TIGER, Ga. — Banks County continued its torrid run, routing rival Rabun County 61-29 on the road Friday night to stay atop the Region 8-A Division 1 standings.
The Lady Leopards (17-5, 9-1 Region 8-A D1) used a stingy defense, holding the Lady Wildcats (11-10, 3-7 Region 8-A D1) to 10 points or less in every quarter.
However, it was back-and-forth battle early as Banks County led just 7-6 after the first quarter. But the Lady Leopards offense got going, running out to a 23-12 halftime lead and then blowing it open with a 20-point third quarter for a 43-22 lead.
Reese Murphy poured in 18 points to lead Banks County. Ryleigh Murphy added 18 points. Amsley Moore had 7 points, all in the second half.
Adelyn Thompson paced Rabun County with 11 points and added 5 rebounds. Madison Houck just missed on a double-double for the Lady Wildcats with 8 points and 10 rebounds.
Banks County leads No. 2-ranked Elbert County (20-2, 9-2 Region 8-A D1) by just one-half game with just two games left. The Lady Leopards will take on Seckinger on Saturday.
They can clinch the title and No. 1 seed with wins over Athens Academy and Providence Christian next week.
BUFORD 69,
DISCOVERY 29
Buford held Discovery to just 6 first half points en route to a lopsided win on Friday in Region 8-6A action at The Buford Arena.
Behind a smothering defense and 11 points from Lydia Ledford and 7 from E’miah Fields, the Lady Wolves (20-2, 10-1 Region 8-6A) rolled out to a 28-3 lead after the first quarter.
The defense continued its pressure in the second quarter, holding the Lady Titans (14-10, 4-7 Region 8-6A) to just 3 points again while building a 44-6 halftime lead. Butford led 55-20 after the third quarter.
Ansley Keuren and Jelyza Lapsley each scored 10 points for Buford. Peyton Denmark had 9 and Jayla Christian 8 for the Lady Wolves.
Buford next will close out its regular season on Tuesday on the road at Dacula.
CHESTATEE 40,
DAWSON COUNTY 31
The Lady War Eagles moved into third place in Region 6-3A with a big road win on Friday.
Chestatee raced out to a 25-14 lead by halftime and increased their advantage to 32-22 heading into the fourth quarter.
The win pushed the Lady War Eagles (16-7, 8-4 Region 6-3A) one game ahead of the Lady Tigers (14-9, 7-5 Region 6-3A) with two games left in the season.
Addison Boyd and Caroline Bull each had 9 points to pace Chestatee. Ali Jae Bull added 8 points and 12 rebounds and Blakely Boyd had 8 points.
Dawson County's Eva Bishop led all scorers with 15 points.
Chestatee next will play host to Lumpkin County on Tuesday.
