FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The East Forsyth girls held off a furious Cherokee Bluff charge en route to a 60-53 win on the road Friday night.
The Lady Bears (10-7, 3-3 Region 7-4A) trailed 50-36 at the end of the third quarter and mounted a comeback behind Claire Carlson and Emma Reynolds in the final period.
The two Bluff guards combined for 13 of the Lady Bears' 17 points in the quarter, but it wasn't enough to get past the Lady Broncos, who hit five free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
Ella Holbrook netted five four shots in the fourth quarter and finished with 17 points to lead East Forsyth, while Carlson scored 15 points to lead Cherokee Bluff.
EaFo (9-9, 4-2 Region 7-4A) built its cushion in the first half, getting solid production out of Hailey Hiddema and Holbrook. They combined for 18 of the Lady Broncos' 33 first-half points.
But the Lady Bears kept it close after going down 23-16 in the first period. They held EaFo to just 10 second-quarter points while scoring nine to close the gap by halftime, 33-25.
It was the third quarter that got away from Cherokee Bluff. A 9-point third frame from Adeline Rosebush helped the Lady Broncos push the lead to 14 points.
Rosebush led EaFo with a game-high 19 points. Hiddema added 12 points, and Heard finished with 8.
Reynolds finished with 13 points for the Lady Bears, and Mia Williams 10.
LAKEVIEW 68,
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN 31
Dynesty Putman scored 19 points, pulled 7 rebounds and swiped 4 steals to lead the Lady Lions past Bethlehem Christian on the road Friday.
The Lady Lions had the game well in control by halftime, leading 42-9.
Taliah Gaither added 16 points and 11 boards, Kivana Bogne had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals, and Sidney Corbin chipped in 6 points and 6 rebounds.
Lakeview led at the half 42-9
Lakeview (8-10, 1-0) takes on George Walton Tuesday evening at home.
FLOWERY BRANCH 56,
HERITAGE-CONYERS 54
The Lady Falcons (11-7, 4-2 Region 8-5A) found themselves down 10 points, 28-18, at halftime and 39-30 at the end of three quarters but found a way to rally in the final period to get the Region 8-5A victory.
Bella Brick's 29 points were the difference maker in the come-from-behind win.
Amyia Scott added 16 points in the win. The win moves the Lady Falcons into a tie for second in the region standings.
CHESTATEE 64,
JOHNSON 14
The Lady War Eagles sprinted to a 34-2 halftime lead en route to the blowout win over Johnson at home Friday.
Riley Black led Chestatee with 15 points, while Sierra Yarbrough had 10. Seniors Brenna Williams added 8 points, and Cheyenne Ewing scored 7.
Chestatee (14-4, 6-0 Region 8-4A) will play North Oconee at home on Tuesday.
NORTH FORSYTH 76,
GAINESVILLE 59
Kamryn Gardner had herself a night. The senior guard scored a game-high and career-high 24 points, including 15 from behind the 3-point line, to lead the Lady Raiders past Gainesville (13-1, 2-1 Region 8-6A) at Raider Arena on Friday.
Gardner scored 16 of her 24 points in the second half and sparked the Lady Raiders (11-5, 4-0 Region 8-6A) to the double-digit win.
Gainesville, however, kept it close until Gardner and London Weaver went on a shooting spree, combining for 13 points in the third and a 54-42 advantage.
Weaver finished with 20 points, and Lindsey Pirkle had 11.
Keidra Young led Big Red with 20 points, while Julia Payne, who hit three treys, added 14, Keke Jones netted 12, and Caloni Young finished with 11.
BUFORD 80,
CENTRAL GWINNETT 49
Central Gwinnett rallied from 16 points down in the first quarter to cut the lead to 39-34 by the half. Then Buford (15-0, 3-0) woke up.
The Lady Wolves outscored Central Gwinnett 41-15 in the second half, behind Ava Grace Watson's 18 second-half points to get the win.
Watson finished with a game-high 29 points. Taylor Romano turned in 20 points, and Lydia Ledford had 13.
Romano scored 18 of her 20 points behind the 3-point line. Buford nailed 14 treys.
FIDELES CHRISTIAN 30,
LANIER CHRISTIAN 25
Ellie Roberts scored 12 points, and Adelyn Gough had 10 in the loss at home to Fideles Christian on Friday.
LCA (9-8, 2-2) travels to Westminster Christian Academy on Saturday. Game time is 5 p.m.
