RABBITTOWN, Ga. — Looking to keep pace with No. 2 Jefferson, Cherokee Bluff wasted little time in establishing that it intended to be a major player in Region 8-3A.
The Class 3A third-ranked Lady Bears used a pair of big first-quarter runs to take control and then rolled to a 62-40 win over East Hall on Thursday at Seth Vining gym.
The win kept Bluff (14-4, 3-0 Region 8-3A) unbeaten and tied with Jefferson, who was taking on Monroe Area.
Bristol Kersh came out firing, scoring Bluff’s first 9 points, and she and Claire Carlson combined for 16 of the Lady Bears’ 21 first-quarter points as they ran out to a 21-11 lead. The sophomore finished with a game-high 28 points.
After East Hall had cut the lead to 12-11 on 3-pointers by Haley Barton and Amari Burce, Bluff closed out the period on a 9-0 run. They extended the lead to 29-17 midway through the second quarter on a 3-pointer by Audrey Graham.
The Lady Vikings would hold Bluff to just one free throw over the final 3 minutes but could only get as close as 30-20 by halftime. Bluff opened the second half on a 5-0 run for a 35-20 advantage, but the Lady Vikings (8-7, 1-2 Region 8-3A) answered with a 9-2 run to get within 37-29.
But Carlson hit back-to-back 3-pointers, and Kersh closed out the third quarter with a basket to push the Lady Bears’ lead back to 45-29.
East Hall got as close as 13 early in the fourth quarter, but Bluff would eventually lead by as many as 23 points (60-37) late.
Carlson finished with 15 points for Cherokee Bluff. Graham had 7 off the bench for the Lady Bears.
East Hall was led by 11 points from Kaylana Curry. Terriah Watkins had 10 points for the Lady Vikings.
JEFFERSON 79,
MONROE AREA 24
The Class 3A No. 2-ranked Lady Dragons stayed unbeaten in Region 8-3A with a dominating win at home on Thursday.
Alayah Johnson poured in 17 points to pace Jefferson (13-3, 3-0 Region 8-3A). Michel Robbins had 14 points, and Skyler Brady had 13 points for the Lady Dragons, who have now won 10 straight games.
The win kept them tied with Cherokee Bluff atop the region standings. The two teams are set to meet on Friday, Jan. 17, in Jefferson in the first of two meetings this season.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/1/1280245/girls-basketball-kersh-carlson-keep-bluff-unbeaten-in-8-3a