GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Cherokee Bluff girls have been looking for that signature win for their entire existence. They may have finally gotten it Friday night in the Lanierland Tournament.
The Lady Bears knocked off defending Lanierland and GIAA Class 3A state champion Lakeview Academy 46-43 in the semifinals, outscoring the Lady Lions 8-2 over the final three minutes. But it wasn’t secure until a potential game-tying 3-pointer by Taliah Gaither, who had 17 points in the second half, bounced off the rim at the buzzer.
That came after Lakeview Academy had missed three shots in a wild 15-second flurry to try and retake the lead.
“Wow, 30 seconds is a long time in basketball, but I saw (our girls) stay disciplined and stay the course. We finished it,” Cherokee Bluff coach Kassie Scott said. “We haven't even had time to really soak it in yet.”
They will play for their first-ever Lanierland title against Chestatee on Saturday (6 p.m.) at Gainesville. Chestatee routed East Hall 52-33 in the other semifinal.
Scott also didn’t miss a chance to mention they did it when no one gave them a chance.
“We were the underdogs coming in from the start. Everyone picked Lakeview over us, so we took that, and we ran with it,” she said.
Using that chip on their shoulder, the Lady Bears (9-3) stormed out to a 7-0 lead in just over a minute behind 6 points from Bristol Kersh. They led 11-2 after a pair of free throws from Claire Carlson as a tenacious Bluff defense forced 8 Lakeview turnovers and blocked five shots in the early going.
But the Lady Lions (7-3) went to their tall lineup with Gaither and Jadeah Marshall and turned things around. That pair combined for 10 points as they went on a 12-4 run to cut the lead to 17-14 early in the second quarter.
Both defenses then pressed and changed on nearly every possession to stymie both offenses. Only 12 total points were scored in the second period, with Cherokee Bluff taking a 23-18 lead into the half.
But foul trouble was an issue for Lakeview, playing without their star Dynesty Putman, as Emyrie Combs had three fouls and Gaither 2 before the break.
However, that did not slow down the Lady Lions, who opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run for a 27-25 lead, powered by 6 points from Gaither, who finished with 23 points.
But Carlson answered with a banked-in 3-pointer as she was falling down, and Kersh followed with a steal and layup to reclaim the lead at 30-27. Bluff took a 34-29 lead into the fourth quarter.
But once again, Lakeview responded. Gaither poured in 7 more points, including a pair of free throws with 2:48 left for a 41-38 lead, the Lady Lions’ biggest of the game.
But the Bluff defense held Lakeview to just one Gaither basket the rest of the way as an Audrey Graham basket gave them a 42-41 lead they would never relinquish.
“We still have two months of basketball left, but (this win) puts us at a level that we've been working for,” Scott said. This was a goal of ours, to get to the Lanierland finals. We reached it, but we're not satisfied yet.”
Kersh had a monster game with 28 points and 5 steals to pace Cherokee Bluff. Carlson had 8 points and 6 blocks for the Lady Bears.
Marshall finished with 11 points for Lakeview.
The Lady Lions will take on East Hall in the consolation bracket on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Gainesville.
CHESTATEE 52,
EAST HALL 33
The Lady War Eagles will be playing for their first Lanierland Tournament championship since 2012 after taking a convincing win over the Lady Vikings in the other semifinal at East Hall High School.
Chestatee (6-4) held the Vikings to 6 points in the first 12 minutes of the second half and rode its highly efficient offense to break open a close game.
"These seniors have done a lot of things, but this group has not played for the Lanierland championship," Chestatee Coach Sutton Shirley said. "They get that chance at 6 o'clock at Gainesville (Saturday)."
The Lady War Eagles (5-4) have held their first two Lanierland opponents to 56 total points. They opened Lanierland play with a 65-24 victory over Flowery Branch. They forced 26 turnovers against East Hall.
The offense did its part with four players in double figures. Caroline Bull and Ali Jae Bull each scored 14 points each. Payton Cable added 11, and Blakley Boyd had 10.
"In girls basketball, it’s hard to guard four girls," Shirley said.
Chestatee led by 16 entering the fourth quarter and pulled away, eventually leading by 21 points.
Terriah Watkins led the Lady Vikings with 14.
After a slow start, Chestatee took a 30-22 halftime lead. The Lady War Eagles settled in and began handling East Hall's pressure defense. Caroline Bull's 3-pointer gave them their first lead. They extended it to 23-16 on two Cable baskets and a 3-pointer from Boyd, who hit four 3-pointers in the first half.
It was a sloppy start for both teams, with Maliyah Butler's basket late giving the Vikings a 13-10 lead after one quarter.
GAINESVILLE 62
WEST HALL 20
Shailyn Jones scored 17 points to lead Gainesville to a win over West Hall in the consolation round of the Lanierland Tournament.
The Lady Red Elephants (7-4) raced out to a 34-5 halftime lead. Jayla Mintz scored 12 for Gainesville, and Damaria Colburn added 9.
Cayla Radich led West Hall (3-7) with 9 points.
The Lady Spartans will take on Flowery Branch (2-12) in the seventh-place game at 9 a.m. at Gainesville. The Lady Red Elephants will play North Hall (5-5) on Saturday at noon at Gainesville in the fifth-place game.
NORTH HALL 55,
FLOWERY BRANCH 22
Lauren Hemmer scored 16 points to lead the North Hall girls past Flowery Branch Friday in the consolation round of Lanierland at North Hall.
The Lady Trojans held Flowery Branch to seven first-half points en route to a 31-7 lead at halftime and upped the lead 46-9 in the third quarter.
Athena Vachtsevanos added 10 points, while Allie Holden had nine.
Kelsey Inman led the Lady Falcons with 15.
North Hall (5-5) will play Gainesville on Saturday in the fifth-place game. Tip-off is set for noon at Gainesville. Meanwhile, Flowery Branch (2-12) will play West Hall in the seventh-place game at 9 a.m. at Gainesville.
