It’s finally here.
East Hall-Cherokee Bluff. The Rematch. (Okay, it doesn’t sound all that original, but that’s what we’re calling it. It works!)
Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long after the Bears used a huge fourth-quarter run to rally for a 73-65 win over the Vikings on Dec. 21 in the Lanierland Tournament finals.
While that was for Hall County bragging rights, which always means something around these parts, it might mean even more this time. On Thursday at Valhalla, the two teams will duke it out for the early lead in Region 8-3A.
And that’s not the only thing possibly at stake. The No. 1 ranking in Class 3A is on the line as well. And both teams come in red hot.
Bluff (16-1, 2-0 Region 8-3A) sits atop the Class 3A Postseason Rankings (PSR) and has won 10 straight, including capturing its second straight Lanierland title. East Hall (13-2, 2-0 Region 8-3A) is ranked second in the PSR and is riding a 5-game win streak, its last loss coming to the Bears in Lanierland.
There is still a month to go in the regular season, so how much can one game really mean just a week into the region schedule? Plus, they will meet again on Jan. 31 in Flowery Branch.
Well, plenty...and not much, depending on who you ask.
East Hall coach Joe Dix: “Before Lanierland, I told our guys that every game with these guys is going to be important because two really good teams are playing each other,” he said. “The one at their place carries just as much weight as this one does.”
Cherokee Bluff coach Josh Travis said: “Each (game) means exactly the same thing, and they both mean more than our previous match-up. And if we somehow end up playing in the postseason, that game will be the most meaningful,” Travis said.
In the Lanierland final, the two teams traded body blows in the first half, with Bluff taking an early big lead, the Vikings rallying in the second quarter, and then they went to the half tied. Bluff led 50-44 to start the fourth quarter, but East Hall used a 9-0 run, highlighted by a 3-pointer from Jordan Richerson and capped by a basket from Braydon Langston, to claim a 56-54 lead with 4:25 left.
However, the big late run for the Bears was sparked by Tyler Underwood, who poured in 9 straight points, including a pair of long 3-pointers, and capped it with a pair of free throws for a 69-59 lead with just 57 seconds left.
Boston Kersh and Cooper Glover have provided the bulk of the scoring of late for Bluff, but Underwood, Andy Quirarte, and Connor Robinson all have had big games during the season.
Dix said balance is what is driving the Bears’ success. He also said discussing a way to slow them down and actually doing it are two different things.
“Cherokee Bluff is one of the best offensive teams I’ve coached against in a long time,” he said. “They’re so versatile that if you sit there and say, ‘well, we’re gonna take away Underwood and really try to take him away,’ Kersh and Glover will destroy you every time. Someone different is leading them in scoring in every game. You got to guard them all.”
Travis said after the Lanierland battle, “The way things were going, I almost felt that the game was over for us,” until Underwood took over down the stretch.
“We do have a lot of options offensively, but we are nowhere close to what we can be,” Travis said. “We can still grow a lot in creating for each other and executing our principles. The more we learn to play together and share the ball, the better we will be.”
However, both coaches felt that whichever team can flash some defense will have the advantage. Travis knows that the Vikings trio of Jamarcus Harrison, Chasen Jones, and Bray Langston are as potent as any in the state. Add in transfer point guard Jordan Richerson, and East Hall is poised to make a deep playoff run as well.
“East Hall poses a lot of match-up problems for us,” Travis said. “I know we are capable of getting stops, but I’m aware that we could have good defensive possessions and still get scored on by this team.”
Dix said they used the holiday tournament season to work on the defensive end. He has been pleased with the results as they get ready for Thursday’s showdown.
“Our defensive play has gotten better,” Dix said. “We really got after it in Gatlinburg against some really good offensive teams. But like I said, this (Cherokee Bluff) group right here is the best we have played against this year.”
Whether either team can stop the other remains to be seen. But what we do know is this:
This is The Rematch. Round 3 will be in Flowery Branch. Be there or be...you fill in the blank.
AccessWDUN Sports will be there, that’s for sure. The girls will tip off at 6 p.m., followed by the boys' game. You can listen to the action on AM 550 & FM 102.9 WDUN.
