CLEVELAND — After a slow start, the White County boys are starting to get things going.
The Warriors won their second straight game Friday night, an impressive 75-60 win over Cherokee Bluff in a key early Region 7-3A contest at the White County gym.
It was enough for coach Robbie Bailey to believe that a rough week or two is now behind the Warriors (5-5, 3-1 Region 7-3A) who stayed tied with North Hall and East Forsyth for second place behind Gilmer in the region standings.
“We had some adversity the last week or so but I think we’re also getting better,” Bailey said. “We still have a long way to go but I’m pleased with how we’re starting to play.”
White County trailed just once at 6-5 on a Cade Simmons basket for Bluff (3-5, 1-3 Region 7-3A) but the Warriors answered with a 10-0 run, capped by a Kenny Simpson 3-pointer, to take a 15-6 lead and never trailed again. Bluff pulled within 23-16 by the end of the first quarter.
White County opened the second quarter with an 11-6 spurt for a 34-22 lead and eventually took a 36-26 advantage into halftime.
In the third quarter the Bears quickly cut the lead 36-30 in the opening minute. But the Warriors’ Jadon Yeh started and ended a 12-3 run with 3-pointers and Silas Mulligan capped what turned into a 20-6 explosion with a dunk and a 56-36 lead midway through the period.
Bailey said one key was his group crashing the boards more on the offensive end.
“We’re not that tall to begin with and we’re playing a lot of young guys in the post,” Bailey said. “Tonight may be the best job we’ve done all year rebounding the ball.”
In the fourth quarter Cherokee Bluff twice cut the lead to 13 points, once on a Bryce Horton 3-pointer to make it 60-47 and the last time on a Jhace Justice tip-in at 62-49 midway through the period. That was as close as the Bears would get.
A pair of Dawson Oliver baskets pushed the lead back to 17 for White County and the Warriors ran out most of the final minute.
Yeh finished with a game-high 23 points to pace White County. Mulligan had 18, Simpson 10, all in the first half, and Dawson Bailey had 8 points for the Warriors.
Simmons poured in 20 points to lead Bluff. Justice added 12 points, all in the second half, Justyce Sadler had 10, and Boston Kersh 8 for the Bears.
NORTH HALL 81,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 34
The Trojans kept pace with White County to remain in a tie for second place in Region 7-3A.
North Hall (8-2, 3-1 Region 7-3A) jumped on the Indians (3-7, 1-3 Region 7-3A) quickly, running out to a 25-8 lead after the first quarter. They kept the pressure on using a 20-12 second quarter to take a 45-20 lead into halftime.
North Hall used its defense in the second half to put the game away holding Lumpkin to just 14 points.
Edward Doig had a huge game with 23 points to lead North Hall. Robert Terry added 19 points and Matthew Ray 11 for the Trojans.
Lumpkin County was led by Jones Harris with 15 points.
WEST HALL 72,
EAST FORSYTH 56
The Spartans rallied from an early deficit to snap a five-game losing streak and got their first Region 7-3A win of the season at home.
West Hall (4-7, 1-3 Region 7-3A) trailed 20-16 after the first quarter but used a 23-13 second quarter to grab a 39-33 halftime lead. The Spartans pushed their lead to 59-48 heading into the fourth quarter.
Andrew Malin poured in 20 points to lead West Hall. Owen Jenkins added 15 points and Kamari Dowell and Stephen Clark 8 each for the Spartans. Calvin Norman pulled own 11 rebounds for West Hall.
