that have been falling behind economically and to the despair that afflicts so many, particularly in rural and smalltown America.

It should not have taken Trump (or Bernie Sanders) to bring their problems to the fore. If the powers that be had been paying more attention, the resentments and dissatisfactions that Trump exploited might not have been there for him to stoke.

In 1972, Richard Sennett and Jonathan Cobb wrote a memorable book called “The Hidden Injuries of Class.” We

forget about economic inequality at our peril. Every generation or so, it seems, we need to be reawakened to the injustices of both class and race and rededicate ourselves to remedying them together. We can now move forward with this in mind.

From the outline of his policies so far and from the right-wing Team of Billionaires he has chosen to run large parts of his government, it’s hard to see how Trump will advance the material interests of those who voted for him. But justified skepticism about Trump is no substitute for fresh thinking by his opponents about what they would do when they next take power.

The pollster Allan Rivlin has been offering a compelling presentation to Democrats arguing that they lack a clear, comprehensible and convincing economic message. He’s right. It’s time they got one. The fact that this imperative is now nearly universally recognized is another piece of good news to come out of 2016 — even though the cost of the lesson was much too high.

It is also useful that Republicans will be put through a series of tests. If they fail to apply to Trump the same ethical standards they demanded of Hillary Clinton, voters will notice. The Republicans’ claims to fiscal prudence will be exposed as fiction if they follow through

on pledges to combine large tax cuts, mostly for the rich, with big increases in military spending.

For the past six years, Republicans have been able to pass radical budgets through the House to satisfy their ideological enthusiasts, knowing their policies would never become law. They claim to be pleased that they can now enact their full agenda on shrinking Medicare, Medicaid and other social programs. But as their plans move closer to reality, voters — including Trump’s supporters — will start counting the costs.

In large numbers, they will find them too high.

Lastly, it’s hard to imagine a president more likely to inspire Obama Nostalgia than Donald Trump. Americans who might have found the president too cool, too cerebral, too cautious or too self-contained will soon long for such qualities if Trump remains as reckless, vindictive and undisciplined as he was during the campaign, and has continued to be during the transition. Replacing a great orator with a promiscuous tweeter is not much of a trade.

The folk singer Joni Mitchell might as well have been talking about politics when she taught us that you don’t know what you got till it’s gone.

E.J. Dionne’s email address is ejdionne@washpost.com.

Twitter: @EJDionne.

Thursday, December 29, 2016 • 7A

gwinnettdailypost.com

Reynolds dies day after Fisher CNN LOS ANGELES — Debbie Reynolds, the Oscar-nominated singeractress who was the mother of late actress Carrie Fisher, has died at Cedars-Sinai hospital. She was 84.

“She wanted to be with Carrie,” her son Todd Fisher told Variety.

She was taken to the hospital from Todd Fisher’s Beverly Hills house Wednesday after a suspected stroke, the day after her daughter Carrie Fisher died.

•From Page 1A is failing. … Well, what are you missing, and then analyze and try to provide those services. That’s the first step, is to provide those needs because let’s face it, (if) the child’s not in school, they’re late, if they’re not present, if they don’t feel good, you can’t start the learning. But if they come

•From Page 1A

Pastor

jail records.

New Bridge Church said in its statement that its leaders are so far “confident that this was an isolated incident and no other students were involved.”

Gwinnett police don’t have any information about additional victims, Washington said.

But detectives “strongly urge” adults from the church to talk to their kids about Kelley.

“In situations like this where a youth pastor uses his access to children and position to satisfy a sexual

appetite, it is always a concern that there are unknown victims,” Washington said.

The church promised full cooperation with the investigators and support for the victim.

“The goal is to learn the full truth of what has occurred, and to continue to respond accordingly as we provide care for the victim and her family, and also for the family of the accused,” according to its statement.

Anybody with additional information about the case or another incident should call the Special Victims Unit at 770-513-5300.

•From Page 1A

just like, ‘Oh, that’s a lot of stuff. I don’t want the greater purpose of it.” to do that when I grow Sophomore Naup,’” Luthra said. “I’ve man Luthra, who is in always wanted to stall it, his second year with and keep it behind my the club, said it offers head, because I didn’t glimpses into the real want to face it. Coming world, while also helping into VITA, it’s actually other people. He noted been an experience for that GSMST has the only me, because now I can be VITA club in Gwinnett, a role model, enlighten and it’s fairly new across how actually tax returns the state. His initial view are filed. So it’s really not of taxes was that they’re that hard anymore.” complicated, but now One goal is the club is he’s much more comfort- to get more people certiable and has a stronger fied at the advanced level, awareness. which allows for more “Looking at the mascomplicated returns such sive stacks of paper, I’m as itemizing deductions

on time, they come fed, they come without a toothache, they come feeling good, then you can get about the learning.”

Unterman and Coleman each admitted that school leaders and those who work in education would push back at this notion because their main focus is education, and not necessarily health care, although

grandchildren, Cole and Teresa Moody, Mason, Susie Aiken Emerson and Hank YearSusie Ruth Aiken, age wood, Mason Swinson; 87, of, Grayson, GA, brother and sister-in-law, passed away on December Robert and Wilma Bur24, 2016. Tom M. Wages russ of Canton; sister and Funeral Service, LLC, “A brother-in-law, Nellie and Family Company”, Snell- Lane Waldon of Marietta; ville Chapel 770-979-3200 brothers-in-law, Rev. John has been entrusted with Lummus of Cumming, Jim the arrangements.

Sewell of Cumming; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.

Funeral services will be NORCROSS held Friday, December 30th at 3:00 pm at Ingram Rex Davis Funeral Home Chapel Rex Davis, age 71 of with Rev. Ruel Martin, Norcross, GA passed Rev. Dennis Bottoms, away on December 24, Rev. Garry English, Rev. 2016. Arrangements by: Craig Richard and Nephew Junior E. Flanigan of Ken Turner officiating.

Flanigan Funeral Home Interment will follow in and Crematory, Buford, Sawnee View Memorial GA (770) 932-1133.

Gardens. The family will receive friends at Ingram Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm and Friday from JEFFERSON 10:00 am until hour of the Linda Fisher service.

Ingram Funeral Home Mrs. Linda Carol Unrue & Crematory, Cumming, Fisher, age 66 of Jefferson, Georgia is in charge of arGeorgia who entered into rest Sunday, December 25, rangements.

Condolences may be 2016. made at www.ingramfuCUMMING neralhome.com.

GRAYSON

Hazel Abi Burruss Glass, age 82 of Cumming, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. She loved collecting angels.

She is survived by her husband Larry Glass of Cumming; children, Richard and Loraine Leak of Buford, Ann and Ned Yearwood of Milledgeville, Jimmy Leak of Dawsonville, Shane and Wendy Glass of Cumming, Duane Glass of Lula, Cally and Dr. Jason Holbrook of Cumming; grandchildren, Amy Moody, Charlie Leak, Abby Cerniglia, Jody and Ross Yearwood, Jinay Vascocu, Vance Leak, Christopher Glass, Lauren Glass, Millianne Thomason, Austin, Reece and Brady Holbrook; great

NORCROSS

Janet Green Janet Marie Green, age 64, of Norcross, passed away on Sunday, December 25, 2016. Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel, (770) 564-2726.

