Thursday April 25th, 2024 1:15AM

Girls basketball playoffs: 5 area teams advance, 5 others see seasons come to an end in 1st round

By AccessWDUN Staff

DALTON — Kaylee Sticker is the new all-time scoring leader at Dawson County. 

The Clemson-commit’s game-high 32 points set a new school record of 1,614 points and led the Lady Tigers past Coahulla Creek 71-60 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night on the road. 

Sticker needed 22 points to break the school record going into tonight’s game. She hit a 3-pointer in the third quarter to break it. 

"I am very proud of and for Kaylee," Dawson coach Steve Sweat said. "She has wanted to break this record the whole time! Now she has it – a great accomplishment. She has definitely put her mark on Lady Tigers basketball."

Sticker’s play was the catalyst in the Lady Tigers’ win over Region 6-3A No. 2 seed Coahulla Creek. Marley Townley was a force on the boards, pulling down 16 rebounds while scoring 14 points. 

The two foes settled into a back-and-forth playoff battle in the first half. Coahulla Creek opened the game on a 5-0 run, but Dawson answered with its own spurt – a 7-0 charge to take the lead, 7-5. 

Trading baskets the rest of the first half, the Lady Tigers took a slim two-point lead, 32-30, to the locker room at the half. 

"We got off to a slow start but picked it up as the game went along," Sweat said. "We would get behind and then make rain to take the lead back. We came out fast in the third quarter to up the lead to 10 at one point. All that matters is that we played good enough to win."

Dawson County began the third quarter on a 6-0 run which propelled the Lady Tigers to a 48-43 lead at the end of 24 minutes. Dawson County outscored Coahulla Creek 23-19 in the fourth to seal the win. 

Maddie Anglin had 11, Sophia D'Oliveira scored 7, Mariah Benson had 4 and Anna Lowe scored 3 points.

Dawson (21-8) will travel to Lovett Wednesday. Game time to be determined.

 

RABUN COUNTY 83,
HEARD COUNTY 43

Brooke Henricks scored 20 points and Laken Stiles had 18 to lead Rabun County (27-1) past Heard Friday night in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs at home. 

Georgia Stockton chipped in 10 points and 6 rebounds in the win.

 

BANKS COUNTY 52,
BREMEN 29

Banks County held Bremen to 8-points or less in three of four quarters in taking a big road win Friday in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Lady Leopards opened with a 19-3 first quarter to grab the lead. Bremen trimmed the lead to 26-13 by halftime but Banks County pushed it back to 40-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

Amber Williams poured in 17 points to lead Banks County. Jaycie Bowen added 16 points and Heather Vaughn 13 for the Lady Leopards.

Banks County will travel to Douglas-Atlanta next week in the second round.

 

TOWNS COUNTY 76
LANIER COUNTY 46

The Lady Indians defense smothered Lanier County to lead them to the second round of the Class A Public playoffs Friday night at home.

Vanessa Floyd scored 23 points and Kennedi Henson had 20 to lead Towns County (14-12). Taylor Cornett scored 15 points, all from 3-point range.

 

HERITAGE-CATOOSA 53,
CHESTATEE 51

The Lady War Eagles came close to knocking off Region 6-4A No. 1 seed Heritage-Catoosa Friday night in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs on the road.

Maggie McNair scored 17 points in the loss. Emma Easterwood had 13 and Christina Garcia chipped in 11. 

 

NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 63,
WHITE COUNTY 54

Despite 30 points from Dasha Cannon and a 27-24 halftime lead, the Lady Warriors could not hold on in taking a tough road loss in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

The Lady Warriors trailed 13-11 after the first quarter but used a 16-11 second quarter to take a 27-24 halftime lead. However, Northwest Whitfield outscored White County 16-10 in the third quarter to take a 40-37 lead.

White County did not go away though. The Lady Warriors climbed to within 53-52 with 3:17 left but could not get closer.

The Lady Bruins were able to hang on hitting 8-of-10 free throw in the fourth quarter and 16-of-22 for the game. White County was just 6-of-14 from the line for the game.

 

SONORAVILLE 63
CHEROKEE BLUFF 40

The Lady Bears (13-16) kept it close for three quarters until Sonoraville outscored them 18-6 in the final quarter to win the game in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs Friday night on the road. 

Chelsea Reece scored 12 points to lead the Lady Bears. Maddie Thomas had 11 and Timber Gaither scored 5.

The Lady Bears trailed at half 28-22 and 45-34 at the end of the third quarter, but couldn’t overcome a six-point fourth.

 

LANGSTON HUGHES 67
GAINESVILLE 43

The Lady Red Elephants (12-15) offensive woes in the first half led to a 24-point loss Friday in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs on the road. 

Trailing 39-14 at the half, Gainesville outpaced Langston-Hughes in the second 29-26.

Tija Blackwell led the Lady Red Elephants with 16 points and Tia Shelton had 14. Lauren Teasley tallied 11 in the loss. 

 

PACE ACADEMY 42,
EAST JACKSON 37

Haven Rollins had 27 points to lead the Lady Eagles but it wasn’t enough as they fell in their first-ever state playoff game.

East Jackson fell behind 12-0 to open the game but battled back to trail just 16-12 by halftime. The Lady Eagles got within four points twice in the second half but could get no closer.

 

LANIER CHRISTIAN BOYS 66,
COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN 61

Lanier Christian Academy jumped out to a big first quarter lead and then held off big fourth rally to advance to the GICAA semifinals.

The Lightning led 20-12 after the first quarter and took a 37-28 lead into halftime. They led 54-40 heading into the fourth quarter before Community Christian used a 21-12 final period to make it closer.

Trevin Last had a big game with a double-double scoring 24 points and pulling down 14 rebounds for Lanier Christian. Tommy Wandrum added 15 points for the Lightning.

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