Jeff Hart

The more things change the more they stay the same, especially in Area 8-AAA volleyball. Despite new teams after reclassification, Class AAA No. 6 Oconee County rolled to its sixth straight Area 8-AAA volleyball title Saturday, winning three matches without dropping a set at the North Hall gym.

A total of nine points had determined the last three wins between Wofford and Georgia Southern, but 14 Terrier points in the first quarter Saturday forced the Eagles to battle back the rest of the night. In the end, Georgia Southern came within two points of Wofford but the Terriers pulled out the 33-31 win.

Class AA No. 2 Union County demonstrated it will be a serious contender for the state title after a dominating show Saturday at the Region 8-AA girls softball tournament.

John Jaso lined a tiebreaking RBI single in the eighth inning after Carlos Pena had already delivered a rare clutch playoff hit for the Tampa Bay Rays, who avoided elimination in the AL division series with a 6-3 victory Saturday over the Texas Rangers.

Jefferson will be the third seed from Region 8AA/A in the upcoming Class AAA state volleyball tournament after winning two matches Saturday at Athens Academy.

Flowery Branch advanced to the Class AAAA volleyball playoffs for the first time after winning a tough three-set match over Apalachee in the morning session of the Region 8-AAAA Tournament at Cedar Shoals High School on Saturday.

Johnson and West Hall may not sport the shining records of Flowery Branch or Gainesville, but the two south Hall teams always find a way to make the Battle of Oakwood a game to remember. And the 2010 edition may go down as one of the best in the annual dual.

Gainesville scored on five straight first half possessions, sparked by three touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson in a 41-7 win over Oconee County Friday night in a Region 8B-AAA game on the road.

Class AAAA sixth-ranked Flowery Branch scored 28 points unanswered points to end the game in taking a 42-7 Region 8-AAAA win over Habersham Central Friday night on the road.

Dylan Lackey and Jeremy Greenway combined for 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead Banks County to a key 25-11 win over Dawson Friday in Region 8A-AA action.