CUMMING

John Hanville Mr. John Edward Hanville, age 40 of Cumming, Ga. passed away Thursday, December 22, 2016.

COMPLETE CREMATION $ 79500 www.peachtreecremation.com

454879-1

or mortgage interest.

But Funk also sees growth beyond sheer numbers.

“I see it as growth if two students jointly can file one tax return with the clients,” she said.

“Because if one knows, the other may not know.

If always two people together can work with one client, then the return comes to a quality reviewer, it has no mistakes or a very minor mistake, then we also serve better. Because it’s not just quantity, but quality of the returns we want to get filed.”

Clinic children are fed twice at school, and in some cases entertained before or after school. “‘Now you want us to do their health care,’” Unterman recalls educators saying. “That’s society now, because these kids are not being taken care of.”

Unterman said there is a pilot program that has put clinics in a few school dis-

tricts. And last year, Voices for Georgia’s Children, an advocacy group in Atlanta, received a grant from the Georgia Health Foundation to improve access to quality health and mental health services for children.

Unterman said there are only a few child psychiatrists in the state, and they typically only see patients paying privately, not those

obituaries

Hazel Glass

Club

678-413-0104

419123-1

CUMMING

Robert Helms Robert Vincent Helms, age 69 of Cumming, GA passed away on December 27, 2016. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

GA. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 29, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www. flaniganfuneralhome. com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

Anna Johnson

CUMMING

LILBURN

Sue Kennerly Sue Kennerly, age 63 of Lilburn, GA, passed away on December 27, 2016. Tim Stewart Funeral Home: 300 Simonton Road SW Lawrenceville, Georgia 30046. 770962-3100. stewartfh.com

Jeanette Johnson Jeanette Cole Johnson, age 79 of Cumming, GA and formerly of Buford, GA, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Toy Johnson; parents, Homer and Bertie Porter Cole; brother, Sherwin Cole; and granddaughter, Michelle Atwood Mullins. She is survived by her children, Sue and George Tallant, Dawsonville, GA, Barbara and Ricky Sanders, Sugar Hill, GA, and Larry Johnson, Buford, GA; 11 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Harry Johnson, Buford, GA; sister-inlaw and brother-in-law, Laverne and Johnny Bagwell, Cumming, GA; brother-in-law and sisterin-law, Robert and Linda Johnson, Buford, GA; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Mrs. Johnson was born June 9, 1937 in Buford. She received her education from Sugar Hill High School. She was a homemaker, as well as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a member of West Buford Baptist Church. There will be a funeral service on Friday, December 30, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home, with Rev. Randy Richards officiating. Interment will follow at Sugar Hill Cemetery in Sugar Hill,

legislation that addresses the issue are high.

“We’ve already established the outcomes, and the outcomes are very positive in these poor places we’ve started in middle Georgia,” she said. “If you brought it up into Atlanta region where the predominant highest percentage of kids are, you could have a significant effect.”

For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

JEFFERSON

Mrs. Anna Henson Johnson, age 98 of Jefferson, Georgia who entered into rest Sunday, December 25, 2016.

who are poor or on Medicaid. Their parents often work during doctors’ office hours, and can’t get there by 4 or 5 p.m., she said.

Wellness exams and dental care are the top needs in this program, Unterman said, as toothaches are the No. 1 reason children visit the emergency room.

Unterman said she believes the chances of passing

PEACHTREE CORNERS

Janet Locchetta Janet (Jan) Locchetta age 78 of Peachtree Corners, GA, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. Mrs. Locchetta was the owner/operator of Blue Star Express. She was preceded in death by her parents, Randolph and Klesna Smith, and brother Jim Smith. She is survived by her husband, Frank Locchetta; daughters & son-in-law, Sharon Carr; Randi & Mark Guido; grandchildren, Jaison Locchetta; Jeff & Leslie Guido; Scott Kahn; Erik Kahn; great grandchildren, Landon Guido; Halynn Ricardo; and Brooklyn Kahn. A funeral service will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 31, 2016 in the Peachtree Corners Chapel of Crowell Brothers Funeral Home.

The burial will follow at Peachtree Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Friday, December 30, 2016 at the funeral home.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements entrusted to Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes and Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. (770)448-5757.

BETHLEHEM

Laurie Messinger Laurie Beth Messinger, age 61, of Bethlehem passed away Friday, December 23, 2016.

BUFORD

William Moon William Perry Moon, age 66, of Buford passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2016.

WINDER

Vera Pace Mrs. Vera Davis Pace, age 83 of Winder, Georgia who entered into rest Thursday, December 22, 2016.

JEFFERSON

Deborah Damron Mrs. Deborah Ann Johnson Damron, age 51 of Jefferson, Georgia, who entered into rest Sunday, December 25, 2016.

DULUTH

William Rohrbacher William Jacob Rohrbacher, age 63 of Duluth, GA passed away on December 25, 2016. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

SUNRISE, FL

Carl Toolsie Carl D. Toolsie, age 64 of Sunrise, FL passed away on December 27, 2016. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

BUFORD

26, 2016 following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Alton Tribble; daughter, Deborah Denise Tribble Ryder; granddaughter, Alicia Nicole Griffeth; sisters, Hazel Whitt, Joyce Anglin, and Shirley Humphrey. Mrs. Tribble is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Shawn Landers; grandchildren, Bart Griffeth, Jarred Landers, Jesse Landers, Sydney Landers; great grandson, Austin King; and brothers, Gary, Tony, and Tommy Wheeler. Fern was born December 9, 1931 to Thomas and Wynell Wheeler in Forsyth County. She was valedictorian of the 1950 class of Sugar Hill High School, played basketball, and was a member of the BETA Club. Mrs. Tribble was a member of the First Baptist Church Sugar Hill. She retired with twenty-eight years of service from Chicopee of Georgia Lumite Division in Buford, a branch of Johnson and Johnson, and retired again with eighteen and a half years of service from J. C. Penney Custom Decorating. In addition to her full-time jobs, she was passionate about keeping busy. She ran Sugar Hill Grocery Store, Tribble’s Greenhouse, was a homemaker, avid seamstress, and a great cook. Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 30, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Rev. Danny Sudderth officiating. Interment will be at Sugar Hill Cemetery, Sugar Hill, GA. The family will receive friends on Thursday, December 29 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. In honor and memory, friends and family can make memorial donations to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in lieu of flowers. Lewy Body Dementia Association, 912 Killian Hill Rd SW, Lilburn, GA 30047. www. lbda.org.

To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www. flaniganfuneralhome. com. Arrangements By: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA (770) 932-1133.

