Expert ER Care
Northwest Georgia’s Only Comprehensive Cardiac Network
Your heart deserves the expert care of the region’s only full-service network — including a Level 1 Cardiac Care Center. With more than 50 years of experience, AdventHealth is Northwest Georgia’s heart care leader. Now offering cardiology services in Calhoun, Chatsworth, Dalton, Rome and Trion.
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Surrounded by natural splendor on the banks of Eagle Lake, the simple things in life are made even better at The Spires. With all the serenity of our 27,000 wooded acres yet all the vitality of our location at Berry College, it’s second nature to explore new opportunities and make genuine connections when you’re here.
This spectacular setting is brought to life by resort-style amenities, chef-prepared dining, friendly neighbors and a carefree lifestyle — plus the assurance of quality care available on-site if ever needed.
Publisher's Note
OWNER & CEO Ian Griffin
Turkey Day is coming, and I can’t wait. This year I have a few cousins coming to visit, and am looking forward to the company, football, and good food. usually travel for this particular holiday, so staying put and hosting for once is a nice change of pace.
Extra Mile Care
Where The Heart Is with Renaissance Marquis
The dedicated staff at Renaissance Marquis are known for the level of care given to their residents; the Extra Mile Award recognizes staff who have gone above and beyond in service.
For the first time, we have three staff members awarded in the same month for going the Extra Mile because these ladies worked together as a team – Justina Garcia, Sherry Castleberry, and Brittany McGee. Marketing Director Cyndi Brannon nominated them, saying, “These three ladies jumped into action when a visiting relative had a severe stroke in our building. They immediately responded, calling 911 and the family within minutes of the event. Thanks to their quick and calm response, the patient was transferred quickly to our area hospital and received the care she needed. We are so proud of their actions and thankful they are a part of our team!”
Justina Garcia was born and raised right here in Rome, Ga. She has a wonderful 8-year-old son, who is the light of her life.
Justina has worked at Renaissance Marquis since she graduated from Pepperell High School in 2013. She has been a caregiver/med-tech at Renaissance for 11 years and is currently attending college pursuing a degree as an X-ray technician. Justina loves working at Renaissance Marquis because of her residents, they are the grandparents that she didn’t have as a child. She finds her residents to be quite interesting when hearing them talk about their days of being pilots, professors, and nurses. It warms Justina’s heart to see the residents treat
her son like one of their own family members when he comes to visit her at work. She thinks her coworkers are truly the best!
Justina typically spends her off days spending time with her son whether it be swimming, bowling, or going to a trampoline park. During her free time, you can find her jumping from store to store shopping for some good deals! Justina has been a CNA for 11 years and does her best to encourage others to push through the bad days. She has the best set of ears and lets everyone know she’s there if they ever need a listening ear! Justina’s calling is taking care of others.
Brittany McGee was born here in Rome and grew up in Cedartown, Georgia. She is married and has three children – Haiden, who is 8; Watley, who is 5; and Kylynn, who is 6 months old.
Brittany has worked as a caregiver at Renaissance Marquis for two years. She shares, “I love working here. I enjoy seeing and taking care of all of the sweet residents. Working in an aging community has certainly changed my life. I have built so many friendships and relationships with these people and I always look forward to seeing them.”
Brittany’s hobbies are spending time with my family, playing with her kids, and shopping. Her favorite memory is spending the summers with her grandparents and helping her Nana in her garden.
She states, “I am very passionate about being a wife and mother. Everything I do revolves around my family. I really enjoy taking care of others. Aside from my family, I love coming to work and caring for these precious residents. Working
for Renaissance has impacted my life in so many positive ways. Before working here, I never knew how rewarding caring for the older generation could be. I love to sit and listen to some of their life stories in my down time at work.”
Sherry Castleberry was born in Hialeah, Florida. The family moved to Rossville Georgia where she graduated from high school.
She moved to Tampa Florida after graduation and has only in the last 2 years moved to Lindale to be closer to family.
Sherry has worked at the Renaissance Marquis for 10 months as a caregiver. She has a passion for listening to others and has really enjoyed getting to know the residents and their families.
Sherry loves to joke around with the residents to encourage them to laugh as she believes laughter is the best medicine!
In her spare time, Sherry enjoys doing yard work, walking, and spending time with her family playing games.
Thank you to each of these ladies for going the Extra Mile, it made such a difference in this family member’s outcome!
