DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Dawson County moved within one game of second place in Region 7-3A with a huge 53-46 win at home over third-ranked Pickens on Friday.
The seventh-ranked Lady Tigers (13-8 6-3 Region 7-3A) opened the game with a 16-10 run and then held off several runs by Pickens (19-2, 6-2 Region 7-3A) the rest of the way.
Eva Bishop had a monster game to lead Dawson County, pouring in 17 points and pulling down 16 rebounds. She is now just 1 rebound shy of the 500 mark for her career.
Kindra Coker and Abby Slaton each added 12 points, and Maddie Siuta had 9 points for the Lady Tigers.
Caroline Mullins and Ellison Steinhauer each had 20 points to lead the Dragonettes.
NORTH FORSYTH 62,
JACKSON COUNTY 35
The Lady Raiders won their 21st straight game to set a program record Friday night on the road.
London Weaver poured in 27 points to lead second-ranked North Forsyth (21-0, 8-0 Region 8-6A). Lindsey Pirkle added 14 points for the Lady Raiders, who can clinch the regular season region title with a win over Shiloh on Saturday.
BUFORD 58,
MILL CREEK 49
Buford moved within one game of clinching the top spot in Region 8-7A and an automatic berth in the state playoffs with a win on Friday at The Buford Arena.
The Lady Wolves (18-2, 7-0 Region 8-7A) held the Lady Hawks (15-4, 5-2 Region 8-7A) to just 17 second-half points and snapped their five-game win streak.
Buford led just 18-16 after a back-and-forth first quarter and took a 40-32 lead into halftime. Mill Creek rallied in the third quarter to pull within 46-44, but the Lady Wolves outscored the Lady Hawks 12-5 in the final period to pull away for the victory.
Ava Grace Watson scored 18 points, 16 in the first half, to pace Buford. E'miah Fields, Betty Nguyen, and Lydia Ledford all had 11 points for the Lady Wolves.
Buford, ranked third in Class 7A, next will play host to Class 3A No. 2 Wesleyan on Saturday.
WHITE COUNTY 75,
WEST HALL 12
The Class 3A sixth-ranked Lady Warriors rolled past the Lady Spartans in Region 7-3A play on the road.
White County (16-5 4-4 Region 7-3A) snapped a two-game region losing streak.
Emma Lightsey paced the Lady Warriors with 15 points. Zoe Burkett added 12 points, and Kylie Watkins 11 for White County.
The Lady Warriors next will play host to Gilmer on Tuesday.
BANKS COUNTY 59,
FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN 19
The fifth-ranked Lady Leopards won their 11th straight game with a lopsided win on the road.
Banks County (18-4 7-0 Region 8-2A) led 31-12 at the half and held Fellowship to just 7 points in the second half.
Ryleigh Murphy led the Lady Leopards with 18 points, and her sister, Reese Murphy, added 17 points. Addison Hoard and Carley Segars each added 8 points for Banks County.
CHESTATEE 57,
MADISON COUNTY 33
On Senior Night, senior Riley Black poured in 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the sixth-ranked Lady War Eagles to a Region 8-4A crossover win.
Senior Sierra Yarbrough also had 6 points and 5 rebounds for Chestatee (18-4, 8-0 Region 8-4A North). Caroline Bull had 12 points, including three 3-pointers, and Addison Boyd had 9 with three treys.
Chestatee next will play host to East Hall on Tuesday.
JEFFERSON 72,
EAST SIDE 62
Five players scored in double figures to lead the Class 5A sixth-ranked Lady Dragons to a Region 8-5A win at The Arena.
Anni Aldridge and Michel Robbins each had 14 points to lead the way. Delaney Dewitt and Karlee Law each had 11 points, and Skyler Brady scored 10 for Jefferson (19-3, 9-0 Region 8-5A ).
FLOWERY BRANCH 54,
WINDER-BARROW 36
The Lady Falcons rallied from a big first-quarter deficit to get a Region 8-5A win at home.
Branch (10-10, 4-5 Region 8-5A) trailed 10-4 but used a 13-6 second-quarter run to take a 17-16 halftime lead. The Lady Falcons blew the game open with a 19-4 third quarter.
Amiya Scott led the Branch with 20 points. Jess Tamplin added 16 points, and Jayla Gudz had 9 for the Lady Falcons.
RABUN COUNTY 81,
COMMERCE 44
Lucy Hood scored 24 points to lead the Lady Wildcats to a Region 8-A Division win on the road. Mili Watts had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, Ellie Southards had 15 points, and Addy Beth Owens had 12 points for Rabun County.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 52,
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN 30
The Lady Lions improved to 18-1 with a big GIAA Region 4A/3A win on Friday.
Taliah Gaither had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds. Taylor Clark added 9 points and 7 assists, and Dynesty Putman added 8 points and 7 rebounds.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 54,
CEDAR SHOALS 32
Kaitlin Cook scored 20 points, and Claire Carlson added 15 to lead the Lady Bears (18-4, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) past Cedar Shoals on Friday.
GIRL SCOREBOARD FOR Friday, Jan. 26
Banks County 59, Fellowship Christian 19*
Buford 58, Mill Creek 49*
Cherokee Bluff 54, Cedar Shoals 32*
Chestatee 57, Madison County 33*
Dawson County 53, Pickens 46*
Flowery Branch 56, Winder-Barrow 36*
Habersham Central 51, Gainesville 45*
Jefferson 72, Eastside 62*
Lakeview Academy 52, Bethlehem Christian 30*
North Forsyth 62, Jackson County 35*
North Hall 66, Seckinger 23*
Rabun County 81, Commerce 44*
Walnut Grove 49, East Forsyth 33*
White County 75, West Hall 12*
(* -- denotes region contest)
