JEFFERSON, Ga. — Jefferson fought back from an early first-quarter deficit to beat Westside-Augusta, 77-73, at The Arena Wednesday night.
The Patriots (17-11) led 17-16 after the opening period, but the Dragons (18-7) used a 16-11 run in the second quarter to grab the lead. Westside cut it to 54-51 heading into the fourth quarter, but Jefferson was able to hold on.
The Dragons hit 12-of-14 free throws in the final period.
But they won the game from beyond the arc, draining 11 3-pointers. Clay Owen poured in 23 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead the way. Josiah Morris also hit four 3-pointers as part of his 14 points, and Shaun Keith also had 14 points, including three 3-pointers.
Karter Shields added 13 points, Christian Hester had 11, and that pair combined for 18 of their 24 in the second half.
Dontrell Jackson had 17 points to lead Westside.
Jefferson will next travel to Peach County, which upset No. 2 seed Cherokee Bluff 57-52, on Saturday in the second round.
BANKS COUNTY 81,
CHATTOOGA 76
Kolby Watson poured in 32 points to lead the 17th-seeded Leopards to an impressive road win over the 22-win Indians in Class A Division 1.
It was a high-flying first quarter, with Banks County (16-11) taking a 28-22 lead. Chattooga (22-6) rallied to tie the game at 41 by halftime. But the Leopards forged ahead 64-58 heading into the fourth quarter and hung on down the stretch.
Luke Dale knocked down 19 points, and Dayden Rogers scored 15 in Banks County. Caden Watson added 9 points.
Banks County will have a huge task on Saturday in the second round, traveling to No. 1 seed Southwest Macon, an 82-50 winner over Bacon County Wednesday night.
RABUN COUNTY 70,
SOCIAL CIRCLE 39
The Class A D1 No. 2-seeded Wildcats held the Redskins to just 11 total points in the second and this quarters en route to a first-round win at home.
Rabun County (23-5) led just 13-10 after the opening period but exploded for 23 points in the second for a 36-18 halftime lead and then pushed its lead to 49-21 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats drained 11 3-pointers for the game, with Michael Bone leading the way with 21 points, 16 coming in the second half. Hayes Free added 17 points, and Ladnon Bedingfield and Huey Blalock each had 10 points for Rabun County.
Next up for the Wildcats will be BEST Academy on Saturday at home in the second round.
COMMERCE 65,
DODGE COUNTY 53
The Tigers made it a perfect 3-0 for Region 8-A D1 teams with a win at home.
It was a tight game most of the way, with Commerce (19-9) leading 19-17 after the first quarter and extending its lead to 42-34 at the half. The Tigers took a 52-40 lead into the fourth.
Commerce was able to push its lead from 3-point range, draining 11 for the game. Maki Mitchell hit five for the game for his 15 points. Ty Sorrells added 14 points, and Bryson Parks had 11 for the Tigers.
TURNER COUNTY 63,
TOWNS COUNTY 52
The Indians led by four in the first quarter on the road but could not hold it in a loss in the first round of the Class A D2 tournament.
Turner County rallied in the second, powered by four 3-pointers, to take an 8-point lead at the break.
Towns County was able to stay within striking distance, but Turner County was perfect from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to pull away for the win.
Tucker Engert led Towns County with 15 points. Dustin Barrett added 11 points, and Cruz Kitchens had 8 for the Indians.
PEACH COUNTY 57,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 52
It came down to the final eight minutes on Wednesday night at Cherokee Bluff.
Peach County (11-15, No. 31 seed) outscored No. 2 Cherokee Bluff 22-9 in the fourth quarter to rally past the Bears 57-52 in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament.
The loss eliminates the Bears (22-5) from the playoffs.
The Bears took a 43-35 lead into the fourth quarter, but Kevan Gray was the Bears' worst nightmare in the final period, scoring 10 of his 19 points to rally the Trojans to the lead.
Cam Cherry was tough to control most of the game, scoring a game-high 26 points, 16 of those in the first half.
Meanwhile, Peach County held Bears' leading scorer, Boston Kersh, to five in the first half, but he came alive in the second, finishing with 19 points. Cooper Glover turned in 18 points.
(See below for the entire first round schedule of games for Wednesday.)
PREP BASKETBALL 1st ROUND BOYS PLAYOFF SCORES, Feb. 19
CLASS 6A
Norcross 69, North Forsyth 57
CLASS 5A
Habersham Central 66, Northside-Warner Robins 43
Lee County 82, Jackson County 52
Sprayberry 70, Gainesville 49
CLASS 4A
East Forsyth 69, Eagles Landing 56
CLASS 3A
Peach County 57, Cherokee Bluff 52
Douglass-Atlanta 62, Lumpkin County 52
East Hall 72, North Hall 45
Jefferson 77, Westside-Augusta 73
CLASS A DIVISION 1
Banks County 81, Chattooga 76
Commerce 65, Dodge County 53
Rabun County 70, Social Circle 39
CLASS A DIVISION 2
Turner County 63, Towns County 52
PREP BASKETBALL 1st ROUND GIRLS PLAYOFF SCHEDULE, Feb. 19
CLASS 5A
Habersham Central 38, Northside-Warner Robins 27
CLASS 3A
Cherokee Bluff 71, North Clayton 45
Chestatee 69, Cross Creek 45
