COMMERCE — The Commerce girls got their first Georgia High School Association playoff win since 2015 with a thrilling 48-46 win over Taylor County on Tuesday in the first round of the Class A Public playoffs at the Commerce gym.
Bryanna Sanders poured in 19 points, 13 coming in the second half, as the Lady Tigers (17-10) held off a furious fourth-quarter charge from the Lady Vikings.
Commerce opened the game with a 14-6 first quarter and held a double-digit advantage in the second quarter until Taylor battled back to within 23-18 by halftime. The Lady Tigers used a big third-quarter run out to a 36-28 lead and built another double-digit lead early in the fourth quarter.
But Taylor County would not go away getting to within two points several times late in the game but never got the go-ahead basket.
Maggie Mullis and Carson Hobbs both had 8 points for the Lady Tigers.
Taylor County (10-6) was led by Jada Miller's 15 points. Jaliyah Zackery had 11 points for the Lady Vikings.
CLASS 3A
LUMPKIN COUNTY 58,
ROCKMART 49
The Lady Indians used a 17-7 fourth quarter to erase a slim deficit en route to their first playoff win since 1991 in the Class 3A playoffs.
Rockmart was a Class 2A semifinalist in 2020.
Lumpkin County started slow trailing 16-9 after the opening period. The Lady Indians battled back with a 15-9 second-quarter run to get within 25-24 at halftime.
Rockmart held a slim 42-41 lead heading into the fourth quarter but could not slow down Isabel Davenport and Averie Jones.
Davenport had 13 of her 18 points in the second half while Jones poured in 9 of her 14 in the fourth quarter alone to help fuel the comeback.
Mackenzie Caldwell had 13 points and Mary Mullinax 9 for Lumpkin County.
Rockmart was a two-person wrecking crew. Keyarah berry had 24 points and Megan Little 22 points for the Lady Yellow Jackets.
CLASS 6A
BUFORD 81,
ALEXANDER 45
The Lady Wolves came out on fire hitting from 3-point land, hitting 12, en route to a 53-25 halftime lead and the blowout win in the first round of the Class 6A tournament.
Buford (25-0, Region 8-6A No. 1 seed) had 11 players in the scoring column with Ava Grace Watson leading the way with 20 points. Sara Viti added 11, and Tatum Ozment and Ashyia Willis chipped in 10 each.
The Lady Wolves will play Sprayberry on Friday. Game time to be announced.
CLASS 4A
FLOWERY BRANCH 59
McDONOUGH 34
Flowery Branch used a huge second half to rally for a win over McDonough on Tuesday in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
The Lady Falcons (13-14) moves into the second round and will get former Region 7-4A foe Marist on Friday in the second round in Atlanta.
The Falcons continued a trend with the home win as well. The Lady Falcons are 9-0 in home playoff games under coach Courtney Newton-Gonzalez.
Despite the lopsided finish, it was a slow start for the Lady Falcons. They led just 10-8 after the opening frame but fell behind 20-18 at halftime after being held to just eight points in the second quarter.
Flowery Branch found its groove in the second half. The Lady Falcons outscored McDonough 21-9 in the third quarter behind a resurgent Ashlee Locke. They poured it on in the fourth quarter outscoring the Lady War Hawks 20-5 over the final eight minutes.
Locke finished with 22 points to pace Flowery Branch. Bella Brick added 16, Shaina Kriews 13, and Morgan Aguilar had 8 for the Lady Falcons.
JEFFERSON 82,
NORTH CLAYTON 20
Deshona Gaither poured in 23 points to lead the Lady Dragons to a dominating win in the opening round.
Jefferson (22-4) next will play host to Arabia Mountain, who beat Heritage-Catoosa 71-36, in the second round on Friday or Saturday.
Allianne Clark added 13 points, Ellie Kinlaw 11 points, and Livi Blackstock had 10 points for the Lady Dragons.
The Lady Dragons, along with Flowery Branch and Cedar Shoals, were part of a perfect 3-0 night for Region 8-4A on Tuesday.
CLASS 2A
RABUN COUNTY 71,
HARALSON COUNTY 38
The Lady Wildcats avenged a first-round loss last season with a dominating performance on Tuesday in the first round.
Carley Haban had a big game to pace Rabun County (19-6) pouring 18 points to go with 3 steals. Lucy Hood added 15 points and 2 steals and Sophie Woodard had 10 points,5 rebounds, and 4 steals.
Gracie Deetz had 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals and Ellie Southards contributed with 9 points and 7 rebounds for the Lady Wildcats.
Rabun County will play the winner of the Gordon Central-Columbia matchup in the second round.
HEARD COUNTY 49,
BANKS COUNTY 42
The Lady Leopards could not hold onto a second-half lead as they fell on the road in the first round of the Class 2A tournament.
Banks County had battled a series of season-ending injuries to several key players over the last three weeks of the season. However, the return of Jenna Reeves from a broken hand was nearly enough to propel them into the second round.
Reeves finished with 14 points but Heard County rallied in the fourth quarter to get the win.
Kamryn Grier had 16 points to pace Banks County.
CLASS A PRIVATE
MT. PARAN 72,
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 15
The Lady Lions season came to an end against the Region 7-A Private champions on the road.
Mt. Paran jumped out to a 22-7 lead after the first quarter and held Lakeview scoreless over the second and third quarters to pull away for a 55-7 lead.
Lakeview was led by Region 6-A Private first-team selection Joelle Snyder with 7 points and 7 rebounds. Sidney Corbin got finished with 8 points. Emmie Finley pulled down 6 rebounds and Sara Nivens 5 rebounds for the Lady Lions.
