GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff ended Chestatee’s unbeaten streak in Region 8-4A with a tough 46-43 win at home on Friday.
The game was tight throughout as the two teams finished in an 11-11 tie to end the first quarter. Bluff (20-4, 9-1 Region 8-4A North) took a slim 24-23 lead into the break and a 36-34 lead into the fourth quarter.
The key for the Lady Bears was holding down Chestatee’s dynamic scorer, Riley Black, to just 16 points. Meanwhile, eight different players scored for Bluff.
Kaitlin Cook and Halle Wilson both scored 10 points to lead Bluff. Bristol Kersh had 7 points and Carson DeMars, Brooklyn Phillips, and Claire Carlson each had 5 points for the Lady Bears.
Caroline Bull poured in 17 points to pace Chestatee (19-5, 9-1 Region 8-4A North) as just three players scored more than two points for the Lady War Eagles.
Despite the loss, Chestatee had already clinched the No. 1 seed from the subregion based on its better crossover record against the South subregion.
DAWSON COUNTY 47,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 42
The Lady Tigers won their fifth straight game with a huge come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter.
Dawson County (15-8, 7-3 Region 7-3A) trailed 14-3 early as the Lady Indians (9-15, 4-7 Region 7-3A) jumped out to the quick start.
But the Lady Tigers began to chip away and eventually took their first lead at 39-37 on a 3-pointer by Kindra Coker.
Despite hitting just 2-of-15 free throws for the game, Dawson County was able to hold on down the stretch.
Abby Slaton led Dawson County with 12 points. Kindra Coker added 11 points, and Morgan Chester 8 points for the Lady Tigers.
Averie Jones led the Lady Indians with 21 points, 15 coming in the first half.
JEFFERSON 67,
HERITAGE-CONYERS 47
Michel Robbins scored 18 points, and Skyler Brady had 17 points to lead the Lady Dragons to a Region 8-5A win on the road.
It was the seventh straight win for Jefferson (21-3 11-0 Region 8-5A), who will take the No. 1 seed into the upcoming region tournament.
ATHENS CHRISTIAN 69,
RABUN COUNTY 63
The Lady Eagles clinched the top seed from Region 8-A Division 1 with a road win in Tiger on Friday.
Athens Christian (18-3, 6-0 Region 8-A D1) led most of the way. The Lady Eagles led 19-16 at the end of the first quarter and extended it to 31-24 by halftime.
A 23-point third quarter blew the game open as Athens Christian ran out to a 51-39 lead heading into the fourth. Rabun County (17-6, 4-2 Region 8-A D1) could not get closer than the final score.
Sophomore Marlene Mblima had a huge game for the Lady Eagles with 19 points and 17 rebounds. Josi Vaughn also scored 19 points for Athens Christian.
Lucy Hood paced Rabun County with 29 points, 21 in the fourth quarter, to go with 8 assists. Mili Watts added 15 points, and Jacie McCall added 10 points for the Lady Wildcats.
PICKENS 78,
WHITE COUNTY 54
The Dragonettes opened the game with a 23-9 first quarter en route to a Region 7-3A win in Cleveland.
White County trimmed the lead to under 10 in the third quarter, but Pickens (21-2, 8-2 Region 7-3A) outscored White County 29-18 in the fourth quarter to put the game out of reach.
The loss dropped the Lady Warriors (17-6, 5-5 Region 7-3A) 1 1/2 games behind third-place Dawson County in the standings.
LANIER 37,
GAINESVILLE 35
The Lady Longhorns got a 3-pointer at the buzzer from Damilare Falade to pull out a nail-biting win over the Lady Red Elephants in Region 8-6A on Friday in Sugar Hill.
It was a defensive battle the entire way. Lanier (13-10, 8-2 Region 8-6A) led just 6-5 after the first quarter and 17-12 at halftime.
Gainesville (5-16, 3-7 Region 8-6A) held the Lady Longhorns to just 6 points in the third quarter while closing to 23-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
Asja Howell had 12 points to lead Lanier.
Drea Maddox scored a game-high 15 points to lead Gainesville.
LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 49,
WEST HALL 26
The Lady Lightning completed their regular season with a big win over the Lady Spartans.
LCA (17-8, 6-0 GAPPS) was led by Adelyn Gough with 11 points. Emma Flowers and Jia Thapar each had 10 points apiece.
N'diah Veal led West Hall (1-19) with 8 points.
BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD FOR Friday, Feb. 2
Athen Christian 69, Rabun County 63*
Banks County 69, Athens Academy 34
Buford 62, Collins Hill 48*
Cherokee Bluff 46, Chestatee 43*
Dawson County 47, Lumpkin County 42*
East Hall 56, Johnson 22*
Jefferson 67, Heritage-Conyers 47*
Lanier 37, Gainesville 35*
Lanier Christian 49, West Hall 26
North Forsyth 69, Habersham Central 30*
North Hall 65, East Forsyth 59*
Pickens 78, White County 54*
Union County 79, East Jackson 26*
(* -- denotes region contest)
