BUFORD — Buford girls basketball coach Gene Durden will always be able find something to correct following a game.
But his Lady Wolves made that job tough in the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs.
Top-ranked Buford showed it may be hitting top gear at just the right time, as it pounced on visiting Ware County on Wednesday, storming to a 76-41 victory at the Buford City Arena that pushed the Lady Wolves back into the state quarterfinals for an 11th straight season.
Buford (26-2) used a 14-1 first quarter run to stamp its dominance on the contest and forced 20 first half turnovers en route to the rout. Balanced scoring led the offense, as Audrey Weiner paced four players in double digits with 15 points. Tory Ozment added 13, including six in the Lady Wolves' first quarter blitz.
"We were real happy with the way we started fast," Durden said. "That's what we want to do is get out fast in transtition and get the ball moving."
The Lady Wolves left no doubt as to their focus in the opening minutes -- despite an early 3-pointer from Ware County's Lizzie Shubert. It was, in fact, the only field goal the Lady Gators managed for the rest of the quarter, as Buford forced four quick turnovers to answer a 3-2 deficit, sprinting ahead 16-4, thanks in large part to Ozment, who manufactured the Lady Gators takeaways into points. She scored six herself in the run and also set the table for three other field goals. And by the time Weiner sank her first 3-pointer of the contest, with 45 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Buford was already pulling out of sight, 23-7.
The Lady Wolves forced 11 turnovers in the first quarter alone and also out-rebounded the Lady Gators (25-5) 10-4 over the opening eight minutes en route to a 25-7 advantage.
"Tonight our posts did a great job inside, but our wings and guards also did a great job getting in there and getting after loose balls," Durden said. "The last three-four games we've really come out focused, and I think this team is getting better right now."
Buford kept the pedal down in the second quarter, coming up with nine more takeways, while Weiner drained two more 3-pointers to help the Lady Wolves to a 49-17 lead at the half. She put up 10 in the second quarter, while Jessica Nelson added eight of her 12 points just before halftime.
Buford maintained its dominance after the interval, taking a 64-30 lead into the fourth quarter.
Tatum Walters also finished with 10 points for the Lady Wolves, while Marissa Bruce put up nine.
Arviniece McDonald led Ware County with 14 points, while Shondell Vickers added 12.
Buford will take on the winner of the Columbia-Warner Robins contest in next week's quarterfinal round