Fern Tribble Fern Wheeler Tribble, age 85, of Buford, GA died Monday, December 2

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GDP-12/29/2016

Project3_Classifieds 12/28/2016 3:44 PM Page A8

A8 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

gwinnettdailypost.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

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gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE 9A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

Christian helping others with journey to college hoops By the time Jarrett Christian had the resumé to play college basketball, he wasn’t armed with the knowledge or assistance to get him to the next level.

Cut as a sophomore at North Gwinnett, he played junior varsity as a junior at his new school, Duluth, where he graduated in 2009. He grew from 5-foot-7 to 6-feet from his junior to senior seasons, developing into one of the county’s better guards in his final high school season.

“The way I thought was, ‘If I have a good senior year, the (college) offers will come,’” Christian said.

Despite his big senior season, only one Jarrett school Christian offered, small Carver College in Atlanta. It wasn’t a school he was interested in attending, so Christian marketed himself to colleges. He thought he secured a walk-on spot at Mercer, then earned spots at both Erskine (S.C.) and North Georgia, though his career was derailed by injuries.

After earning his business degree from North Georgia, Christian made it his mission to help others — he calls them “under-the-radar prospects” — find the right options to play college basketball. The country is filled with high-schoolers who fit into that category, and Gwinnett is no different. The top-tier recruits from the county have their choice of highlevel offers, but recruiting is very different for the vast majority who are interested in college hoops.

That’s where Christian’s company, PRO Movement Basketball, can help.

“With my whole experience and everything, back from getting cut in 10th grade, then going to Duluth, (fueled my interest in starting PRO Movement Basketball),” Christian said. “With my brother, he was two years older than me and didn’t play much at North Gwinnett, so it’s hard when you’re the first one going through (recruiting) in your family. You really don’t have anyone who’s done it before you.

Your parents don’t know the recruiting industry.

You don’t know it. So it means a lot to me.

“A lot kids aren’t even going to school. You see them working in WalMart or Kroger or something. Just because they couldn’t play basketball, they didn’t go to college.

You need to be going to school, getting a degree and becoming something productive in society.

Basketball is a means of getting an education.

Let’s use it to get one.”

Though Christian’s endeavor is just a few years old, it already has seen plenty of success stories.

In the Class of 2015, 19 of the 20 PRO

Will Hammock Movement Basketball prospects got offers. His Class of 2016 went 28for-28 on getting offers, including some international prospects. Those international players represent a new challenge for Christian, who sent China’s Yujia Dan and Croatia’s Isidora Tasovic to the next level from last year’s class.

“For kids in the states, I sometimes think they take for granted and don’t understand what it means to get to the next level,” Christian said. “A lot of Americans have that dream of playing in the NBA or something like that. The goal for a lot of these international kids is to get to the States and get an education.

That is their NBA.” Christian expects more international prospects in this year’s class within the next month, but most of his recruiting prospects are local. He already is working for 13 players in the Class of 2017, and 11 of those are from Georgia (the other two from Tennessee). He particularly enjoys helping out kids from his home county, and his Gwinnett success stories include Dacula’s Keshawn Gibbs (Olive-Harvey College in Illinois) and Mountain View’s Aneysa Williams (Southern Wesleyan).

He spends a lot of time in the metro area watching games and scouting players, in addition to working with Peach State Basketball and with Coach Hemingway Basketball, run by his high school coach, Jonathan Hemingway. What information he gets on those prospects, he gets into the hands of college coaches. His first half of 2017 will be dedicated to locating the right colleges for his players.

His 2017 signing class is on track to be bigger than ever — most recruits in past years didn’t join him until January, but he already has 13 in the fold by late December.

“It really is growing, growing, growing,” Christian said. “Each year I just try to put the bar a little bit higher and meet it. I’m just thankful for the opportunity, to be honest. It’s 99 percent of kids that are what you consider under the radar.

They don’t get the exposure they need.

“I still like to think about those players who are working just as hard as (the top recruits), competing on the same floor as them, that may not have the visibility they need. It’s just a blessing to help them.”

Will Hammock can be reached via email at will. hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com. His column appears on Thursdays.

Buford’s Logan Ashton works from the down position during his match with Woodland-Cartersville’s Gavin Nix during the 106-pound finals of the Takedown Sportswear Invitational in Buford on Wednesday. (Photo: David McGregor)

Home advantage

Buford opens new arena with tournament win Smith (138), Peter Myndresku (152) and Quinn For a photo gallery and Miller (220) placed first. complete finals results, go to BUFORD — Tom Riden gwinnettprepsports.com Logan Smith (145) and Stadium has been the home Will Choloh (285) were of Buford’s football team, tlers place in the tournasecond, Chase Degernier one of the most dominant ment, including five in the (160) was fourth and Aarteams in the state. finals. Logan Ashton was on Hunt (132) was fifth.

Across the street in the only tournament cham“We went 5-for-5 in the Buford’s new arena, the pion at 106 pounds. semifinals, which I thought wrestling team is trying Nick Stonecheck (132 was great because the tourto build the same tradipounds), Trent Ferguson nament is super tough,” Artion. Under first-year head (152), Tristian Bozoian cher head coach Keith Jancoach Tom Beuglas, the (160) and Jack Ness (195) nett said. “I’m just super Wolves won the Takedown were second. Cooper proud of the guys. They Sportswear Invitational on Roberts (170) was fourth, have wrestled hard all year.

Wednesday. It was the first Charlie Darracott (145) Buford is obviously a very sporting event in the new and Billy Barber (182) tough team. That’s why we 5,500-seat arena. were fifth and Blaine Bur- came here. We want to face “It was nice winning in gey (126) was sixth. the best competition and the new arena. I’m not go“We would like to win wrestle the best.” ing to lie, I wanted to win,” them all, but they had some Myndresku is having Beuglas said with a grin. tough matchups,” Beuglas a breakout season after “The guys were excited said. “A lot of times you not even placing at the about being in here. We’ve get in the finals and you state tournament last year. been hearing about this hope they can go either Myndresku won his second place for a year. We didn’t way. We had a couple that tournament of the year on even get to look inside pulled upsets just to get to Saturday with a 9-5 win until Monday, so the guys the finals.” over Buford’s Ferguson. were pretty excited about Ashton had four pins in “It’s just another win. it.” the tournament and posted I take it one match at a Buford scored 242.5 a 7-0 win over Woodland- time,” Myndresku said. points to hold off runnerCatersville’s Gavin Nix, Myndresku won arguup Archer, Beuglas’ former who he will likely see ably the toughest bracket team, with a score of 211.5 again at the state tournain the tournament, pinning points. Woodland-Catersment.

Woodland-Catersville’s ville was third with 194 “This is big because it’s Cody Cochran, a defending points. Collins Hill placed the first one in the arena state champion, and beatninth and Peachtree Ridge and Woodland and Archer ing Ferguson, a third-place was 27th in the 36-team are here,” Ashton said of finisher last season. tournament that featured his fourth tournament win “I know I can beat anysome of the top teams from this season. “Archer is the body. It’s just about having all classifications in Geor- defending state champion confidence in yourself,” gia along with teams from and Woodland will be our said Myndresku, who also Tennessee and Alabama. toughest competition at won the Southern Slam “For us in AAAAA and state. and placed fourth at the the Gwinnett AAAAAAA “It shows where we are Kansas City Stampede. schools, this is probably going into state.”

