FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff's defense was the difference in the battle against Region 8-4A North foe East Hall at home on Tuesday.
The Bears full-court pressure was good at the right times to fend off East Hall's runs en route to the 66-52 win and the season sweep of the Vikings. The win leaves Bluff (16-5, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) two games ahead of East Hall (11-10, 6-3 Region 8-4A North) atop the Region 8-4A North subregion standings.
But despite the defensive pressure and turnovers forced by the Bears, East Hall stuck around, thanks to Braydon Langston's 28 points and Jamarcus Harrison's 21.
After trailing by 11 points at halftime, 35-24, Langston said hop on kids for the rally. The freshman scored 14 of the Vikings' first 16 points in the third quarter to rally his team within six points, 46-40.
However, the Bears halted the East Hall rally with seven straight points, coming from Cooper Glover and Boston Kersh. During the two-minute blitz late in the third quarter, Cherokee Bluff was awarded two points off a goal-tend by Langtson, two Kersh free throws, a Glover bucket, and two Glover-made technical foul shots to give the Bears a 53-40 lead with 1 minute to go in the third.
Bluff led 53-42 at the end of the third.
In the fourth, the Bears continued to fend off East Hall shots. The Vikings cut the lead 59-50 with 1:54 to go but missed three straight shots off turnovers down the stretch.
The Bears, however, answered with late foul shots to seal the game.
Kersh led the Bears with 21 points. Glover finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, and Logan Holmes added eight points.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 61,
SHILOH 57
Enzo Combs scored 26 points to lead the Raiders (16-4, 5-2 Region 8-6A) to the upset win over No. 2 Shiloh (16-4, 6-1 Region 8-6A) on the road on Tuesday.
Josiah Mccurry added 11 points in the win.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 71,
RIVERSIDE 10
The Lions (17-4, 4-0 GIAA) held Riverside to just one point in the first half en route to a 51-1 halftime lead and the blowout win on Tuesday.
Justyce Sadler led Lakeview with 15 points, Eli Mayfield had 10, and Tayden Ware and Kyari Burch added eight points each.
NORTH HALL 79,
JOHNSON 42
Matt Ray scored 21 points, and Cole Hulsey had 16 to lead the Trojans (10-11, 6-2 Region 8-4A North) past Johnson on the road Tuesday.
The Trojans were in control at half, leading 53-18.
Jaiden Riley led the Knights with 14 points.
Andrew Bales added 13, and Breckan Kirby chipped in 10 points for the Trojans.
WHITE COUNTY 49,
WESLEYAN 35
The Warriors (5-15, 1-6 Region 7-3A) took the lead in the first quarter and held on to knock off Wesleyan at home on Tuesday.
Dawson Oliver led the Warriors with 15 points, and Braxton Anderson added 12.
The Warriors built a 10-point lead by the end of the third quarter, 41-31, and held Wesleyan to just four points in the final period to secure the win.
BUFORD 66,
MOUNTAIN VIEW 50
Chase James-Robinson scored a game-high 33 points to lead the Wolves (18-3, 6-0 Region 8-7A) past Mountain View on the road Tuesday.
Torre Costin added 16 points in the win.
Jahmel Bruce scored 22 points to lead Mountain View.
NORTH FORSYTH 66,
LANIER 64
Brogen Casey hit the game-winning shot as time expired to lead the Raiders (6-14, 3-4 Region 8-6A) past Lanier (8-12, 3-4 Region 8-6A) at home on Tuesday.
Casey finished the night with a team-high 20 points. Patrick McGarl added 13.
CHESTATEE 66,
EAST FORSYTH 59
Colton Wilbanks and Jordan Harris scored 21 points each to lead the War Eagles (7-14, 3-5 Region 8-4A North) past East Forsyth (5-16, 3-5 Region 8-4A North) on Tuesday.
Josh Bull added 13 in the win.
Hunter Holbrook led the Broncos with 14 points, and Brennan Burns and Louie Koulouvaris had 10 each.
ATHENS CHRISTIAN 62,
COMMERCE 56
Tyler Sorrells scored 16 points, and Maki Mitchell chipped in 14 in the Tigers' loss to No. 9 Athens Christian on Tuesday.
Evan Peters added nine points in the loss for the Tigers (7-13, 2-2 Region 8A Division 1)
RABUN COUNTY 62,
TALLULAH FALLS 54
Huey Blalock scored 22 points to lead the Wildcats past Tallulah Falls on the road Tuesday.
Jack Hood added 13 points, Cooper Welch had 11, and Hayes Free netted 10.
SCOREBOARD FOR Tuesday, Jan. 23
Athens Christian 62, Commerce 56*
Buford 66 Mountain View 50*
Cherokee Bluff 66, East Hall 52*
Chestatee 66, East Forsyth 59*
Gilmer 81, Dawson County 65*
Habersham Central 61, Shiloh 57*
Jackson County 70, Apalachee 59*
Jefferson at Winder-Barrow -- moved to Wednesday, Jan. 24, 7:30 p.m.*
Lakeview Academy 71, Riverside Prep 10*
Lumpkin County 63, West Hall 39*
North Hall 79, Johnson 42*
North Forsyth 66, Lanier 64*
Rabun County 62, Tallulah Falls 54*
Towns County 49, Lake Oconee 34*
Union County 85, Banks County 71*
White County 49, Wesleyan 35*
(* -- denotes region contest)