Justina Garcia, Sherry Castleberry and Brittany McGee.
BRIDGING SCIENCE AND COMPASSION:
A NEW ERA OF CANCER CARE IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY
High-quality radiation oncology plays a crucial role in modern cancer treatment. Now, thanks to recent technological advances, radiation therapy is more effective, safer and has a faster recovery time. It can also be used to treat conditions beyond cancer. Discover more about what radiation oncology is, how it works and the variety of ways it can be used to care for patients at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center.
HOW RADIATION THERAPY WORKS
Radiation oncology is a medical specialty using forms of radiation to destroy genetic material within cancer cells, preventing them from growing and dividing. Unlike normal cells that can easily repair themselves, cancer cells lose the ability to repair minimal damage, making them vulnerable to radiation. This treatment is one of the three major anti-cancer tools, alongside surgery and systemic therapies like chemotherapy.
GUIDING QUESTIONS IN CANCER CARE
With nearly 20 and 30 years of care experience, Harbin Clinic radiation oncologists Dr. J.C. Abdou and Dr. Matthew Mumber share how physicians at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center think about the best treatment for patients, including how they decide whether radiation therapy is right for a situation.
“In cancer care, we consider multiple factors to determine the best care possible. First, we start with identifying the type of cancer. Then, we consider where it is in the body and if it has spread. Finally, we think through the best treatment options, usually with multidisciplinary input and utilizing National Comprehensive Cancer Network evidence-based treatment guidelines,” said Dr. Abdou.
“Thinking through each of these scenarios guides the treatment plan, which may include directly fighting cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these,” said Dr. Mumber. “Additionally, our medical professionals are making sure patients have supportive care interventions to help them access and tolerate treatments, as well as reduce cancer recurrence."
RADIATION THERAPY AT THE HARBIN CLINIC CANCER CENTER
Accredited by the American College of Radiation (ACR) and certified by certified by the Commission on Cancer for Optimal Cancer Care Resources (COC), Harbin Clinic Radiation Oncology is committed to providing expert cancer care to the Northwest Georgia community. This team works tirelessly to implement care that is both integrative and multidisciplinary.
“We are dedicated to whole system care,” said Dr. Mumber, who is also board-certified in integrative oncology as well as radiation oncology. “We are meeting the needs of the patient at every touch point. Along with anti-cancer care, we have a strong support team considering every facet of a person’s well-being including diet, exercise, stress management, caring for caregivers and more.”
Matthew Mumber, MD and J.C. Abdou, MD.
Describing how their care is multidisciplinary, Dr. Abdou said, “We are constantly having discussions with referring physicians and specialists who may need to be involved as a team member in a patient’s care. Local pathologists, radiologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons and patient navigators meet and participate in a weekly conference where we present patient situations and consider places where we can improve care processes. Our collaboration with Atrium Health Floyd will further enhance our ability to deliver state of the art, evidence-based cancer care in our community.”
RECENT ADVANCES IN RADIATION ONCOLOGY
Thanks to recent technological advancements, Dr. Mumber and Dr. Abdou have continued to implement the most advanced care possible at the Harbin Clinic Cancer Center. Now, advanced computer techniques have enhanced oncologists’ ability to directly visualize tumors in the body while a patient lies on the treatment table. This high level of precision ensures the treatment is even more precise, allowing for dosage increases to tumors while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. These breakthroughs also result in shorter treatment plans and significantly improved patient tolerance to the therapy.
For example, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) may be used to treat early-stage lung cancers as an alternative to surgery in medically inoperable patients. This treatment uses precisely focused radiation to treat the tumor rather than removing the entire lung lobe with surgery. SBRT is delivered over one week and is well-tolerated, with most patients reporting no significant side effects.
SKIN CANCER
For early-stage biopsy proven non-melanomatous skin cancers, which happen to be the most common cancer of all, radiation therapy offers equivalent cure rates as surgery without the cutting and the possible need for skin grafting and associated cosmetic concerns. Harbin Clinic Radiation Oncology is the only ACR certified facility in the region, ensuring quality radiation treatment delivery.
