FLOWERY BRANCH — It was going to happen sooner rather than later for the Cherokee Bluff boys basketball team.
Only in their second season, the Bears advanced to the Class 3A playoffs and won their first-ever playoff game all in less than one week. Most recently, the Bears knocked off favored and No. 2 seed Westminster in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs, writing yet another page in the Bluff history books.
Seniors Bosko Norman and Griffin Neville said the team had a very good scouting report on Westminster.
"We had like a scouting report that was like front and back," Neville said. "It definitely prepared us really well."
Norman also said coach Benjie Wood's pregame speech was inspirational.
"Before the game started Coach Wood just told us, 'do you want this to be your last game or not?'" Norman said. "We were already pumped because this was the first time we had been to state as this school, so we were ready to go and play. I think we came out there and shocked them."
"We've had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of injuries and these kids had to overome a lot," Wood said. "The kids have found a way to show some grit and fight through it. So, they're deserving of some good things coming their way."
The Bears will travel to No. 1-ranked Windsor Forest on Thursday. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
Gaining the Edge is sponsored by Conditioned Air Systems.