Miller, a three-time state tougher than the state tourArcher had seven tourfinalist and a Virginia comnament,” Beuglas said. nament placers, including mitment used a decisive Buford had nine wresthree champions. Gavin 18-1 technical fall to claim

By Brandon Brigman Staff Correspondent

MORE ONLINE

his third tournament title.

Miller missed most of last season with an injury and returned to wrestling last month after football season where he earned Daily Post Defensive Player of the Year honors.

“Now that I’ve won three out of the last four tournaments, it’s kind of letting people know that I’m back and ready to go,” Miller said.

Collins Hill’s Lucas Desilva had the most exciting win of the finals. The freshman trailed 8-7 in the 132-pound championship with 50 seconds in the match when Stonecheck let him go.

Desilva responded by taking him down and getting a pin with 33 seconds left in the match.

“I felt disrespected,” Desilva said. “When he cut me like that he was saying I’m not good enough to take him down, but I did.”

The win was the fourth tournament victory for Desilva, who also won the Gwinnett County championship earlier this month.

“It’s definitely a great win. This is my first big tournament win,” said Desilva, who improved to 40-5 on the season. “By far this is a bigger win than county. There’s a lot of good teams here from Tennessee and Alabama.”

Collins Hill’s Joey Felix (106) was third at 106 and Tariq Malik (113) was fourth. Peachtree Ridge’s Bryce Jones was fourth at 285 pounds.

New Buford arena to host Final Four

By Will Hammock

West Georgia, which had hosted playoff games in the largest classification 2016-17 state Class AAA in recent years, will host playoff schedule: Augusta University Semifinals Class AA Any Gwinnett high the AAAAAA semifinals March 4 Georgia College school basketball teams this season on March 4.

(Games at 2, 4, 6 Class A Public that reach this season’s If Buford’s teams are still and 8 p.m.)

Valdosta State Class AAAAAAA semifialive in the AAAAA Final Class AAAAAAA Class A Private nals will get to stay in their Four, they will play March Buford City Schools Arena Cobb Civic Center home county, rather than 4 at Columbus State while Class AAAAAA Finals face travel like in the past.

AAAAAAA games are beWest Georgia March 8-9 The brand-new Buford ing held in their home gym.

Class AAAAA Stegeman Coliseum, City Schools Arena will host The other semifinal locaColumbus State Athens the Final Four round for tions for March 4 are Fort Class AAAA March 10-11 Fort Valley State McCamish Pavilion, Atlanta the state’s largest schools, Valley State (AAAA), Auwith games planned for 2, gusta University (AAA), 4, 6 and 8 p.m. on SaturGeorgia College (AA), day, March 4. The Georgia McCamish Pavilion will ford’s first basketball games Valdosta State (A Public) High School Association host the state finals. in the venue are planned for and Cobb Civic Center (A recently set the locations for Buford’s new facility, Saturday, Jan. 7.

Private). the semifinal round in all which seats 5,500, hosted The site will be a new The state finals schedclassifications, following an its first athletic event this venue for Gwinnett’s big ule features March 8 and earlier announcement that week with the Takedown high schools, but at least 9 games at Georgia, then Georgia’s Stegeman ColiSportswear Invitational, a it’s a short commute for March 10-11 games at seum and Georgia Tech’s wrestling tournament. Buthe Final Four.

Georgia Tech. will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

10A • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016

ondeck Prep Schedule

BASKETBALL

Today

• Archer boys in Nature Coast Christmas Tournament • Archer girls in Dorman Tournament • Buford girls in Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn.

• Collins Hill girls in 2016 State Farm Classic in Riverdale, Tenn.

• Dacula boys in Southern Beach Tournament • Deep South Classic at Brookwood • Discovery Christmas Tournament • Duluth girls in Carolina Invitational • GAC, Berkmar boys in Rotary Roundball Classic in Charleston, S.C. • Grayson Ram Classic • Grayson boys in Wheeler Tournament of Champions • Hebron, Central in Commerce Christmas Classic • Lanier, Mill Creek girls in Sweet South Classic at Morgan Co. • North boys in Lexington, KY tournament • Parkview boys in Sunshine Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. • Peachtree Ridge, Meadowcreek boys in Tournament of the Sun in Ocala, Fla. • Shiloh boys in Farm Bureau Classic in Spartanburg, S.C. • Shiloh girls in Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational • South in Hart County Post Christmas Tournament • Wesleyan boys in Westminster Holiday Classic

WRESTLING

• Parkview in Hook ‘em Classic at Lambert 9 a.m. — Brookwood in Heart of Dixie Classic in Vestavia Hills, Ala. 1 p.m. — GAC in Southeast Prep Slam at Holy Innocents’

The Home Teams

Gladiators

Hawks

Falcons

Georgia

Tech

TODAY NEXT UPCOMING

Florida Florida Tulsa 7:05 p.m.

Fri, 7:35 p.m.

Jan. 5, 7:05 p.m.

102.9-FM 102.9-FM 102.9-FM

Off

Detroit San Antonio Fri, 8 p.m.

Sun, 6 p.m.

FSSE/92.9-FM FSSE/92.9-FM

New Orleans Off Sun, 1 p.m.

Playoffs, TBD FOX/92.9-FM

vs. TCU^ Off Fri, noon ESPN/750-AM

vs. Kentucky# Off Sat, 11 a.m.

ESPN/93.7-FM

FSSE = FOX Sports Southeast, FSSO = FOX Sports South; ^Autozone Libert Bowl in Memphis, Tenn; #TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla.

On TV

Today

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

7 p.m. — Butler at St. John’s FS1 8 p.m. — Kentucky at Mississippi ESPN2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

2 p.m. —Birmingham Bowl: South Florida vs. South Carolina ESPN 5:30 p.m. — Belk Bowl: Arkansas vs. Virginia Tech ESPN 9 p.m. — Valero Alamo Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Colorado ESPN

NBA

8 p.m. — Boston at Cleveland TNT 10:30 p.m. — Dallas at Los Angeles Lakers TNT

NHL

7 p.m. — New Jersey at Washington NBCSP

SKIING

11:30 a.m. — FIS Alpine Skiing Audi World Cup, Semmering : Slalom - Ladies, Second Run. NBCSP

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 6 p.m. — Connecticut at Maryland ESPN2 8 p.m. — Kansas State at Baylor FSSE Friday

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

4 p.m. — West Virginia at Oklahoma State ESPN2 9 p.m. — Kansas at TCU ESPN2 10 p.m. — USC at Oregon FS1 11 p.m. — Arizona at California ESPN2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon — AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Georgia vs. TCU ESPN 2 p.m. — Hyundai Sun Bowl, Stanford vs. North Carolina CBS 3:30 p.m. — Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl, Nebraska vs. Tennessee ESPN 5:30 p.m. — NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, South Alabama vs. Air Force CBS 8:10 p.m. — Capital One Orange Bowl Florida State vs.

