GAINESVILLE — In an impressive 3-point display, the North Hall girls outlasted Flowery Branch 61-49 in a non-region showdown at Lynn Cottrell Court on Saturday.
Both teams drained 10 3-pointers for the game. However, it was a big first-quarter run by the Lady Trojans (13-6) that gave them a lead they would not relinquish.
Rylee McCall hit two of her five 3-pointers and Lexi Jarrard and Kristina Peach each hit one trey in the opening frame as North Hall built a 16-6 lead. The Lady Falcons (7-10) managed just three field goals in the first quarter.
North Hall, which hit seven 3-pointers in the first half, extended its lead to 30-17 by halftime as McCall, who finished with 17 points, pumped in three more 3-pointers in the second. Shaina Kriews did all she could do to keep Flowery Branch in it.
Kriews, a senior, hit two treys in the second quarter, the second of which put over the 1,000-point plateau for her career for the Lady Falcons. But the rest of the team managed just 7 points in the first 16 minutes.
North Hall continued to add on in the third pulling away for a 48-31 advantage. Kriews, who eventually finished with 28 points, tried to shoot Branch back into the game with four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. But the Lady Falcons could not get closer than the final score.
Peach ended with 16 points and Rylee Thompson and Amelia Shoemaker each had 8 points for North Hall.
Bella Brick finished with 10 points for Branch.
It was the second straight win for North Hall and its seventh win in its last eight games overall.
Branch had a two-game win streak snapped with the loss.
North Hall next will play host to West Hall on Tuesday in Region 7-3A action.
The Lady Falcons travel to Chestatee on Tuesday in a huge Region 8-4A showdown for both teams.
BUFORD 63,
WINDER-BARROW 36
Ava Grace Watson scored 22 points to lead the fifth-ranked Lady Wolves (13-3, 5-0) into sole possession of first place in Region 8-6A win the win over second-place Winder-Barrow on Saturday.
Jayla Gudz scored 10 points, Betty Nguyen had 9, and Tomori Plantin 8.
