GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The good news for the North Hall girls is that they remained in at least a tie for first in Region 8-4A North after a tough 42-39 win over Cherokee Bluff Tuesday at Lynn Cottrell Court.
The bad news is the Lady Trojans (17-5, 7-2 Region 8-4A North) found out two months early what life will be like without senior Kristina Peach. The four-year starter left the game with an injury with just seconds left in the first half after she and a Cherokee Bluff player collided. The dynamic guard did not return with what appeared to be a knee injury.
“I’m just sick to my stomach right now,” North Hall girls coach Eric Herrick said afterwards. “You just want to go home at that point. It’s not fun. But the girls came out in the second half and were real emotional and played with a lot of emotion. I was proud of how we hung on there at the end.”
Hanging on was the optimal phrase. It figured to be a defensive game to begin with as both teams came in allowing just 40 points/game on the season. And it was throughout as the two teams combined for 16 turnovers while scoring just 17 total points in the first quarter with North Hall leading 12-5. North Hall took a 21-12 lead into halftime, closing with a 7-0 run despite the injury to Peach.
But using the emotional lift, the Lady Trojans quickly built a 33-15 lead in the third after an 8-0 run, capped by an Amelia Shoemaker 3-pointer. But the Lady Bears were eventually able to take advantage of the huge hole in the North Hall offense, which went cold for more than six minutes.
Cherokee Bluff (13-9, 5-4 Region 8-4A North) closed out the third quarter with a 7-0 run to get to 34-22 and then kept the pressure on using a 12-2 spurt, sparked by 10 points from Emma Reynolds, to open the fourth to pull within 36-34 with just over three minutes left. Genesis Satterfield pushed the Lady Trojans lead to 38-34 but Claire Carlson drained a 3-pointer, her only one of the game, to give Bluff its first lead of the night, 39-38, with 1:12 left.
But that would be the Lady Bears’ only lead of the game.
North Hall got a stick-back basket and later a pair of free throws from Satterfield with 7 seconds left for the cushion. Bluff’s Ella Quirarte missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to try and send it to overtime.
“Bluff was able to speed us up and force some mistakes,” Herrick said. “We didn’t have that player that we can just go to when we need something. That’s what Kristina brings to the team. This will be a learning experience for us from here on out.”
Shoemaker finished with 17 points to lead North Hall. Satterfield added 9, 7 in the second half, and Peach had 8 before leaving the game for the Lady Trojans.
Reynolds paced Bluff with 17 points, 14 in the second half comeback. Mia Williams had 6 and Claire Carlson 5 for the Lady Bears, who were just 5-of-17 from the free throw line for the game.
CHEROKEE BLUFF BOYS 80,
NORTH HALL 74 OT
Freshman Andy Quirarte hit a key floater and a pair of free throws in overtime to help the Bears survive an upset bid by the Trojans.
Quirarte scored 7 of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and Cherokee Bluff coach Josh Travis said he has stepped up of late to give the Bears another option. Senior Carlos Marlowe scored 6 of his 10 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as well.
“We have several guys I’ve been trying to get more minutes and Andy is one of those that have really taken a step forward,” Travis said. “(North Hall) is a tough place to play. This may be the first time I’ve beaten them here.
“Carlos made a couple of huge plays down the stretch and he’s starting to come around more. Proud of our effort.”
It was back-and-forth early as the lead changed hands three times in the first quarter with North Hall (12-11, 4-5 Region 8-4A North) leading 14-12. The Bears used a 24-15 second quarter to grab the lead and looked in control with a 56-47 advantage heading into the fourth.
But the Trojans stormed back behind sophomore Cole Hulsey, who poured in 10 of his career-high 31 in the fourth quarter, including a 6-foot baseline floater at the buzzer to send it to overtime.
JT Chester gave North Hall the lead to open the extra period and Hulsey hit two free throws for a 70-66 lead. But Bluff answered with a 12-2 run, sparked by Quirarte.
The win for the Bears (16-7, 8-1 Region 8-4A North) kept them tied for first with Chestatee, who beat East Hall on Tuesday. The two teams will meet on Friday in Sardis for the outright lead with just three games left.
“This was a huge win for us,” Travis said. “That will be another huge game, probably the biggest of the season so far. We’ll need to play a little better than we did tonight.”
Luke Sanders finished with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, and Chester added 13 for North Hall.
Logan Holmes paced Bluff with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Boston Kersh had 18 points, 4 in overtime, and 7 rebounds for the Bears.