LOW DOSE RADIATION THERAPY
Beyond traditional radiation oncology treatment, there are also certain cases where low dose radiation therapy (LDRT) can provide pain relief for patients who are not surgical candidates. Pain associated with conditions like refractory osteoarthritis and plantar fasciitis may benefit from radiation therapy when other first line treatments have been unsuccessful and surgery is not the right care plan for a patient. Multidisciplinary care ensures proper treatment selection for an individual.
For example, LDRT slows or halts the progression of osteoarthritis, now known to be the fastest increasing health condition and the second leading cause of disability in the United States. Treatment may include affected hands, wrists, shoulders, ankles, knees, hips and the spine.
Standard management for early osteoarthritis includes education, exercise, weight loss and pain relievers. Rather
than masking the symptoms, like a pain-relieving pill would, a dose of radiation directed at the site of osteoarthritis can decrease the body’s production of inflammation in that area.
Low dose radiation has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and has virtually no side effects. Some patients experience pain relief and improved mobility shortly after treatment, and that pain relief can last up to three years.
To learn more about Harbin Clinic Radiation Oncology or LDRT visit the website: harbinclinic.com/services/cancer-care/
J.C. Abdou, MD.
Matthew Mumber, MD
What the Emperor is Thankful For
Letters to the Emperor is a monthly humor column from the self-proclaimed Emperor of Rome, GA. Nero Romansky, the unqualified descendant of Julius Caesar, answers his letters from his less-than-loyal subjects. It’s like waiting all year to enjoy a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal, but to save $50, you booked your travel on discountgarbageairlines.net.ru.
Due to mechanical failure and gross incompetence by the discount airline, the flight was rescheduled for two weeks AFTER Turkey Day. Maybe your younger brother will mail you a bag of stale sweet potatoes?
First Question
NERO, BRAH,
“Brah, Did you watch the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight on Netflix? How does it compare to the gladiatorial matches in ancient Rome? I can’t remember if you are a historical figure from the past and then were transported to the future, or you are just some delusional guy from modern times who named himself emperor.”
—Stockton McIntosh | Senior at Amurchee High School
DEAR STOCKTON,
Nero is unsure if fight is the right word for Tyson v. Paul; he’s seen toddlers land more blows than a geriatric Iron Mike. The Colosseum of Rome was a spectacle of violence and barbaric butchery. The closest modern example is Black Friday shopping, way back when the Mount Berry Mall still had a Circuit City. No cap.
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
DEAR NERO,
“I’m a mother of six children and a self-diagnosed people pleaser. I manage to be okay most of the year, but having relatives over for the holidays brings out the worst in me. My husband, in-laws, and children want different pie flavors for the Thanksgiving meal. How do I choose which dessert to make? Please help!!!”
— Mindy Magelleoni | Supermom; Darlington School, Class of 2002
DEAR MINDY,
I am not a parent, so take my advice with a few grains of gluten. The legacy of my great, great, great, (a bunch more) great grandfather, Julius Ceasar, shows an example you will want to follow. The easiest way to make difficult decisions between your children is to decide which offspring is your favorite.
Mark Suroviec, M.Ed., is the Chief Ambassador of Fun at WorkPlay Solutions, the author of Forever Sisters, and the Vice President of the Children’s Museum of Rome. He hopes you pity laugh at his humor and satire stories, especially the ones that aren’t funny.
Not sure how to base the rankings? My preferred method is creating an official Family Nepotism chart that lives on your refrigerator. Award points to each child for unquestioning loyalty, future earning potential, or the results of trial by combat with their siblings. As for your in-laws, if they helped pay for the wedding, you don’t need them anymore.
In the event of a tie score on the Nepot-o-meter, consider this helpful guide of BEST to WORST Thanksgiving pie flavors.
1. Pumpkin pie
2. Lemon meringue pie
3. Chocolate peanut butter pie
4. Key lime pie
5. Key grapefruit pie
6. The number pi, covered in chocolate
7. Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce meringue pie (not on Sundays)
8. Lemon peanut butter pumpkin, with a set of missing keys, accidentally dropped into the raw batter because of a distracted toddler “helping” you to bake it, pie
9. Piles of pony dung collected under a full moon at midnight, while being chased by werewolves pie
10. Pecan pie
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
MR. NERO SIR, “I am tankfule my mummy and dady and my doggee coco. Whut r u tankfule 4?
— Kayleighee Jamieson | Pre-K student at Alto Park Elementary School
DEAR Kayleighee,
Nero is thankful for autocorrect, but he might be the only one.
