Girls 2nd round playoffs: Bluff leads 5 teams into Elite 8

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff continues to make history in 2025.

The Lady Bears won their first-ever Region 8-3A championship two weeks ago. Now, they have advanced to their first-ever Elite 8 after dispatching Dougherty 56-40 on Friday night at home in the Class 3A playoffs.

“I’m so proud of these girls,” Bluff coach Kassie Scott said. “We had goals coming into the season and this is another one that we can check off.”

However, early on it didn’t appear that the Lady Bears (22-8) were headed to another historic night. Dougherty (17-12) led most of the first half, with Bluff not getting its first lead (12-11) until early in the second quarter. 

The Lady Trojans responded with a 12-8 run to close out the half for a 23-20 advantage. Bluff’s leading scorers Claire Carlson and Bristol Kersh were held to a combined 8 points in the opening 16 minutes.

“We have got to find a better way to come out with more intensity to start games,” Scott said.

But as they say, it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. And the Lady Bears came out smoking in the second half.

Bluff opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run to take a 29-25 lead in the third with 4:51 left, led by Carlson’s 5 quick points. But the Lady Trojans answered back, cutting the lead to 31-30 with a Jatiana Chambers bucket with 1:56 to go in the period.

The turning point would come from Hailey Wilson, however, who drained a long 3-pointer as part of a 4-0 run to close out the period. The Lady Bears continued the run into the fourth with a 10-3 spurt to take a 45-33 lead on a Kersh basket with 3:26 left.

Bluff was able to hold off Dougherty down the stretch from the free throw line.

“We needed a big bucket and Hailey gave us one. I thought the girls that are more role players really played well tonight,” Scott said. “When we get that kind of production from everyone we don't have to rely on Claire and Bristol as much, which makes us a much more dangerous team.

"I didn't have to say much at halftime. I just asked them how bad did they want to win. I love how we finished the game."

Carlson finished with 20 points, 14 coming in the second half, to lead the Lady Bears. Kersh had 11, 9 after halftime, Wilson added 10, AudreyGraham 7, and Emeri Jones had 6 for Bluff.

Chambers finished with 20 points to lead Dougherty.

Cherokee Bluff moves into Tuesday’s quarterfinals and will take on the Monroe-NW Whitfield winner. Those two teams play on Saturday.

BUFORD 55,
ETOWAH 51

The Lady Wolves hit 17-of-24 free throws, including 7-of-8 in the final minutes, to hold off a scrappy Lady Eagles squad in Class 6A at The Buford Arena.

Buford (25-2) trailed early as Etowah (21-9) led 10-9 after the first quarter. But the Lady Wolves used a 17-10 second quarter to take a 24-19 lead into halftime.

The Buford offense continued to find its mark in the third quarter to extend its lead to 44-33 heading into the fourth. But Etowah did not go quietly.

The Eagles chipped away getting to within one possession of tying or taking the lead. The Lady Wolves were able to hang on at the free throw line.

Lydia Ledford poured in 23 points to lead Buford, including hitting 13-of-15 free throws for the game. E’miah Fields added 18 points for the Lady Wolves.

Etoah was led by Jaiden Graham with 14 points. Taylor Willis had 9 for the Lady Eagles, who had chances but were just 18-of-26 from the line and just 3-of-7 in the fourth quarter.

Buford will be at home again on Tuesday, taking on Newton, who knocked off Norcross on Friday on the road.

RABUN COUNTY 51,
WORTH COUNTY 45

The 23rd-seeded Lady Wildcats held on for the big Class A Division 1 road victory over the 7th-seeded Lady Rams. 

Rabun County (14-12) started strong, leading much of the first half and taking a 23-17 lead into halftime. The Lady Wildcats continued their strong play in the second half but had to hold off several runs by Worth County down the stretch.

Sophomore Addy Beth Owens provided some huge plays late in the game drawing two key fouls that led to points and forced a turnover in the final minute to help Rabun hang on.

Adelyn Thompson had another big postseason game for Rabun County with 21 points and pulling down 7 rebounds. Owens added 13 points and 6 assists and Jacie McCall had 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals. Chloe Erlewine contributed with 5 points and 6 rebounds for the Lady Wildcats.

Now they will move on to play fellow Region 8-A D1 foe Banks County in the quarterfinals on Tuesday in Homer.

NORTH FORSYTH 64,
ARCHER 42

The Lady Raiders stayed unbeaten with a dominating home win in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs.

London Weaver and Gabbie Gliatta each scored 25 points to pace the Lady Raiders  (29-0).

North Forsyth, who were the Class 7A state runners-up in 2024, will take on Carrollton in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. The Lady Trojans upset North Paulding on Friday, 44-43, on the road.

WARE COUNTY 57,
EAST FORSYTH 45

The Lady Broncos could not slow down the Lady Gators over the final three quarters in a road loss in the Class 4A playoffs.

East Forsyth (12-18) played Ware County to a virtual standstill in the opening quarter, trailing just 9-7. But the Lady gators offense went to work in the second quarter, running out to a 26-16 lead by halftime.

The Lady Broncos pulled within 39-30 in the third quarter but could not get closer as Ware County was able to hold them off hitting 11-of-18 free throws down the stretch.

Ayla Heard led all scorers with a game-high 18 points and Hollyn Hicks had 17 points for East Forsyth.

Alexis McNeal paced Ware County with 15 points.