The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association's all-state teams for softball were released this week, and northwest Georgia programs were well represented.
Receiving the highest individual honors were Calhoun's Lyndi Rae Davis as the Class AAAAA player of the year and pitchers of the year Rachel Gibson of Heritage (Class AAAA) and Emma Minghini of Gordon Lee (Class A public).
The area's trio of state championship teams combined for 14 first-team selections. In addition to Gibson, Heritage is represented by Bailey Christol, Carmen Gayler, Riley KoKinda and Madeline Stone on the first team. Class AAA champion Ringgold has sisters Amber and Jade Gainer, Caroline Hemphill, Riley Nayadley and Baileigh Pitts. In addition to Minghini, Gordon Lee has Jordan Dyer, Emma Langston and Addison Sturdivant.
Also earning first-team honors were Dade County's Michaela Massey and Ali Thompson in AA and Trion's Jenna Mosley in A public. Local second-team selections were Calhoun's Paris Kirby, Heritage's Zoe Wright, Ringgold's Autumn Green and Zoey DeFoor - joined in AAA by Coahulla Creek's Sophia Voyles and Sonoraville's Taylor Long - Dade County's Kristen Fowler - joined in AA by Chattooga's Clara Wyatt - and Gordon Lee's Allie Farrow and Ashlyn Schmidt.
VOLLEYBALL
Sonoraville setter/outside hitter Raleigh Hooper has signed with Chattanooga State. Hooper led the Phoenix to the GHSA Class AAA semifinals and a 40-14 record this past season, when she finished third in the state with 127 aces and also recorded 531 assists, 178 kills, 145 digs and 16 blocks.
BASKETBALL
LaFayette boys 69, Murray County 43: The Ramblers improved to 3-0 by winning Thursday's battle of GHSA Class AAA top 10-ranked teams as Aidan Hadaway scored a game-high 22 points. DeCameron Porter added 15 points, and Junior Barber had eight of his 14 in the third period, when LaFayette outscored Murray 26-8. Brannon Nuckolls led the Indians with 14.
LaFayette boys 75, Rockmart 57: Barber scored 23 points, Hadaway 19, Zach Barrett 12 and Porter 11 in Wednesday's win.
Sonoraville boys 50, Coahulla Creek 48 (OT): Ian King had 17 points and Murray Somers 13, including four in overtime, as the Phoenix won the GHSA Region 6-AAA game Wednesday. Will Locke paced Coahulla Creek with a game-high 21.
Sale Creek girls 63, Berean Academy 26: Sale Creek led by 19 at halftime before Malayna Osborne stretched the lead with a trio of 3-pointers in the Lady Panthers' 21-point third quarter. Sale Creek was led in scoring Thursday by Keilyn Morgan (16 points), who also had five assists. Berean Academy's Gabby Adams scored 18.
SWIMMING
After opening the season last month with a win over Atlanta's Westminster, a reigning GHSA state champion, GPS improved to 2-0 with Thursday's 142-33 victory against Dalton.
GPS won 11 of 12 events and had three swimmers win four times: Scout Chapin (200-yard medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 400 free relay, 50 free), Brighton Smith (200 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay) and Ellie Taliaferro (200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 free relay, 100 backstroke).
Alana Ratchford was part of the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free relay victories, and Julia Striker helped the Bruisers win the 400 free relay and won the 100 free. Catherine Lynch (100 breaststroke), Emma Richey (200 free) and Kendall Rizzer (1-meter diving) also won for GPS.
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon and Lindsey Young. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.