Me Vexat Pede,
— Nero
DEAR BULLY OF IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN,
“Are you going to mock a small child still learning to spell while you hope for a few low-brow laughs? On Thanksgiving? You are a heartless degenerate!” — Dr. Humbert R. Tuffleson, Ph.D. | Associate Professor of Ancient History at Georgia Highlands College
DEAR PROFESSOR TUFFELBUTT,
For a few laughs? No. The emperor needs at least a baker's dozen of chuckles and guffaws to feel good about taunting the littles. Since you are so insistent that Kayleighee gets a proper answer, let me tell you all that ole’ Nero is thankful for.
I am tankfule for the minor-league baseball team, which is dedicated to my magnificence. I am thankful that I don’t have to pay property taxes as the rightful Emperor of Rome. Nero is grateful that the U.S. election is over, and 98% of unwanted text messages are bitcoin scams again. The emperor appreciates that in the event of a zombie apocalypse – assuming zombies are terrified of automatic car wash facilities – Nero lives in the safest city in America.
Most importantly, Emperor Nero is thankful to the dedicated team of editors and millions of readers of V3 Magazine, who gave him a platform to publish his mediocre literary rubbish.
Save me a slice of Polynesian Sauce pie. Happy Thanksgiving.
Me Vexat Pede, — Nero
Disclaimer: Emperor Nero Romansky is a satirical character written and created by Mark Suroviec, M.Ed. All people and quotations are fictional, invented by the limited imagination of the author, and do not reflect the opinions of the author, editors, or V3 Magazine.
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WITH BOTH ARMUCHEE PROGRAMS COMING OFF HEARTBREAKING SEASONS, the Indians look to turn that motivation into success in 24-25.
Armuchee’s girls finished 14-13, good enough for 3rd in the region in the regular season before falling to Darlington in the region tournament, and had to play a tough 1st round road matchup against Galloway, in which they were outmatched. The boys were so close to the state playoffs for the first time in over a decade, but fell short to Coosa in the 1st Round of the region tournament to miss the state playoffs by a singular point.
“We had to find each other, and we certainly are not the same team we were last year,” said Head Coach Timothy Puckett. “I didn’t want our guys to hang their heads after a loss and think oh, here we go again. They were really able to buy into what we were doing as a program, and that loss at the end of the season is really going to motivate us going forward.”
Puckett will have lots of talent and experience on his return this year. There are senior leaders like Alyrik Wood, Will Pethel, Jakson Hightower, and Trenton Cochran who will all take guys underneath their wing and be a role model for the guys coming up. Juniors like Owen Burk and Owen Buffington were able to grow into their own last season and worked extremely hard over the summer to gain roles.
“I want my guys to compete at the highest level. Take one game at a time and put the time into your craft, and prove yourself. We have to buy in and focus on us, not who is in front of us.”
Armuchee’s girls were able to remain competitive in the region, placing 3rd overall in the regular season and region tournament. However, they would draw a tough Galloway girls’ team who made the state championship.
“We were pretty proud of how we ended, regardless of the results,” said Head Coach Michelle Arp. “Everyone was able to get playing time, everyone bought in, and we are bringing back that experience this season. Now that we made the state tournament, we want to make it our goal to make it back and advance in it.”
There are so many players that Coach Arp has high praise for, and if she could mention everyone, she would. However, she did mention three specific players. One is a returning senior, Sophie Thacker, who keeps everyone on the same page and is a spectacular leader who is the ultimate team player. The other two were freshmen last year, who are looking to come back with valuable experience in Kelsey Arp and Aubrey McConkey, both guards who see the floor extremely well and grew into a valuable role.
“Every day, we want to show up and control what we can control. We want to be extremely competitive; we want to leave the floor better than we were before, whether it be practice, before a game, or at the end of a game. We want to be the best versions of ourselves.”
With a lot of experience returning in both the Indian and Lady Indian programs, it’s glaring that there are a lot of positive things that are going to come out of Armuchee this year.
SCHEDULE BOYS GIRLS
COOSA Eagles
LIGHTBULB MOMENTS
with Matthews Lighting & Electric
It’s Turkey Day time and that means spending time with your loved ones and eating some good food. Frying your bird has become a popular method, but if you don’t do it properly, it can be dangerous. Here are some guidelines to follow if you choose to deep fry your turkey.
