GAINESVILLE — A disappointing seventh-place Lanierland Tournament finish for the Chestatee girls turned out to be the necessary catalyst for what coach Sutton Shirley hopes is a better finish to the season.
The Lady War Eagles, behind 26 points and 8 rebounds from sophomore Riley Black, secured the No. 2 seed in the upcoming Region 8-4A tournament with a 46-39 win over Cedar Shoals at Lynn Cottrell Center on Tuesday. It also helped erase an earlier 65-53 loss to Cedar Shoals back on Jan. 14 in Athens.
“We had a rough Lanierland and were very disappointed in how we played and finished,” Shirley said. “But the success we’ve had since then is a testament to the girls and how hard they have worked since then.”
Chestatee never trailed as Black scored the first 9 points of the game before Cedar Shoals got on the board. The Lady Jaguars cut the lead to 11-5 but Caroline Bull capped an 8-0 run for a 19-5 lead late in the first quarter.
The Chestatee defense held Cedar to just one field goal over the first six minutes of the second quarter and led 27-11 after a Black basket and a free throw from Sierra Yarbrough. Cedar closed out the half with a 6-0 run to get within 27-17.
The two teams played to a standstill in the third quarter and Chestatee led 39-29 early in the fourth. The Lady Jaguars (15-8, 7-5 Region 8-4A) chipped away, however, getting to within 41-37 on a Ramyia Adams basket with 1:04 left.
But that’s as close as they would get as the War Eagles hit 4-of-6 free throws down the stretch to hold on.
The win for the Lady War Eagles (18-7, 8-4 Region 8-4A) was their third straight and ninth in the past 11 games. They will have a week off before taking on No. 7 seed Madison County (8-17, 2-10 Region 8-4A) next Tuesday at home in the Region 8-4A tournament.
One win and they’ll be back in the Class 4A state tournament for the first time since 2020. But Shirley says they want more than just to make the tournament.
“We feel like we can play with anybody,” Shirley said. “It’s important with the region we match up with (in the first round) to try and finish in the top two. But I like the way we’re playing right now. Riley has matured so much during the season in all aspects of her game.”
Bowen Corley had 8 points and 8 rebounds for Chestatee.
Ashley Lester led Cedar with 11 points. Chasity Lunceford and Deshauna Foote had 10 points apiece for the Lady Jaguars, who dropped to fourth with the loss.
CEDAR SHOALS BOYS 69,
CHESTATEE 60
The War Eagles suffered another close Region 8-4A loss on Tuesday.
It was Chestatee’s (9-16, 1-11 Region 8-4A) seventh region loss by 9 points or less, with five being by 5 points or less.
The War Eagles hung tough trailing just 13-12 after the first quarter and went to the half tied at 31. Cedar Shoals led 45-42 going into the fourth quarter.
Chestatee fell behind 52-46 before staging a 7-0 run to take a 53-52 lead with 4:48 left. But they were outscored 17-7 the rest of the way.
Colton Wilbanks paced Chestatee with 19 points. Hugh Pruitt had 14 for the War Eagles.
Cedar Shoals (11-13, 6-6 Region 8-4A) was led by Kashik Brown with 21 points. Jerdavian Colbert added 15 points and Jadarian Jackson 13 for the Jaguars
