DAHLONEGA - The Lumpkin County Lady Indians were defensive Tuesday night in a 48-33 win over Cherokee Bluff.
The Lady Indians' (8-0, 1-0) focus was stopping the Lady Bears' (4-3, 0-2) dribble penetration, and they did, going on a 14-3 run in the second quarter.
“For the most part we stopped their dribble penetration,” Lumpkin coach David Dowse said. “I thought MacKenzie Pulley did a great job guarding No. 23 (Madi Phillips) tonight.”
The Lady Indians held Phillips to just 9 points in the Region 7-3A opener.
Pulley led the way for the Lady Indians with 16 points, 9 of those from 3-point land.
“We got just about every shot we wanted,” Dowse said. “Now they didn’t all go in, but we got them.”
Clara White stepped up and nailed a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to extend the run, pushing it up to a 16-point lead. Phillips snapped Cherokee Bluff’s scoring drought with a bucket the next trip down the floor, but the Lady Indians had too much firepower.
The Lady Bears decided to shift into a man-to-man full-court defense hoping to stalemate Lumpkin's offense. It didn’t go well for the Bears.
White and Isabel Davenport went on a 3-point shooting spree, hitting three in a row, one by White, and two by Davenport, to go up 22 points.
“They came out to see if they could play us, full-court man,” Dowse said. “That wouldn’t going to happen.”
The Lady Indians pushed the lead up to 25 points by the end of the third period, 47-22.
“We’ve got five that can shoot it,” Dowse said. “I’m waiting for the day when they all start clicking, then we’re in business.”
The Lady Indians hit 9 3-pointers.
Davenport chipped in 13 points, 9 of them from behind the arc. Ashlynn Wistoski scored 9 points. White hit for 8 and MaKenzie Caldwell had 2.
The Lady Indians will travel to East Hall Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m. Cherokee Bluff is at Cumberland Christian. Tip is at 7 p.m.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 63
LUMPKIN COUNTY 42
Cherokee Bluff’s defensive intensity was too much for Lumpkin County Tuesday night and scored Bear's coach Benjie Wood his 400th-career win.
The flying high, jumping full-court pressure eventually got to the Indians in the first half, going down 34-19 at halftime.
Griffin Neville only scored 7 points in the first half but exploded for 21 in the second half to lead the Bears with 28 points. Neville dropped 6 3-pointers in the bucket
Matt Seabolt led the Indians with 16 points.
Neville’s hot hand in the third quarter pushed the Bears lead up 22 points, 49-27. Neville had 15 of the Bears 17 points in the quarter.
The Indians (2-6, 0-1) will travel to East Hall Friday night. Game time is 7 p.m. Cherokee Bluff (3-3, 1-1) is at Cumberland Christian. Tip is at 7 p.m.
