BUFORD, Ga. — Buford used a tenacious defensive effort to roll into the second round of the Class 7A playoffs.
The Lady Wolves held Wheeler to 7 points or less in all four quarters, taking a 66-21 win on Tuesday at The Buford Arena. They next will take on nearby North Gwinnett, a 60-53 winner over West Forsyth, on Friday at home.
Against Wheeler, Buford led 24-7 after the first quarter and 49-14 at halftime. The Lady Wolves held Wheeler to just 7 points in the second half.
Ava Grace Watson led Buford 26 points, all in the first half. Alyssa Green had 14 points, and Lydia Ledford had 13 points for the Lady Wolves.
JEFFERSON 56,
TRI-CITIES 49
The Lady Dragons ran their win streak to 11 straight with a tough win at The Arena in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Jefferson (25-3) was paced 18 points from Emeri Billings. Skyler Brady added 13 and Michel Robbins 9 for the Lady Dragons.
Next up for Jefferson is the Cartersville-Cambridge winner in the second round on Friday.
RABUN COUNTY 63,
JASPER COUNTY 32
The Lady Wildcats rolled into the Class A Division 1 Sweet 16 with a dominating win at home.
Rabun County (22-6) opened the game with a 24-2 run and then cruised the rest of the way.
Ellie Southards poured in 18 points, and Lucy Hood had 11 for Rabun County.
Next for the Lady Wildcats will be the Mount Pisgah-Darlington winner on Friday in Tiger.
STOCKBRIDGE 72,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 49
The Lady Bears are still looking for their first-ever postseason win after a close game at halftime got away from them on Tuesday in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Cherokee Bluff trailed just 31-29 at the break after Claire Carlson exploded for 16 first-half points, including four 3-pointers. But a 6-point third quarter all but sealed their fate against the fourth-ranked Lady Tigers.
Stockbridge scored 24 points in the third quarter to run out to a 55-35 lead after the third quarter, but Bluff never recovered.
Carlson finished with 21 points, including five 3-pointers, to lead Cherokee Bluff. Bristol Kersh had 15 points for the Lady Bears.
1st ROUND BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD, Tuesday, Feb. 20
GIRLS
CLASS 7A
Buford girls 66, Wheeler 21
Buford boys 52, Osborne 49
CLASS 6A
Hughes 64, Gainesville 37
North Forsyth 49, Alexander 16
South Paulding 58, Habersham Central 29
CLASS 5A
Jefferson 56, Tri-Cities 49
Jackson 80, Flowery Branch 27
CLASS 4A
Chestatee 75, Woodland-Stockbridge 52
Stockbridge 72, Cherokee Bluff 49
CLASS 3A
White County 70, Ringgold 38
CLASS 2A
Banks County 73, McNair 17
CLASS A DIVISION 1
Commerce 60, Prince Avenue 58
Rabun County 63, Jasper County 32
CLASS A DIVISION 2
Johnson County 52, Towns County 50
GIAA CLASS 3A
Lakeview Academy, first-round bye