Michigan ESPN

NBA

8 p.m. — Detroit at Atlanta FSSE

SOCCER

2:55 p.m. — English Premier League Hull City AFC vs Everton FC NBCSP

WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL 2 p.m. — Marquette at Georgetown FSSO

Sports Calendar

RUNNING

Jan. 28: The seventh annual Norcross Blue Devils Run, a Peachtree Road Race qualifier, will feature a 5K and 1-mile fun run at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners. 5K starts at 8 a.m. and fun run starts when 5K finishes.

Early registration is $25 and race-day registration is $30.

Proceeds from the studentled event will benefit the high school’s cross country and track and field programs. For more information or to register, go to bluedev-

Feedback

ilsrun.wixsite.com/norcross or run signup.com/BlueDevilsRun. Feb. 4: Meadowcreek will host its fourth annual Stampede in the Park 5K Trail run Feb. 4 at Yellow River Park. The course covers soft surfaces and paved trails.

All proceeds benefit the high school’s cross country program. Registration is available at active.com, and more information is available at stampedeinthepark. wix.com/5k1kfunrun. Email stampedeinthepark@gmail. com with any questions.

• Will Hammock, Sports Editor: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com • Christine Troyke, Staff Writer: christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com • David Friedlander, Staff Writer: david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com • Paul Thomas, Staff Writer: paul.thomas@gwinnettdailypost.com • Scott Smith, Senior Correspondent: scott.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com • To report scores, call 770-339-5850

gwinnettdailypost.com

Buford too much for Parkview head coach Gene Durden said. “Parkview really came out and matched our intensity in the first quarter LOGANVILLE — The and really did a great job Parkview girls basketball shooting the ball. We had team was able to hang to pick it up a little bit so with Buford early, but the we did. That gave us a little Wolves’ defensive pressure bit of distance to relax and in the second and third play a little bit better.” quarter After the Wolves jumped proved into the lead with their deto be too fensive pressure to start the much on game, Parkview’s Gabriel WednesJester tied the game at 14 day night. with 1:50 left in the first Buford quarter. A trey by Diarra cruised to Smith gave the Panthers a 75-39 their lone lead of the game Marissa Bruce victory with 1:19 remaining. over the PanBuford answered with a thers in the Rams Classic Pamela Johnson free throw at Grayson High School. and a drive to the basket by Parkview (7-9) took the Tory Ozment to even the lead late in the first quarter, score at 17 at the end of but Buford (10-0) regained the first quarter. the momentum and never Ozment scored a minute looked back to remain into the second quarter as unbeaten.

Buford took full control “I just think we picked of the game with a 12-0 the intensity up,” Wolves run. The Wolves had 14

By Paul Thomas

paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

first-half steals. Parkview’s only basket in the second quarter was Jester’s second trey. Buford led 39-20 at the half as Audrey Weiner scored 15 points, knocking down three shots from 3-point range.

In the second half, it was more of the same. Ozment scored nine of her 16 points in the third quarter.

Inside Jessica Nelson was able to take advantage of her size. She scored 13 of her 15 points in the second half and also brought down nine rebounds.

Weiner had a team-high 17 points for the Wolves.

Marissa Bruce added 14 points, connecting on 12 of 14 free-throw attempts.

Smith scored 10 points in the third quarter for Parkview and led the Panthers with 16 points.

The Wolves finished with 16 steals as Parkview never solved their fullcourt pressure.

“I was real pleased all around,” Durden said. “We played hard for 32 minutes and I was real pleased with that.”

Peachtree Ridge 51, Rockdale 38 Behind a 23-point effort from Jalea Gray, Peachtree Ridge snapped a sevengame losing streak with a 51-38 win over Rockdale County in the first game of the day.

E’Lyce Joseph added 14 points and Kamilla Jones had eight for the Lions (4-8). Dazjai McDonald was the only Bulldog (6-6) in double figures with 12 points.

Jonesboro 47, Berkmar 22 Jonesboro led from start to finish in a 47-22 win over Berkmar in the afternoon. Ashleigh Boulin led the way for the Patriots (1-12) with nine points and three rebounds.

Dacula girls outlast Grayson in OT

By Paul Thomas

said. “We talked about all year that even though we’re young we have to grow up quick. We know we’re goLOGANVILLE — Afing to make mistakes. We’re ter playing flat much of not going to play perfect, the evening, the Grayson that’s what I just told them. girls basketball team took But, it’s all about how you Dacula to overtime on overcome those mistakes.

Wednesday with a flurry I told them right there that at the end of regulation in (Grayson) had to feel pretty the nightcap of the Rams darn good with us being Classic. up 10 and sending it to The Falcons were able overtime after they just won to hold off the Rams in the night before in (double) overtime for a 69-64 win. overtime. They had had all Helena Lee and Kendal the momentum so it was all Bollmer had four points about how you respond.” apiece in overtime for Dacula led by two after Dacula. the first quarter as the lead Bollmer led Dacula (5-7) changed six times in the with 20 points as she hit first eight minutes. By four first-half 3-pointers. the half, the Falcons had Lee scored 18 points, had extended the lead to five on eight steals, five rebounds a pair of treys by Bollmer and four assists. and another from Chelsey Grayson (5-7) trailed by Abel, who scored 13 points as many as 12 points in the in the game. fourth quarter, but was able In the second half, to force several turnovers to Grayson tried to cut into send the game into overthe lead, but couldn’t quite time. close the gap until the final “We’re a young team three minutes of regulaand young teams are going tion. Jonnise Poole and to make mistakes,” Dacula Jazmin Robinson paced the head coach Jason Adams comeback for the Rams. paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Robinson led the way with 17 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, and eight rebounds. Poole had 14 points, five assists and four rebounds.

With 53 seconds remaining Poole came up with a steal and an assist to Robinson to cut the lead to 57-55 for Dacula. Grayson got a stop on the defensive end, but Dacula senior Kandy Brown recorded her sixth block out of bounds with 25 seconds left in regulation to maintain the lead.

Grayson came up with two big offensive rebounds in the closing seconds as Robinson scored with seven seconds on the clock to tie the score at 57.

In overtime, Bollmer scored her first basket since the first half to give Dacula a quick lead. Grayson answered with another basket from Robinson and a free throw to go up 60-59.

With 1:27 left in the game Lee hit her biggest shot of the night, a 3-pointer that gave the Falcons a lead they wouldn’t relinquish thanks to clutch free

throw shooting in the final minute.

“I’ve had to grow into that,” Lee said of taking big shots in moments like Wednesday’s game. “I’ve been practicing shooting a lot lately and it finally paid off.”

