Friday's Report: Damar Hamlin update; Russell Henley, Mercer, Central Georgians/all-star game; GSU-Boro fans/Montgomery, Tech, Falcons; UGA-TCU, college🏈&🏀 NFL, NBA, NASCAR
Thursday's Central Georgia - and of interest to Central Georgia - news and notes, compiled from staff reports, email reports, the web, and social media.
High School
Basketball
Girls
Bulloch 61, Brentwood 54
Gatewood 75, Thomas Jefferson 24
Boys
Brentwood 83, Bulloch 51
Gatewood 72, Thomas Jefferson 50
Windsor 89, Twiggs 48
College
🏀🏀🏀Basketball🏀🏀🏀
W-Georgia Southern 81, Coastal Carolina 75
M-Georgia Southern 81, Marshall 76
W-Georgia State 66, South Alabama 57, OT
W-Kennesaw State 66, Austin Peay 57
M-Louisiana-Monroe 66, Georgia State 58
W-Louisville 63, Georgia Tech 55
W-Middle Georgia Prep 78, Central Georgia Tech 64
M-North Florida 89, Kennesaw State 86
📰C📰O📰V📰E📰R📰A📰G📰E📰
Damar Hamlin update
‘Substantial improvement’ and ‘a really good turning point’
The hero trainer, and other heroes
Higgins is in ‘a good place right now’
Not business as usual for Hamlin’s peers
Cardiac events frightening and familiar in NHL
Fans grapple with violent side of beloved sport
Column-Unfortunately desensitized
Update: As of 5 a.m. Friday, the toy drive fund had reached $7.9 million
Around/About Central Georgia
Central Georgians in national all-star game
Two Central Georgia standouts will be in uniform on Saturday in the All-American Bowl.
Lamar County’s CJ Allen and Warner Robins’ Vic Burley were among 14 players from Georgia on the East squad. Three players from Georgia are on the West
The game is at 1 p.m. in San Antonio, and will be on NBC and Peacock.
Henley has solid opening round at Sentry
Russell Henley couldn’t make it too long before his first bogey, and lasted one hole before his second one, within the initial four holes of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
But the Maconite regrouped quickly and reeled off six birdies before ending the day with a bogey for a 4-under 69.
Henley, who started the event eighth in the FedEx standings, is tied for 23rd. Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, and J.J. Spaun are tied for first, five shots ahead of Henley.
It’s Henley’s first tournament since mid-October, when he missed the cut in the Cadence Bank Houston Open, sitting out the next three events. The PGA Tour has been off since Dec. 11, the end of the QBE Shootout.
WBKB-Cold second half dooms Mercer at home
Around/About Georgia/Southeast
Georgia Southern fans unload on bad experience in Montgomery
Report: Ex-Tech star Coleman returning to Flats
Key adds HS coaching legend as HS relations director
Oliver has grown and thrived in Pees’ D
That D is headed in the right direction
College Football Championship
Wait, what? No whaaaaat at the CFP stadium?
It’s not the stadium’s or state’s decision
Major adjustments necessary for Georgia fans
How Smart turned Georgia into Alabama
Extra juice for TCU, trying to shed underdog label
Milton returning home to Cali on a roll
Mind-bending memes capture vibe of TCU’s chaotic season
Been-everywhere TCU conference-hops into title game
Georgia wideouts came through with execution
Dykes well aware of Georgia’s versatility on offense
Bennett knows Bulldogs have plenty to work on
College Football/Southeast
Tennessee promotes Halzle to OC
Miami set for $100 million ops center
Column-Zarnett changing Mississippi State would honor Leach
College Football
Expanded CFP means longer seasons for title teams
Harbaugh dismisses NFL rumors, again
But he and Michigan are under NCAA investigation
Heisman winners and big O numbers won’t matter if Riley can’t improve D
College Basketball
M-Texas fires Beard among domestic violence charge
W-Auriemma to miss another game due to illness
M-Late 3 lifts No. 1 Purdue over Ohio State
W-South Carolina blows past Auburn
W-How do the conferences look entering conference play?
M-Auburn’s Pearl saw something in Georgia loss
Football/NFL/USFL
Ehlinger to get start as Indy, Houston vie for draft spot
For Saints, Panthers, results matter
Patriots navigate uncertainty as Bills wait
NBA/WNBA/Basketball
James, Durant lead in All-Star voting
Auto Racing
NASCAR power rankings, what to watch in ‘23
UFC/MMA
TBS sticking with but delaying White’s ‘Power Slap’
Scoreboards
Women’s college basketball scores/games
Men’s college basketball scores/games