GAINESVILLE — White County swept a pair of big Region 7-4A contests over Chestatee Friday night at the Chestatee gym.
The Lady Warriors used a big opening quarter to take the lead en route to a 53-39 win in the girls game while the White County boys held on for a nail-biting 51-49 victory in the nightcap as the War Eagles missed a game-tying shot at the buzzer.
In the girls game, White County (12-9, 6-4 Region 7-4A) jumped out to a fast 17-5 lead and led 19-9 at the end of the first quarter. Chestatee (12-12, 6-5) was able to cut the White County lead to single digits twice in the second quarter but the Lady Warriors were able to withstand the run and take a 30-19 lead into the break.
The Lady War Eagles came out of the locker room scoring the first five points of the third, trimming the White County lead to six. But the Lady Warriors responded with a 16-3 run to blow the game open.
“We were a little sluggish after halftime,” White County coach Jarvis Davenport said. “I told them we need to settle in and do the things were supposed to be doing. When that ball goes in the hole, it covers up a lot of sins. We kind of got going, and as a coach, you like to see that.”
In a game that did not lack physicality, White County was able to use its size advantage. Maddie Futch dominated in the paint for the Lady Warriors leading all scorers with 22, including a perfect 10-for-10 from the free throw line.
Emma Easterwood led Chestatee with 10 points.
With the loss, Chestatee will be the fourth seed in the upcoming Region 7-4A tournament. The Lady War Eagles will play again on Tuesday against Blessed Trinity in their regular season finale.
White County earned the third seed with the win and will play host to Denmark on Tuesday, before wrapping up their regular season next Friday against Flowery Branch.
In the boys game, the Warriors (7-16, 2-8) used a 16-7 third quarter to break a 28-28 tie at halftime. But Chestatee (13-10, 4-7) rallied back in the fourth quarter.
The War Eagles, trailing 51-49 with just 7.1 seconds left, had a chance to win it or send it to overtime but Jonah Bull’s potential game-tying floater as time expired did not fall.
Cooper Turner got things going early for the Warriors, scoring 10 of his 15 points in the first half. Austin Harris added 14, including two huge back-to-back buckets in the third. White County was able to close the third on a 10-2 run for a 44-35 lead heading into the final period.
Chestatee got back in the game late with a 6-1 spurt to close out the game but could not complete the comeback. White County had chances to ice it but missed the front end of three one-and-ones attempts in the fourth quarter.
Cameron Gwynn paced Chestatee with 20 points but only managed three after halftime.
Friday
May 23rd, 2025
3:20AM
