BUFORD, Ga. — Using their patented press defense, the Buford girls rolled to a 58-22 win over Collins Hill on Tuesday in Region 8-7A action at The Buford Arena.
The third-ranked Lady Wolves (15-2, 4-0 Region 8-7A) led from start to finish and opened the game with a 15-0 run to take control, fueled by 9 turnovers from the Lady Eagles.
Senior Ava Grace Watson led the early onslaught, scoring the game’s first 7 points and 9 in the opening period. She also swiped three steals as they turned the Collins Hill miscues into 8 points in the big run.
“I thought we did a good job coming out with a fast start and getting some turnovers,” Buford coach Gene Durden.
Collins Hill answered Buford’s quick run with an 8-0 spurt to pull within 15-8 by the end of the first quarter. But the Buford defense went to work again, holding Collins Hill scoreless on 0-for-10 shooting and forcing 7 more turnovers in a 16-0 quarter.
The Lady Wolves took a 31-8 advantage into halftime. They forced 16 first-half turnovers for 14 points.
“We played well defensively, but we didn’t shoot the ball that well tonight,” Durden said. “We still have a lot of things we need to work on. We didn’t finish as well as I wanted.”
Collins Hill opened the third quarter with two quick baskets in the first 17 seconds. But the Lady Wolves closed out the final 7:43 with a 19-2 run for a 50-14 lead.
Playing mostly reserves in a 6-minute fourth quarter, both teams scored 8 points.
Watson finished 1ith 21 points, 14 in the first half, to lead Buford. Lydia Ledford added 10 points, and E'miah Fields had 8 for the Lady Wolves.
Tamia Dawkins led Collins Hill (10-8, 1-3 Region 8-7A) with 9 points.
CHESTATEE 61,
NORTH OCONEE 58
In a battle of top 10 teams, the Class 4A seventh-ranked Lady War Eagles held off the 10th-ranked Lady Titans on the road in a Region 8-4A crossover showdown.
Riley Black was a one-person wrecking crew for the Lady War Eagles (15-4, 6-0 Region 8-4A North), pouring in 37 points and pulling down 17 rebounds.
Payton Cable had 8 points and 10 rebounds, while Caroline Bull had 9 points on three 3-pointers, and Blakely Boyd contributed 5 points for Chestatee.
The win kept Chestatee a perfect 3-0 vs. the South subregion, while North Oconee (12-7, 5-0 Region 8-4A South) is now 0-4 vs. the North subregion.
Chestatee will have another huge subregion battle on Friday, traveling to arch-rival North Hall.
FLOWERY BRANCH 31,
CLARK CENTRAL 18
The Lady Falcons won their second straight game with a Region 8-5A win at home on Tuesday.
Branch (9-9, 2-4 Region 8-5A) opened the game with a 14-5 run and then extended its lead to 24-8 by halftime. The Lady Falcons took a 29-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Kaitlin Cangiolosi paced Branch with 13 points. Jayla Gudz added 7 points for the Lady Falcons.
ATHENS CHRISTIAN 71,
RABUN COUNTY 57
The fourth-ranked Lady Wildcats had their eight-game win streak by the third-ranked Lady Eagles in an early battle for first place in Region 8-A Division 1.
Both teams came into the matchup 1-0 in region play.
Lucy Hood had a huge game for Rabun County (14-5, 1-1 Region 8-A D1) with 32 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. Ellie Southards added 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Adelyn Thompson had 9 points for the Lady Wildcats.
WALNUT GROVE 54,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 52
The Lady Warriors stunned the No. 8 Lady Bears on the road in region 8-4A crossover action.
Teaira Kelley had 26 points and Cameroa Reed 14 to lead the Lady Warriors (9-7, 4-1 Region 8-4A South).
The Lady Bears (14-4, 5-1 Region 8-4A North) were paced by Claire Carlson’s 9 points. Bristol Kersh and Brooklyn Phillips each added 8 points, and Kaitlin Cook had 6 points for Cherokee Bluff.
LANIER CHRISTIAN 57,
WESTMINSTER CHRISTIAN 35
The Lady Lightning improved to 12-7, 3-0 in region play with a win on Tuesday.
LCA was led by Emma Flowers with 20 points. Jia Thapar had 10 points, and Moriah Clark added 9 points.
LCA will play host to Trinity Prep on Thursday.
JACKSON COUNTY 54,
GAINESVILLE 47
Gainesville never led in the loss to Jackson County on the road Tuesday.
Jackson County slowly built its lead in the first quarter, pushing ahead 19-10 on a Lilie Vick 3-pointer with 1:45 to go in the first quarter.
The Red Elephants closed the gap in the second quarter, however, on a 3-point bucket from Kelsey Lester, 23-20. Lester led Gainesville with 24 points, netting 18 from the 3-point line.
Jackson County led 31-25 at halftime.
Offense was almost non-existent in the third quarter. The two teams combined for 13 points, but Gainesville did cut the lead, 33-32, on a Lester 3-pointer with 4:36 left. However, the Lady Panthers finished the third on a 4-0 run and led 36-32.
Jackson County pulled ahead by nine points late in the fourth quarter and held on to win.
Maddie Harkins led the Lady Panthers with 18 points, and Jalyn Robinson had nine. HARKINS 18 POINTS Robinson 9 points
Jayiah Mintz finished with 10 points for Gainesville.
SCOREBOARD for Tuesday, Jan. 16
Athens Christian 71, Rabun County 57*
Banks County 84, Providence Christian 43*
Buford 58, Collins Hill 22*
Chestatee 61, North Oconee 58*
Flowery Branch 31, Clarke Central 18*
Greene County 67, Towns County 55*
Jackson County 54, Gainesville 47*
Lanier Christian Academy 57, Westminster Christian Academy 35*
North Forsyth 56, Apalachee 46*
North Hall 58, Madison County 53*
Seckinger 58, Johnson 13*
Walnut Grove 54, Cherokee Bluff 52*
Wesleyan 71, Dawson County 46*
White County at Lumpkin County* -- (MOVED TO JAN. 17)
(* -- denotes region contest)
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