GAINESVILLE — Tija Blackwell hit the game-winning shot as time expired, leading the Gainesville girls to a 61-60 win over White County Monday in a tournament at North Hall.
Blackwell scored 14 of her 23 points in the fourth quarter, including two 3-pointers. Tia Shelton hit for 17 points in the win for the Lady Elephants.
Bentley Cronic led the Lady Warriors with 13 points.
Gainesville outpaced White County 36-29 in the first half, but a slow third quarter allowed the Lady Warriors to sneak back in the game, 45-42. The fight continued in the final period as White clung to the lead with seconds to go, but Blackwell’s buzzer-beater sealed the victory.
Sadie Roach scored 11 points. Lauren Teasley had 7 points and Jada Rucker netted 4 for Gainesville.
Gainesville will travel to White County Tuesday to play North Hall. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. White County will take on Winder-Barrow at 6 p.m.
BUFORD 70
VALDOSTA 46
The Lady Wolves outscored Valdosta 39-23 in the second half en route to the win Monday afternoon in a tournament at Dacula.
Tate Walters hit a game-high 29 points to lead the Lady Wolves.
Buford only led 14-13 after the first frame in a back-and-forth battle. In the second, both teams traded baskets early, but Buford would take an eight-point advantage to the locker room.
In the second half, led by Walters and Sara Viti, who finished the game with 10, the Lady Wolves stifling defense and precision shooting secured the win.
Asia Willis and Blair Willis chipped in 7 points. Taylor Ozment had 6. Katelyn Klein netted 5. Ebony Grant scored 4, and Gabee Bage added 1 for Buford.
The Lady Wolves will play the winner of Grayson vs. Johnson-Savannah Tuesday. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
NORTH HALL 69
WINDER-BARROW 62
The Lady Trojans opened their season Monday night with a big win over the Lady Bulldoggs at the North Hall gym in a two-day tournament hosted by both North Hall and White County.
Ansleigh Ferguson had a monster game with 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead North Hall. Macy Gillespie added 10 points and 5 assists for the Lady Trojans
North Hall (1-0) will play rival Gainesville on Tuesday at 1 p.m. at White County High School.
WEST HALL 57
MILTON 52
LUMPKIN COUNTY 66
EAST JACKSON 41
Jewelee Love paced East Jackson with 15 points. Abbie Howington added 13 points for the Lady Eagles.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 67
DENMARK 35
ARCHER 53
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 50
The Lady Lions' Eliza Snyder poured in 24 points to go with 6 steals, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds in a tough loss to the Class 7A Lady Tigers in the North Forsyth Thanksgiving Tournament.
Joelle Snyder added 11 points, Maddie Towles had 5 points and 5 assists, and Sadie Thrailkil chipped in 3 points and 7 rebounds for Lakeview.
Lakeview Academy will finish out the tournament on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
DAWSON COUNTY 63
CHESTATEE 46
A 20-6 run in the third quarter sealed the come-from-behind win for the Dawson County Lady Tigers 63-46 over Chestatee Monday night at the Ford Phillips Center in Dawsonville.
It took the Lady Tigers (2-0) 16 minutes to get warmed up Monday night against Chestatee.
Chestatee outplayed Dawson County in the second quarter, outscoring them 18-9 and taking a 34-25 lead to the locker room.
“After some halftime adjustments and conversation, we turned up the defensive pressure in the second half,” Dawson County coach Steve Sweat said.” We were able to put more points on the board and build a lead.
Marlie Townley poured in 17 points to lead the Lady Tigers past the War Eagles.
Chestatee’s Maggie McNair led the Lady War Eagles with 20 points. Emma Easterwood had 10 points.
Dawson County’s defense held Chestatee to 15 points, less than half of the War Eagles first-half output.
Kaylee Sticker, Sophia D’Oliveira, and Maddie Anglin chipped in 10 points each. Anna Lowe hit for 8 points. Bella Henson and Rachel Swafford had 3 points each. Shyla Sheffield added 2 points.
The Lady Tigers play South Forsyth tomorrow in the championship game of the Tiger Tip-off Classic in Dawsonville. Game time set for 6 p.m.