Location: Use the turkey fryer outdoors on a sturdy, level surface that’s at least 10 feet from your home and away from flammable materials. Don’t use the fryer on a wooden deck, in a garage, or under a patio cover. Fire extinguisher : Keep a class B dry chemical fire extinguisher nearby. Most home fire extinguishers are suitable for hot oil fires. If there’s a fire, don’t use water on it.
Temperature : Use a thermometer to monitor the oil temperature. If your fryer
doesn’t have a thermostat, use a kitchen thermometer to attach to the side of the pot. The oil shouldn’t overheat.
Turkey : Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before you put it in the fryer. A partially frozen turkey can cause the oil to splatter.
Oil level : Don’t overfill the fryer. You can test how much oil you need by filling the fryer with water, placing the turkey in, and measuring the water level.
People and pets : Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from the fryer. Don’t let them near the fryer while it’s in use or after it’s done.
Protective gear : Wear long sleeves, safety goggles, and oven mitts or gloves to protect your hands and arms from the hot pot, lid, and handles.
L-R: #30 MAKENNA MANLEY JR-GUARD, #23 BROOKE MCCLELLAN SR-FORWARD, #14 ANNA FRANCIS JR-FORWARD, #5 JORDAN SCOTT SO-GUARD, #4 TIMBO MITCHELL JR-FORWARD, #1 JAYLEN WORFFORD SR-GUARD
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WITH BOTH TEAMS BEING FAIRLY COMPETITIVE IN THE REGION LAST YEAR, both the Coosa boys and girls programs will enter this season with a lot of enthusiasm.
The girls had a tough finish to last season, falling in the first round and finishing 5th in the region behind Armuchee. The boys had a very good run in the region tournament, winning games against Armuchee and Pepperell that would put them in the state playoffs. They would fall to the eventual region champs in Trion, and then in the state playoffs, had to play the soon-to-be state champions, Mount Vernon.
“Last year was a rough season, but we ended up making the playoffs,” said Head Coach Tyler Bradley, who stepped in midway through the season last year. “However, we had to play Mount Vernon, the eventual state champions. Regardless, I liked the way we played towards the end of the year, and I was appreciative of the energy, effort, and defense that our guys picked up.”
This year, Coosa will look to build off of some of the momentum that they picked up last year. They will be led by senior Jaylen Worforrd, a guy who sent them to the state tournament with a floater against Armuchee. Jordan Scott, a rising sophomore, will be able to see many pathways to success and be a key player in what could be a special year for the Coosa Eagles. Timba Mitchell, a junior, has drastically improved over the offseason and looks to be a star player for Coach Tyler and his squad as well. Tyler expects his guys to play hard, show up, push each other, and play for the C that’s resembled on their chest.
Meanwhile, on the girl’s side, Coach Jason Shields looks to build off of what wasn’t really an ideal end to the season, but he had some good things to take away from it despite the early exit in the region tournament.
“Even though there’s only one team that finishes on a positive note, and as #1, I thought we were able to finish on a high note. We have grown each year, not just in terms of basketball, but we have grown as players as well.”
Shields will have a good group of upperclassmen who should lead the charge for an extremely young team. Anna Francis and Makenna Manley will take the lead as juniors, and Brooke McClellan, a girl who has been on the team since her freshman year, will be a key contributor as she is the lone senior on Coach Shields’s roster. Shields has high expectations for his team, just in terms of work ethic and what he wants his team to bring in practice and games.
“We don’t want people to watch paint dry. We are trying to make fundamentals a key point, and I want us to play hard and for us to push ourselves each and every day.”
With high expectations for their teams, Coach Tyler Bradley and Jason Shields look to bring some great results for the Coosa community this year and hope to pack the stands to watch what could be a special group.
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
SCHEDULE
BOYS
BOTH DARLINGTON TIGER PROGRAMS LOOK TO CONTINUE THEIR CONSISTENT SUCCESS IN 24-25, and will face some new challenges within the new region.
Last season, both the girls’ and boys’ programs made it to the region championship, but both teams fell short to Trion. Both Tiger squads made it to the state playoffs, with the girls drawing a tough draw to Mount Pisgah while the boys made it to the Elite 8, falling on the road to Savannah to put the cap on the 23-24 season. The season also would mark the 3rd straight Christmas Tournament Golden Ball for Coach Nathan West.
