Boyd-Buchanan’s Damaris Macon and Ethan Cochran will be continuing their football careers in college.
A 6-foot-3, 180-pound receiver, Macon will sign next week with NAIA member Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn. Cochran, a 5-9, 160-pound slot receiver, will be going to NCAA Division III Centre College in Danville, Ky.
“Damaris played receiver, free safety and cornerback for us, but he’ll be an outside receiver for them. I think that’s where he’s best suited,” Buccaneers coach Grant Reynolds said. “He’s tall and athletic, so being out there makes a lot of sense. All he needs to do is put on some weight.”
Cochran, a top academic performer, was more of an inside receiver for the Bucs but also played free safety and cornerback.
Cleveland’s Raekwon Bunion is brought down by Boyd Buchanan’s Ethan Cochran at Finley Stadium in this 2013 file photo.
“He’s a very good student but he’s also a very tough kid. He played much of last season injured,” Reynolds said.
Smoltz speaks for Bucs
Former Atlanta Braves pitcher John Smoltz, one of the newly elected members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, will be the keynote speaker at a dinner sponsored by the Boyd-Buchanan Secondary Parent Council on Feb. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at The Chattanoogan.
The council uses funds raised from the event to provide support for teacher appreciation luncheons, character education traits and scholarships. Further information is available at www.bbschool.org.
Vols’ Serrano at Rhea
University of Tennessee baseball coach Dave Serrano will be the guest speaker at the Rhea County baseball banquet on March 9. Tables can be reserved for $150; individual tickets are $20.
The event will include a silent auction with items such as a La-Z-Boy chair, a Lookouts suite with 28 tickets and a digital camera. Former Rhea County and UT quarterback Andy Kelly will serve as master of ceremonies.
Anyone interested can contact Rhea coach Rusty Ray at rayr@rheacounty.org or 423-390-6099.
Dade girls not surprised
There were very few upsets in the No. 1 vs. No. 4 seed pairings in the GHSA girls’ first-round playoffs, but one that might not have been very surprising was the Dade County upset of Region 8-AA champion Rabun County. Lady Wolverines coach Randy Watson said the strength of Region 7 prepared his team for the road test.
“I felt like there were five teams in our region that could have made the Sweet 16,” Watson said. “They played a lot like Gordon Lee in style, but not as well. We had a 13-point lead in the third (quarter), but they came back before we hit a couple of 3-pointers to seal it. Our young kids are really growing up and our older kids are playing well.”
The Lady Wolverines stayed in Atlanta following Thursday’s twice-delayed game and began the long trip to Brooks County for today’s 4 p.m. tipoff. Brooks also pulled off an upset, winning at McIntosh County as a No. 3 seed against a No. 2. Watson believes his team has a decent matchup.
“They are athletic, but from what I’ve seen on film we’ll compete,” he said. “No disrespect to them at all, but I think we’ve seen better teams in our region on a weekly basis.”
Calhoun game changed
The Calhoun girls’ second-round basketball home game against Washington County, originally scheduled for today, has been moved to Monday at 5:30 due to travel concerns for the visitors. The Calhoun boys’ game against Cedar Grove still will take place today at 6.
The Ringgold girls’ game at Decatur will be played today at 4.