COAL MOUNTAIN, Ga. — The North Forsyth girls are one step closer to returning to the Class 6A State Finals after beating Carrollton 50-43 in the quarterfinals at Raiders Arena on Tuesday night.
The Lady Raiders (30-0) play Newton in the state semifinals at 5 p.m. Saturday at Georgia State University. Newton beat Buford, 54-45, on the road Tuesday.
The Lady Raiders lost to Marist in the Class 6A state championship game in 2024 and this will be their fourth trip to the state semifinals since 2018.
“To go back-to-back like that, I’ll be honest with you, there has been a lot of pressure,” North Forsyth coach Brad Kudlas. “We talked about getting back to the Final 4 the day after (last season ended). This is a new team and a lot of things can happen.
"The senior group has been huge. They willed it into (the younger players).”
London Weaver scored 20 points to lead the Lady Raiders.
“She stepped up big,” Kudlas said. “That’s one of the best defensive teams we’ve played in a long time. They get after you. They make you work for every foot you get on the court.”
North Forsyth countered the Lady Trojans’ defense with all seven Lady Raiders who played contributing points in key stretches.
Gabbie Gliatta scored eight points, and Sophia Sparks and Ana Anzola scored six points each. Emma Rose and Gliatta handled Carrollton’s pressure defense.
The Lady Raiders used a quick start in the second half to take the lead for good. Leading 21-19, North Forsyth outscored Carrollton 12-3 in the first four minutes of the third quarter.
North Forsyth stretched its lead to 38-24 entering the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer from Weaver and a basket from Kendall Arnett. Gliatta’s basket and free throw pushed the lead to 17 points before the Lady Trojans (22-8) made the final closer with late baskets.
“In the first half, we did not look like ourselves,” Kudlas said. “We were off-kilter. We played a bad first half but were still up two. I told them lets go take care of business here and they stepped up. I told the coaches I’d like a 20-point quarter but I’ll take 17-15 anytime.”
The Lady Raiders never let Carrollton make a big run. They made key baskets to stop any Carrollton push.
“In every game I watched of theirs, they would have a moment where they’d have that 10-0 run,” Kudlas said. “Every time they had a little momentum, we’d come down and make a stop or get a big rebound."