While yes, winning the Gold Ball is an amazing accomplishment, Coach West wants his players to remain focused one game at a time, and do everything with a purpose.
“I think here at Darlington, we have a standard; that standard is success. I don’t want us to take anything for granted and focus on the task ahead of us. My expectations are that we play hard and that everyone has each other's back.”
After losing an absolutely massive class in which they would lose back-to-back player of the year in Damarion “D-man” Floyd and numerous All-Region selections, the Tigers have reloaded their clip with a surplus of talent and experience. Seniors Trustin Mercer and Will Land have improved over the past few years, and look to blossom this year. Brent Bell comes back for his junior year, and sophomores DJ Hall and Unity transfer Jordan Wilkerson look to grow into the program after providing some decent experience in their freshman campaigns. He will rely on this experience and talent this year, as the Tigers play a brutal non-region schedule and then move on to a brand new region that is wide open.
Now, let’s take a glance at what the Lady Tigers have to offer this year. Coming off of numerous successful seasons, the Lady Tigers look to continue their hunt in the state tournament.
According to Coach Samantha Rush, this new core group was able to really hold their own last season and step up when it mattered.
“Our seniors this year have grown and improved in some larger roles after losing a big senior class the previous year. They really embraced them and were able to trust the process every day, and we were able to get better as a team.”
Her expectations for her players are just what you think they are; play hard and do the little things.
“I want us to trust the process. I want us to compete, and show up every day. I want our hard work to feed over in the state tournament. As the coach, I want us as a program to lay a foundation.”
Coach Rush will turn to a big senior class that has certainly been able to leave their mark on the program. Seniors Emi Grace Wood, Caroline Jordan, Emma Hunt, and Mia Curlee will look to once again be major contributors, and be key leaders for the Lady Tigers. Juniors Presley Dixon and Sidney Rush have come into their own as they have gone through the program and will be seeing much larger roles and gaining a lot of experience and opportunities this year.
Darlington is a very strong community. It’s not just one person; everyone wants to be a part of something special, and that’s exactly what the basketball programs look to provide to a tight-knit Tiger faithful.
GIRLS
MODEL Blue Devils
L-R: #30 SADIE RAUGHTON SR-GUARD, #14 JAVIA SAMPLES JR-GUARD, #1 KAMRI SANDERS FR-GUARD, #14 NOAH TRAVIS SR-GUARD, #23 CHASE ALLEN SR-FORWARD, #11 STEVARYIS DALLAS SR-GUARD
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
BOTH THE MODEL BOYS AND GIRLS PROGRAMS ARE LOOKING EXTREMELY PROMISING, and as per usual, expected to bring a lot of excitement and promise to the Shannon Faithful.
In a season in which Coach Sally Echols gained her coveted 400win goal, they finished 23-6, and were region runner-ups. They would eventually fall to Banks County on the road in the Sweet 16. On the boy’s side, they were region champs and would make it to the Elite 8 before having to go on the road and play a buzz saw in 3-Peat State Champions Westside-Augusta.
“It’s hard to win, but it’s even harder to make deep playoff runs,” said Head Coach Jacob Travis. “We will continue to build off of the success that we had, so we as a team are thankful, but business is business, and we will have to go back to the drawing board and get ready for another season.”
His expectations are simple; show up, and play hard. Be the best you can be; there is a reason why the motto of the program is to be a “Poor Hungry Dog.” Fight for every second of every game, and the rest will work itself out.
Losing an All-State 2-way monster in Jeremias Heard will certainly be a major blow for the Blue Devils. On the bright side, there is a certain core group at Model that will be special. This year, a surplus of seniors will lead a deep rotation. Chase Allen, an All-State Selection in 23-24, will return for his senior campaign. Noah Travis and Stevie Dallas will headline a deadly guard duo, with rising sophomore Bryson Denson and junior John Myles Mason, who plays with some reckless abandon, looking to have a major step up. A few rotation players include guys like Thomas Patterson and Owen Mathis, who have seen quality varsity minutes over the past few years.
Now, let’s flip it over to the girls' side of things. After a few down years, the Lady Devils seem to be back on track, coming off of 2 straight Sweet 16s.
“I would say that we finished a better team than we were the year before,” says Head Coach Sally Echols. “We lost three major contributing seniors, but what we have coming back we are excited about, and we are gonna continue to work hard to get to the postseason and hopefully make some noise.”
