DEMOREST, Ga. — Shooters will shoot. And Ryleigh Murphy and the Banks County girls kept shooting in the Region 8-A D1 championship game at Cave Arena at Piedmont University Friday night.
After an ice cold first half and just 21 points, Murphy and the Lady Leopards exploded for an 18-0 run in the third quarter en route to what turned into a 53-37 win over Athens Academy.
It was the third consecutive region title for Banks County (21-5), which also ran its current win streak to 18 straight with the victory.
“Playing in the first half, it made us realize where the gaps were and we were able to get more open,” Murphy said about the second half surge. “Finding those gaps and focusing our shot better instead of rushing it was the key.”
First-year coach Jason Gibson said it was just a matter of being more unselfish.
“For us to be a really good team and to beat really good teams (we) have to be willing passers, and we were in the second half,” Gibson said. “You saw the difference. We had some great looks and knocked them down.”
The Lady Leopards never trailed in the opening quarter but Athens Academy three times matched baskets to tie the game. An Emmie Chitwood gave Banks County a 9-8 lead to end the opening frame.
The Lady Spartans came out firing in the second quarter, with Millie Pugmire draining a corner 3-pointer and Josie Collins converting a fastbreak basket for a quick 13-8 lead in the opening minute.
Banks County was cold from the field most of the first half. The Lady Leopards had just two field goals in the second quarter, including going just 1-for-12 from 3-point range in the first half. And Athens Academy took advantage.
The Lady Spartans used an 11-2 run to open the second quarter and closed out the period with a 5-0 spurt to take a 24-21 lead into the half.
But the two teams reversed roles in the third. Banks County forced seven turnovers, turning those into 6 points as part of an 18-0 explosion for a 39-24 lead. Athens Academy’s only points in the quarter came on three free throws from Pugmire with 3 seconds left in the period.
Athens Academy (19-8) twice cut it to a 12-point game, in the fourth quarter the final time at 44-32 with just over four minutes left. But that’s as close as the Lady Spartans could get.
Banks County was 5-for 11 from 3-point range in the second half.
Banks County held Athens Academy to four second half field goals and just 13 total points in the second half. They came in yielding just 39.1 points/game.
Gibson said any deep playoff run will start with the defense.
“We tell the kids all the time defense is going to win championships. You're going to have nights when you shoot it great, but you're also going to have nights like tonight where it doesn't go in all the time,” he said. “You've got to be able to rely on your defense to pull you through. We played really well defensively in the second half and that was the key for us.”
Ryleigh Murphy finished with 16 points, 12 coming in the second half to lead Banks County. Reese Murphy had 14, 7 in the decisive third quarter. JanaKate Gibson and Chitwood each finished with 7 points for the Lady Leopards.
Pugmire paced Athens Academy with 16 points, but had just the three free throws in the second half. Collins added 12 for the Lady Spartans.
