Tuesday March 19th, 2024 5:21AM

8-AAAAA Tournament: Lady Falcons capture first-ever region crown; GHS boys fall to Cedar Shoals in title game

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

WINDER — So far, the Flowery Branch girls basketball team is 4-for-4 on the season.

Four tournaments entered, four championships. The latest came Saturday night as the Lady Falcons held off Loganville 57-48 in the Region 8-AAAAA title game to capture their first-ever region title in program history.

“This is an awesome feeling to be able to bring this to the school,” said first-year coach and former Lady Falcons star Courtney Newton. “This gives us all a sense of pride. I just feel great for the girls who have worked hard all year.”

But, while they may take a couple of days to enjoy the histrionics of their accomplishment, Newton said they are already setting their sights on No. 5 when the Class AAAAA state tournament gets under way next week.

“There is a hunger in their eyes,” she said. “It started in the summer and they have bought into what we want them to do and they believe in themselves.”

Flowery Branch (27-1) never trailed and the game was tied just once at 2-2 in the first two minutes of the game. The Lady Falcons used an 8-2 spurt to run out to a 10-2 lead and the Lady Red Devils would not get that close again until late in the fourth quarter.

In between, the Lady Falcons used a 12-0 run to extend their first half lead to 24-7. After taking a 35-18 lead into halftime, Flowery Branch opened the third quarter with a Maddie Hetzel 3-pointer for a 38-18 lead.

But Loganville answered that shot with a 7-0 run to pull within 38-25 midway through the period. It was senior Kierra Knight who would help seal the game with eight points, including a 3-pointer and a three-point play, to push the Lady Falcons lead back to 48-27 late in the third quarter.

“It’s always someone different that steps up on this team. We have so many people that can,” Knight said. “My teammates just set me up. We just try to play as a family.”

Knight and Hetzel, also a senior, each had 16 points to pace the Lady Falcons. Both have been part of past teams that have faltered in the big moments. Knight said this team is different.

“We have more experience this year but we also feel very confident as a group,” she said.

After the big lead, Loganville chipped away in the fourth quarter using a 12-0 run to pull within 54-46 with 1:40 left. The Lady Falcons hit 3-of-6 free throws in the final minute to help seal it.

Newton said they are ready to put some of the past disappointments right where they belong: in the past.

“If we play our game we feel we can play with anyone and make a run,” she said. “We’re excited about the opportunity and hopefully we can make the most of it. I think this is a different team mentally than the last couple of years.”

Both offenses looked shaky early, partly because of the defensive pressure of both teams. The The two teams had combined for nine turnovers, no field goals, and just a pair of free throws each in the first three minutes of the game.

Knight provided the first basket of the game for either squad with 4:30 left in the first quarter and that got the Lady Falcons rolling. Knight’s basket sparked an 8-0 run in just over two minutes for a 10-2 lead. All four baskets, by three different players, were assisted by three different players as Flowery Branch got its running game untracked.

The Lady Falcons led 14-7 after the first quarter and then picked right back up in the second using a 10-0 run to pull away for a 24-7 lead. The Lady Red Devils got as close as 30-16 late in the period on a Daijah Cousins 3-pointer but Knight closed out the first half with a 3-pointer to give Flowery Branch a 35-18 halftime lead.

After the slow start the Flowery Branch offense was running on all cylinders. The Lady Falcons had six assists on 12 field goals as their running game produced 14 points off 11 Loganville turnovers in the first half.

CEDAR SHOALS BOYS 70,
GAINESVILLE 48

Cedar Shoals used a 10-0 run to close out the first half and then opened the third quarter with an 8-2 spurt to break a tie at 18 en route to its second straight region title.

 Quenjarvis Hall fueled what would become a 17-6 explosion in the third quarter with 10 of his 14 points that pushed the Jaguars (26-2) lead to 45-24 late in the period. Gainesville (20-5) never recovered.

The Red Elephants twice got within 15 points in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

Gainesville coach Benjie Wood didn’t mince words about his team’s performance.

“We got our (tails) kicked,” he said. “It was bad right from the get-go.”

Cedar Shoals opened the game with a 9-0 run and never trailed. But, Gainesville clawed its way back to a 13-10 deficit by the end of the first quarter and pulled even at 18 on a D’Marcus Simonds basket with 3:44 left in the half.

It was all Cedar Shoals after that.

The Jaguars pulled away for good getting a pair of 3-pointers from Phlan Fleming to spark a 10-0 run to close out the half for a 28-18 lead. Shooting was a key in this one.

Cedar Shoals hit seven 3-pointers in the pivotal second and third quarters combined while the Red Elephants were just 4-of-23 from 3-point range for the game.

“We’re supposed to be the better shooting team but we couldn’t get anything to fall,” Wood said. “Another key was we just didn’t play as a team like we have been.

“For us to be successful we have to be a team. Talking and whining about things doesn’t help. We’re going to go back and regroup and get ready for the playoffs.”

Mitchell finished with a game-high 21 to lead Cedar Shoals. Fleming added 16 for the Jaguars.

Simonds led Gainesville with 18 points. Bailey Minor had 13 and Tae Turner eight for the Red Elephants.

GAINESVILLE GIRLS 45,
WINDER-BARROW 36

The Lady Red Elephants battled back from a halftime deficit to take the No. 3 seed.

Winder-Barrow led 10-7 after the first quarter and pushed its lead to 15-11 by halftime. Gainesville used a 17-13 third quarter to tie the game at 28 heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter Gainesville took the lead for good in the early going and then sealed at the line in the final minute.

Only four players scored for Gainesville, led by Shikiya Brown with 17 points. Taylor Hawks and Breana Fair each had 10 points and Kayla Kelly added eight for the Lady red Elephants.

Lexi Maddox paced Winder-Barrow with 10 points. Olivia Nelson-Ododa had eight for the Lady Bulldoggs, who will be the fourth seed from 8-AAAAA.

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