In order to achieve success, familiarity is a big staple within the Lady Devils Program.
“Girls have to bond in order to battle, so we spend an extensive amount of time with each other, so our chemistry can translate to what we do on the hardwood.”
While losing three contributing seniors is a huge challenge, there are numerous Lady Devils that will fill in those gaps. Javia Samples, a junior who is a do-it-all guard, will be an X-Factor along with another junior in Eva Poyner. Sadie Raughton, most likely one of if not the best shooters in Northwest Georgia, will come back for her senior campaign. Freshman Kam Sanders, who has already matured within the program, will look to start out her career strong with a loaded upperclassmen bunch.
Basketball in Shannon is special. Whether you are a former 4thgrade teacher crocheting in the bleachers or have nowhere else to be on a Saturday, there’s no doubt the faithful of Shannon will always have something to look forward to.
PEPPERELL Dragons
L-R: #2 JAI DOWDY SR-SF, #0 KENDYL BREWSTER SR-PG, #3 MELO BROWN SR-SF, #3 HANNAH SMITH JR-PG, #2 KAITLYN HOUSE JR-SG, #5 ZOE EDGE SR-GUARD
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\ HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WITH BOTH PEPPERELL TEAMS MISSING THE REGION TOURNAMENT, the Lady Dragon and Dragon programs look to bounce back in 24-25.
Both the boy’s and girl’s teams finished last in the region last season and will look to improve on that finish this season. While both teams were able to remain extremely competitive and beat some of the better teams in the region, they struggled to post wins.
“I think it’s obvious that Pepperell hasn’t had a good track record the past couple of years, but I want to flip that narrative around,” said Head Coach Zach Thompson. “We’ve been having to play catchup since I wasn’t here in the summer. I didn’t get blessed with the team bonding aspect, but we have a group of guys who are putting in the work to build the foundation for this year and years to come.”
As far as personnel, Lindale will have some familiar faces back on the hardwood, specifically, the leadership of 4 seniors. Jai Dowdy, Melo Brown, Kendyl Brewster, and Evan Rhodes all return. Coach Thompson’s expectations for these seniors are to set the foundation for the future while competing hard to improve this season; laying the bricks for future Dragons.
For the “Ladies of the Duck Pond,” may not have exactly had the results that they wanted, but there were still a lot of positives to take away from what they experienced. They were able to remain competitive in numerous region games, with some tough opponents all throughout their schedule.
After losing a big senior class, Coach Emily Claytor will look to her upperclassmen to lay the foundation for the program moving forward. Juniors Kaitlyn House and Hannah Smith will be back, and another junior in Bricedee Stroud should see some valuable time in the frontcourt. Zoe Edge will have high expectations, being one of the seniors on an extremely young Lady Dragons team. While the expectations are high for these players, they’re there for a reason; they’re leaders, and players that Coach Claytor knows she can count on. Her expectations are simple.
“Be here, be hype, be humble,” says Claytor. “Our group of girls are encouraging, and we want to resemble Jesus in every endeavor, whether it be the way we play, act, or practice, and the same thing goes outside of the hardwood. We also want to build our team chemistry off the court, where it can translate to how we play on the court.”
While they haven’t gotten the results they wanted the past few seasons, there’s still a lot to look forward to in Lindale, and both Dragon and Lady Dragon programs are ready to compete.
SCHEDULE
BOYS GIRLS
L-R: #35 TRISTAHJA SLOCUM SR-FORWARD, #2 JJ WINSTON JR-GUARD, #2 JERMIYA WINSTON SR-GUARD, #24 JAMIEL WILLIAMS SR-FORWARD
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WITH ROME’S PROGRAMS MOVING INTO A REGION WITH SOME FAMILIAR FACES, both teams are looking primed for success this upcoming season.
While the girls made it to the Sweet 16 and boasted a 20-win season before falling to Langston Hughes on the road, the boys finished on a sour note, losing to Sequoyah in the region tournament, a loss that would knock them out of contention for the state playoffs.
“The way the season ended was a little bitter; our region was tough top to bottom, and it was not an ideal scenario, but we will build off of it,” said new Head Coach Dawson Wehunt. While a new head coach, he has been an assistant coach for the Wolves for four years.
