JOSEPH BATROUS SCORED HIS 1000th POINT LAST WEEK The Briarwood senior excels in many sports for the Bucs. Joseph Batrous, a senior at Briarwood Academy, scored his 1000th career point in basketball action last week as he led the Briarwood Runnin' Bucs to an important GISA Region 1AA win over Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville.

Batrous scored 30 points in the comeback win, which pitted him against former Buc teammate and Washington resident, Jeff Hansford, now of Watkinsville.

Batrous, who needed 25 points to reach the 1000-point mark, hit 10 of 11 free throws in the effort, which according to Coach Christian Tiller, "helped keep us in the game." Batrous has hit 20 of 21 free throws in the Bucs' last three games.

Down 34-39 at the half, the Bucs came out in the third quarter to outscore Westminster 17-11 and go up by one 51-50 at the end of the third. The Bucs continued to up their lead in the fourth, outscoring Westminster 20-14 for the 71-64 win.

Batrous is known as a triplethreat. "He can shoot, dribble, and pass," Coach Tiller said. "He's very coachable. He's a great leader, and he listens well. He knows when he has to score and when to get his teammates involved."

Batrous, an all-around athlete, was a GISA AA All-State player and was named The Augusta Chronicle All-Area Independent School Player of the Year in basketball last year. He was named to the GISA 1AA All-Region team in both football and baseball during both his junior and senior years. Last spring in baseball, he received GISA AA All-State honors and was named the Diamond Bucs' Most Valuable Player. He has received numerous other honors and awards in basketball, baseball, football, and track.

Batrous is not only an outstanding athlete but also an outstanding student. He is a member of Briarwood's National Honor Society and served as a junior usher for the graduating class of 2006. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Thomson. Batrous is the son of Joe and Vicki Batrous of Thomson and the grandson of Vernon and Jackie Adams of Washington.