The Rams cut the lead to two in the final minute, but Alyssa Criscolo hit three of four free throws in overtime to give the Falcons the edge. Grayson head coach Robin Potter gave credit to the Falcons, but thought her team had a lack of energy until the final stretch.

“Dacula plays very well against us,” she said. “They seem to have our number.

All the credit to them. They shot the ball well, they rebounded well. I felt like we were very flat compared to how we played last night.

That’s what I was just talking to them about. I felt like they didn’t play with any heart, no hustle, defensively we were just standing there.

Dacula played great, but we’re not going to beat many people playing the way we did tonight.”

Titans roll into final of own tourney

By Will Hammock will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com

LAWRENCEVILLE — The first-time host of the Holiday Hoops at Discovery Tournament is a win away from being the inaugural champion.

The Discovery boys basketball team rolled past Apalachee 66-33 in Wednesday night’s semifinals and advanced to today’s 7:30 p.m. title game against Monroe Area. The Titans’ sixth straight victory was convincing, but one more tourney win would

be even more special.

“It’s something we’ve talked about since the beginning of the year as one of our team goals, to win our own tournament,” Discovery boys coach Cory Cason said. “You host the event, you want to win the event. That was one of the goals we set at the beginning. We’ve got a chance to do it and hopefully we’ll get it done.”

Cason played all 13 players who dressed in the first half, an up-and-down effort that the coach called “sloppy.” The Titans had 13 first-half turnovers —

their goal is 12 or fewer per game — but still led 36-14 at halftime.

Apalachee turned it over 11 times the first two quarters, shot just 4-for-23 (17.4 percent) and made 5 of 15 free throws (33.3 percent).

The Wildcats went scoreless the game’s first five-plus minutes, allowing Discovery to take a 12-0 lead.

The double-figure lead held throughout thanks to balanced scoring by the Titans — 12 different players scored, led by 17 points and five rebounds from Jaylen Bussey. Bussey made four 3-pointers.

Discovery (11-5) cut its turnover total down to six in the second half.

“We feel really confident about our offense if we can take care of the basketball,” Cason said.

Keshawn Overstreet came off the Discovery bench with 11 points and a teamhigh eight rebounds. Joseph Phipps had eight points and two steals, while Jaden Stanley added six points, five rebounds and two steals.

“I thought we played a lot harder in the second half,” Cason said.

Omer Ahmed scored 12 to lead Apalachee (5-8).

Collins Hill suffers post-holiday blahs coach said. “Don’t get me wrong, Warner Robins is a good team. But that wasn’t ACWORTH — Collins us. The effort wasn’t there.

Hill boys coach Ty Baum- They played harder than gardner didn’t see the us. They were tougher than lackadaisical and substan- us. Right from the tip, we dard performance by his were soft all game. I’m at team in the first-round of a loss.”

Wellstar Lake City Classic Warner Robins (11-1) coming. jumped to a 17-3 lead as “We had some big wins Collins Hill (12-2) clacked and were playing hard shot after shot early and before Christmas,” he said. then turned to standout “I was pleased with where junior Nelson Phillips after we were at.” the Eagles closed to within Not so much now, 18-15 at halftime. though.

Phillips, a 6-foot-5 The Eagles’ effort — or junior, had 17 of his 21 rather the lack of it — left points after halftime as the Baumgardner searching for Demons scored the first answers after Wednesday’s eight points of the third 55-45 loss to Warner Rob- quarter and led by as many ins and dropped Collins as 15 points in the fourth.

Hill into the losers’ bracket When Collins Hill made in the seventh-annual tour- a belated bid at a potential nament at Allatoona. comeback, Phillips put the “It was embarrassing game away in the closing and disappointing,” the minute.

By Guy Curtright Staff Correspondent

J.D. Ozoh scored nine of Collins Hill’s 15 first-half points and finished with 13. JaQuan Morris had 10 points, all except one in the second half.

The only previous loss for Collins Hill was in overtime to Southwest DeKalb in the fourth game of the season and the Eagles had finished the pre-Christmas part of their schedule with an 80-32 victory over Sequoyah.

Warner Robins, though, led 13-3 after the first quarter and Collins Hill was stuck on those three points until midway in the second before closing the first half on a 12-1 run.

It looked like the Eagles had gotten things together.

The early minutes of the third quarter showed that they hadn’t.

Now the Eagles have to recoup, with Alabama’s

Hale County (12-2) awaiting in a losers’ bracket game at 1 p.m. today.

Collins Hill, a defending region champion, still sits atop 7-AAAAAAA, but the Eagles need to get back on track if they again want to be a state tournament factor after reaching the quarterfinals a season ago.

Hale County, which features Alabama signee Herbert Jones, is another major challenge despite a 46-44 loss to South Paulding (10-1) in the first round.

“You don’t have time to lick your wounds and feel sorry for yourself,” Baumgardner said. “Every team is this tournament is ranked. There are no chumps here. It will be interesting to see how we respond. Hopefully we will. If not, it won’t be a happy New Year’s.”

gwinnettdailypost.com

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2016 • 11A

DEEP SOUTH CLASSIC

Dynamic duos propel Broncos into semis

By David Friedlander david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

SNELLVILLE — Brookwood’s boys and girls basketball teams each looked to a dynamic duo and their respective supporting casts during their opening round games of the 2016 Deep South Classic on Wednesday.

The boys got a combined 54 points from seniors Bubba Parham and Trae Higginbotham to pull away from North Cobb late for a 6658 victory.

Trae MeanHigginbotham while, the combination of Kiki Adams and N’dea Jones tallied 34 total points as the Broncos held off a late challenge from South Forsyth for a 44-41 victory.

The numbers from the boys game would indicate that Parham (37 points, five assists, two steals) and Higginbotham (17 points, three assists, three steals) did much of the heavy lifting for Brookwood (5-8).

But they got some help from their teammates to create breathing room after North Cobb (1-11) pulled as close as 44-

42 following a Nayari Dampier spin move in the lane and layup with 7:01 remaining.

Jamison Collier followed his own miss for a layup on the next possession and P.J. Brown took a defensive rebound — one of his team-best eight boards on the night — and went coast-to-coast for a layup that ignited an 8-2 run over a 2:19 span that ballooned the Broncos’ lead to 52-42 following Parham’s backdoor layup off a feed from Higginbotham with 4:25 left.

“They’re four-year varsity guys,” Brookwood boys coach Daniel Bowles said. “They’ve been in four of these tournaments and been in just about every situation imaginable. … But the thing is, for us to be good, everybody fills a role. Bubba and Trae’s role, that’s fun. It’s all the other guys.

“If they can be a star in (their roles), that will win games.”

North Cobb eventually pulled as close as 62-56 following a Shota Suzuki 3-pointer with 34 seconds left, but Higginbotham and Parham combined to go 4 of 6 from the line over the final 30.6 seconds to put the game away and send Brookwood into today’s 7:30 p.m. semifinal against

Alpharetta.

Likewise, Adams (21 points, four assists) and Jones (13 points, nine rebounds, seven blocked shots) were the two keys for Brookwood’s girls.