Wehunt will turn to his upperclassmen experience in order to achieve success, such as juniors JJ Winston and Darnell Collins and senior Jamiel Williams, a three-year starter. “For the past few years, most of our young kids were leaders,” said Wehunt. “Even though they were young, they took it on themselves in order to be heard on and off the court as leaders.” Wehunt will also look to other guys, such as Parko Smith, who guards the other team's best player and once played 32 minutes in a game. Marquez Elston is a returning starter, and Jason Weng, who is “the hardest worker on the team combined,” will see valuable minutes. A transfer in Braxton Anderson was an All-Region player at White County, so Rome has a lot of weapons they can use to their advantage.
His expectations for his guys are simple; don’t get caught up in the “ra-ra” of things, and keep it one game at a time. When it comes February, he expects his best to be at their best, and firing on all cylinders.
On the other side of the program, Head Coach Jared Hughes enters his second season as the leader of the Lady Wolves. His squad is coming off of a Sweet 16 trip, in which they lost to a state championship contender.
“It was my first year in the program. Even though we didn’t get the result we wanted, we felt like it was a good season; our girls fought hard every single game,” said Coach Hughes. Regardless of what other teams are doing, Coach Hughes wants his team to control what they can.
“We want to focus on what we can control, not what the results are. At Rome, we have a standard that our girls will uphold whenever they walk out of the locker room. We want to play hard, whether it be in practice, games, or the classroom. We require you as a player to have extreme attention to detail.”
The Lady Wolves will bring back a lot of experience for this year. Jermiya Winston, who in the words of Coach Hughes is an “all-around and all-world” superstar, will be returning for her senior year. Rome also returns senior Mo Slocum, who was a double-double machine and led the state in charges, averaging two charges a game. Sophomores Grace Hunter and Kensleigh Tribble will look to fill the shoes of Breanna Griffin and Ashanti Bowers, who graduated after last season, overall, the Lady Wolves return a strong core.
Both the Boys and Lady Wolf Programs have a lot to look forward to and have all the pieces they need and have a lot of shared optimism that should set them up for success in 24-25.
L-R: #1
PICK AND ROLL 2024 \\\\\
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
AFTER BOTH UNITY SQUADS BOASTED A STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BERTH, they will once again have their eyes on the prize.
Last season, both Unity teams made runs to the state championship. The girls would fall to an extremely tough Horizon Christian team by seven, while the boys were on the other side of the 8-Ball, dominating Horizon Christian by more than 20 points; the season also marked the program’s first all-time win in the Rome Rotary Christmas Tournament for the boys.
“We talk about the way that our mindset impacts how we play,” says Head Coach Davy Fisher. “We want to play and act as champions. Over time, that will lead to success. Our guys bought in, and really chased the process.”
Coach Fisher will have some players who made waves over the last few years returning in 24-25. Ondreo Sawyer, Sam James, Davis Blankenship, Peter Whitehead, and Elliot Whiteside are looking to carry the load for his squad and were able to receive some really valuable minutes last year. He will rely on their leadership because there are no seniors on this Unity team. Gentry Allen and Bo Madsen are some newcomers who could possibly come in and make an immediate impact. Even though he will have no seniors, Coach Fisher’s squad looks poised and will be in good shape to remain successful.
Coach Fisher wants his team to be on the same page all the time. Coming off of a state championship, you have to work hard, which is exactly what he expects his team to do; let the meticulous things build up to what is to come, and do what you can control.
For the girls, they may have lost the state championship, but either way, you could say it was a successful season. Not many schools get to say they made it to the state championship, let alone the state playoffs.
“The success that we see is a byproduct of how we treat our practices,” says Head Coach Mel Thornbury. “Over the course of last season, we grew in so many ways. Now that it’s over, I’m excited to see how they are going to grow this year.”
With the loss of a big senior class, Thornbury will rely on a group of juniors to take them to where they need to go. Sydney Thompson, Anna Grace Wells, and Cam King will be the leaders of the squad. Aisha Percente, who showed a lot of flashes last year, will return as a sophomore. While not having a single senior, there is still a lot of leadership returning for Unity. Coach Thornbury’s expectations are the same as many coaches; control what you can, and the rest will play itself out. Of course, you want to win a state championship, but it’s the little things that will ultimately lead you to those goals.
Even with a lot of youth on the horizon for both squads, both programs have a lot to offer and are an exceptional reflection of what it’s like to be a community.
Rockin’ Around Rome
