SONORAVILLE — It was the complete game most fans have been waiting for from Cherokee Bluff.
The Bears used a stifling defense, superb foul shooting, and led wire-to-wire in taking an impressive 57-39 win over ninth-ranked Sonoraville on Wednesday in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Cherokee Bluff (16-11) jumped on the Phoenix quickly taking a 16-10 lead after the first quarter. Dre Raven, Shad Dabney, and Carlos Marlow slashed to the basket early and often, combining for 14 points in the opening period.
The defense then went to work holding Sonoraville (20-5) to just 7 points in the second quarter while building a 27-17 halftime lead.
The Phoenix did not go away, however. They came out hot to start the third quarter trimming the Bluff lead to one point late in the period. But the Bears took a 36-33 into the fourth quarter and broke it open at the free throw line.
The early work by Raven, Dabney, Simmons, and Marlow opened things up for Corey Thomas inside. The senior center scored 9 of his 13 points as Bluff slowly pulled away after the Phoenix began fouling with just over three minutes to try and cut into a 10-point Bluff lead.
The Bears hit 11-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter, including 4-for-4 from Dabney and 5-of-5 for Thomas. Bluff was 19-of-25 from the line for the game.
Sonoraville was just 8-of-10 from the line for the game.
Raven finished with 17 points to lead Cherokee Bluff. Simmons had 11 and Dabney added 8 points.
Cherokee Bluff faces another huge road test in the second round traveling to No. 4 Hart County.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/2/982551/boys-basketball-bluff-takes-down-no-9-sonoraville-in-impressive-fashion