BUFORD, Ga. — Ava Grace Watson poured in a career-high 40 points to lead the Buford girls to a thrilling 85-74 double-overtime win over Mill Creek in the semifinals of the Region 8-5A Tournament at The Buford Arena Monday.
The Buford boys rallied for a 58-54 win over Collins Hill and will take on Mill Creek in Wednesday's finals. Both games will be streamed live on WDUN AM/FM beginning at 6 p.m.
Buford (22-3) moves on to play Central Gwinnett in the finals on Wednesday at The Buford Arena.
The Lady Wolves outscored the Lady Hawks 14-3 in the second overtime as Watson poured in 19 points in the two extra frames. Mill Creek (12-11) had fought back from a 29-24 halftime deficit to get within 45-43 and then caught Buford at 64 at the end of regulation as Isabella Ragone scored 22 of her 37 points in the second half to fuel the comeback.
Neither could grab control in the first overtime as they finished tied at 71. The Buford defense clamped down in the second.
Taylor Romano added 17 points for Buford.
Andreonia Doe had 12 points for the Lady Hawks.
BUFORD BOYS 58,
COLLINS HILL 54
The Wolves rallied from an early first-quarter deficit to beat the Eagles and advance to the Region 8-7A finals on Wednesday.
Buford (19-6) trailed 17-6 after the first quarter as the Eagles’ Javyn Smith poured in 10 of his 17 first-half points in the opening frame to outscore Buford by himself. But the Wolves fought back to within 24-18 by halftime.
Collins Hill pushed the lead back to 40-33 heading into the fourth, but Brennan Wansley led a furious fourth-quarter rally. Wansley scored 8 of his 11 points over the final eight minutes as Buford outscored the Eagles (16-11) 25-14 to pull out the win.
David Burnett and Chase Robinson also were huge in the second half. Burnett scored 10 of his 12 points, and Robinson had 10 of his 11 after the break. London Williams paced the Wolves with 15 points.
Smith finished with 26 points but just 9 in the second half. Amare Banks had 13 points for Collins Hill.