But it was a team effort on defense in the second half that proved decisive.

The Broncos (9-4) did a solid job defensively in some ways in the first half, holding North Forsyth (93) to 39.1 percent (9 of 23) shooting from the floor over the first 16 minutes.

But most of those misses came from in low, and the Broncos had a considerably harder time keeping up with the Raiders on the perimeter, where they hit 50 percent (7 of 14) from 3-point range in the first half.

Amber Jones hit five of those shots from behind the arc, part of her team-high 18 points on the night, including three in a 4:07 span over the late first quarter and early in the second to give North Forsyth its biggest lead of the half at 22-15 with 5:29 left.

Kate Ware hit another 3 from the left wing to match that seven-point lead at 27-20 with 2:25 left in the half before a pair of Tori McGhee free throws with 1:48 remaining sent the Broncos into halftime trailing just

27-22.

Still, the Brookwood coaching staff knew they couldn’t afford to continue allowing North Forsyth to keep bombing away from long range, and decided to do something about it during intermission.

“My assistant coach, Sherri Phelan, in one of our timeouts made a brilliant adjustment that changed the way we were playing our zone (defense) a little bit to cover better,” Brookwood girls coach Mark Isenhour said. “That was the difference.”

Indeed, the adjustment made a big difference in North Forsyth’s perimeter shooting, as the Broncos held the Raiders to just 31.8 percent (7 of 22) shooting overall and 15.4 percent (2 of 13) from 3-point range in the second half.

Still, with North Forsyth determined to make life difficult for N’dea Jones on the other end of the court, the Broncos needed someone else to step up.

And that someone was Adams, who joined Jones with four points during a 10-0 run that gave Brookwood its biggest lead of the game at 42-31 with 2:16 to play.

Then after Markel scored nine of her 14 points during a 56-second

span that pulled North Forsyth as close as 42-40 with 1:09 remaining, Tori McGhee hit a pair of clutch free throws with 49.8 seconds left, and Adams and Nkemji Okonkwo added a combined 3 of 4 from the line in the final 15.4.

North Forsyth’s desperation heave from beyond halfcourt fell short to send the Broncos into today’s semifinal against Franklin County and a familiar face in its coach Tony Watkins, a longtime coach at multiple schools in Gwinnett.

Alpharetta (boys) 65, Mill Creek 62, OT The Hawks (6-7) used a 20-4 run in the third quarter to erase a nine-point halftime deficit and take as much as an eight-point lead with 4:30 to play.

But the Raiders (14-1) got a layup from Ellis Merriweather with sixtenths of a second left to force overtime, and then outscored Mill Creek 8-5 in the extra frame to escape with the win and a semifinal berth against host Brookwood.

The Hawks, who will take on North Cobb in a consolation bracket game at 3 p.m., got 19 points from Tre’ Rice and 16 points from Christian Mancillas.

Brunswick nips Bears on last-second shot

By Scott Smith

by four points each from Miles Long, Kevin Kayongo and Marchelle Toro.

In the fourth, the Bears SNELLVILLE — Marcontinued to surge as cus Scott of Brunswick hit Spencer Rodgers, who led a runner in the lane with Mountain View with nine 2.3 seconds left to play to points, opened the period lift the Pirates to a 39-37 with a 3-pointer to cut the win over Mountain View score to 35-33. in the opening round of That was followed by the Deep South Classic at a bucket from Uchenna Brookwood on Wednesday. Nwagbarra (seven points, The shot from Scott four rebounds) to tie it erased an impressive come- at 35-35, while an assist back by Mountain View, from Rodgers to Long which had trailed the Pirates with 4:07 gave the Bears by as many as 15 points. their first lead at 37-35.

The comeback for the After that, the points Bears began late in the for Mountain View were second quarter when nowhere to be found as Mountain View (10-5) critical turnovers and closed out the second missed shots, along with quarter with a seemingly the Brunswick defensive innocent 4-0 run to cut the pressure, put an end to the deficit to 24-13.

Mountain View run.

But the momentum Meanwhile, the Brunsfrom those two baskets wick offense, which hadn’t carried over into the third scored since 2:46 left in quarter when the Bears the third, finally put one scored the first four points through the rim with 2:04 of the second half to get left to play to tie things within seven at 24-17. back up at 37-37.

By the end of the third, Mountain View would Mountain View had have to reclaim the lead, crawled within five at but a missed shot gave the 35-30. Five different Bears Pirates (10-1) another posscored in the frame, led session with about 1:30 left. scott.smith@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Brunswick would spread its offense around and milked the clock, finally putting a play in motion with four seconds left when Scott drove down the lane for the go-ahead basket.

The Bears had one last chance with 2.3 seconds left, but the inbounds pass went out of bounds, giving the Pirates the final possession.

“We showed a lot of heart in the second half,” Mountain View head coach B.J. Roy said.

“Brunswick did a good job of dominating us in the second half and we couldn’t stop their big kid.

We challenged our guys to come back with some life and effort. We had some kids step on the court and play hard, and it’s amazing what you can do when that effort is there.”

Brunswick took control early with the play of its big man on the inside from Kymani Dunham.

Dunham, who led all players with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, got off to a hot start by scoring nine in the first period to help Bruns-

wick to a 14-7 lead.

Dunham was the only player to score in double figures, but eight points and four rebounds from Scott and six points off the bench from Danijah Gammage helped make it a nice homecoming for the Brunswick head coach.

“It’s awesome for me because I’m from Lawrenceville and the Deep South has always been a big deal for me,” Turner said, who played his high school ball at Central Gwinnett. “It gives me a chance to see some family and old friends and I’m always glad to get back.”

Turner also has a familiar face on his staff in former Berkmar head coach David Boyd.

Brunswick will play today at 4:30 p.m. against Oletangy-Liberty of Ohio in the winner’s bracket, while Mountain View will face Walton at 7:30 p.m.

BOYS

BOYS

Oletangy-Liberty 64, Walton 49 Ben Roderick of OletangyLiberty from Ohio led all players with 25 points as the Patriots topped Walton 64-49.

The Patriots (5-1), who will face Brunswick today at 4:30 p.m., also received 15 points on five 3-pointers from Ethan Novy.

Walton (3-9) was led by 12 points from Jason McKie and 11 points from Tavion Golden.

Walton will play Mountain View tonight at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS

GIRLS

Lambert 60, Mountain View 17 Lambert built a 35-11 lead at the half and cruised to a 60-17 win over Mountain View.

Lambert (11-1), coached by former South Gwinnett head coach Jaime Fisher, advances in the tournament to play Hillgrove on Thursday at 3 p.m.

Molly Williams scored 15 to lead the Longhorns, who received points from 11 different players.

Mountain View, was led by eight points from Alea Spears, will play today at 7:30 p.m. against Gulliver Prep of Florida.

Hillgrove 62, Gulliver 49 Three players scored in double digits for Hillgrove as the Lady Hawks defeated Gulliver Prep 62-49.

Top scorers for Hillgrove (8-4) were Victoria Jackson with 19 and Kierra York with 14.

Gulliver (10-6) was led by 19 points from Alana Pinder and 10 points from Shannon Kunkel.

Hillgrove stays in the winner’s bracket and will play Lambert today at 3:30 p.m., while Gulliver will take on Mountain View at 7:30 p.m.

Marchese leads Archer girls to OT win From Staff Reports SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The Archer girls basketball team pulled out a 76-71 overtime win over Westwood (S.C.) on Wednesday in the Farm Bureau Invitational.

Linsey Marchese scored a team-best 28 points to lead the Tigers (10-2) over previously unbeaten Westwood (7-1). Asia McCoy scored 18 points for Archer, and Autumn Newby had 13 points and a game-high 20 rebounds.

Tia Shorter contributed 10 points, seven steals and seven rebounds in a nice all-around game.

The Tigers play Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) today at 4 p.m. in the tourney’s second round.

GIRLS BASKETBALL GIRLS HOOPS Mill Creek 61, Hapeville Charter 49 MADISON — Wynter Webb scored 17 points Wednesday and Mill Creek’s girls basketball team defeated Hapeville Charter 61-49 in the Sweet South Classic at Morgan County.

The Hawks (12-1) also got 13 points and 10 rebounds from Alex Bolling and 10 points and nine rebounds from Kim Forbes.

Hebron Christian 26, St. Johns (S.C.) 15 CHARLESTON, S.C. — Hebron Christian notched its first win of the season, a 26-15 win over St. John’s (S.C.) in the Carolina Invitational on Wednesday.

Mckenna Taylor led the Lions with a triple-six outing; points, rebounds and steals. Mary Blake Whittington had six points and four steals while Payton Johnson added four points and pulled down 11 rebounds.

BOYS BASKETBALL BOYS HOOPS The Burlington School (N.C.) 68, Berkmar 57 CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Burlington School (N.C.) (15-0) defeated Berkmar 68-57 at the Roundball Classic on Wednesday. Jay Estime led the Patriots (10-5) with 23 points, including five 3-pointers. Al Durham also chipped in with 18 points for Berkmar.

Hebron Christian 60, Dawson County 54 COMMERCE – Hebron Christian nearly lost a 19-point second half lead, but held on to defeat Dawson County 60-54 in the Commerce Christmas Classic on Wednesday. John Stewart led the Lions (7-6) with 19 points. Troy Allen and Connor Almon each added 10 in the victory.

To report scores, call 770-3395850. Scores must be reported before 10:15 p.m. every day with the exception of Tuesday and Friday to be included in the next edition. Deadline for Tuesday is 10:30 p.m. and Friday is 10:45 p.m.

GWINNETT GRADS

Gwinnett trio powering North Georgia women’s hoops

By Will Hammock will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Kelsey Hutchins, Amber Skidgel and Mackenzie Darrah didn’t start their college basketball careers at North Georgia, and two of them weren’t with the Nighthawks last Kelsey season.

Hutchins Now all three are together in Dahlonega, teaming up for an impressive start to the 2016-17 season.

North Georgia entered a long holiday break — its last game was a win over Lander on Dec. 19 and its next game is Jan. 4 at Flagler — with a 10-1 record, including a 2-0 mark in Peach Belt Conference play. Three big reasons for the success are Hutchins, Skidgel and Darrah, the latter two transfers prior to

this season.

The constant over the past three seasons has been Hutchins, a double-figure scorer throughout her North Georgia career. The senior, who played her first college season at Faulkner State (Ala.), averaged 18.9 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, earning AllPeach Belt and honorable mention All-American honors.

The 6-foot-1 Mountain View grad has continued her stellar play in her final college season, averaging 19.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. She has made 53.7 percent of her field goals and 82.9 percent of her free throws.

In the lineup alongside Hutchins are newcomers Skidgel and Darrah.

Skidgel, who played high school basketball at both Archer and Hebron Christian, was a reserve last season as a freshman at Georgia. Her move from the Southeastern Conference school to North

Georgia has paid off — she averages 11.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Darrah, a Buford grad, spent the past three seasons at Elon, where she redshirted one season and spent two more years in a reserve role. Now she averages 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds for the Nighthawks.

Hutchins, Skidgel and Darrah are three of five Gwinnett grads on the North Georgia roster, joining Mill Creek’s Madison Phillips and Collins Hill’s Jazmin Smith.

BASKETBALL Stevens helps Samford stun UGA Wesleyan’s Brittany Stevens led Samford to a big win over a Southeastern Conference opponent last week — 65-59 over Georgia in Athens.

The senior point guard had nine points and a game-high five assists, along with two rebounds and a steal. She made 2

of 4 field goals, including converting her only 3-point attempt, and was 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Her final two free throws with four seconds left finished off the win.

Stevens entered this season having played 83 games with 79 starts in her college career.

continued her stellar play at Mercer, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 assists and 4.2 rebounds. The junior led Mercer and the Southern Conference in assists (189) and assists per game (5.7) last season. …

Archer’s Darrion Taylor, a freshman at AuburnMontgomery, averages 11.2 points and has made Joell rolling at CSU 30 of 70 3-pointers (42.9 After two seasons at two percent) in his first college different junior colleges, season. The 5-7 guard has Collins Hill grad Darius been his team’s leading Joell has made an immescorer four times in 12 diate mark on Columbus games, posting 22-point State. games vs. Saint Leo and The 6-3 guard averages Georgia Southwestern 18.1 points and 3.5 assists, along with a 21-point helping CSU to a 7-1 start. game vs. Mississippi ColHe played his first college lege. … Gwinnett prodseason at Wallace Stateucts Derek St. Hilaire Hanceville (Ala.), then (Dacula) and Octavious transferred to Motlow State Gage (Norcross) have (Tenn.), where he averaged excelled this season as 12.6 points, 3.4 rebounds freshmen at Gordon State. and 2 assists last season as St. Hilaire averages 16.4 a sophomore. points, on 46.1 percent 3-point shooting, and 4.3 Fast break rebounds. Gage averGreater Atlanta Chrisages 9.5 points and 5.3 tian’s Sydni Means has rebounds.

FOOTBALL Shiloh’s Carter named All-American Shiloh grad Xavier Carter, an offensive lineman at Reinhardt, was named to the NAIA All-American first team this month. He is the second All-American in the young football program’s history. Carter, a junior, anchored an offensive line that led the NAIA in rushing yards (5,040) and rushing yards per game (360). In 14 games, the Eagles scored 719 points, an average of 51.4 per game.

With Carter playing both center and offensive guard, Reinhardt went 13-1 this season and reached the NAIA semifinals, the bestever playoff run for the four-year-old program.

Gwinnett Grads is a column that runs on Thursdays spotlighting achievements of past Gwinnett standouts.

Coaches and parents are urged to send suggestions via email to will.hammock@ gwinnettdailypost.com.

12A • Thursday, December 29, 2016

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