Staff Reports

CEDAR BLUFF – Connor Bates led three Spring Garden Panthers in double figures in a 50-38 area basketball win at Cedar Bluff on Thursday.

Bates scored 14 points for the fourth-ranked Panthers, who improved to 20-3 with the win. John Welsh tossed in 13 points. Chapel Pope posted 10 points and Jake Welsh finished with nine points.

Isaac Bishop topped the Tigers with 21 points. Kadin Fife finished with eight points.

Spring Garden held a 19-7 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Cedar Bluff cut its deficit to four at halftime at 24-20. The Panthers held a 37-31 advantage at the end of the third quarter and outscored the Tigers 13-7 in the fourth for the final.

In a battle of top 10 Class 1A girls teams on Thursday evening, top-ranked Spring Garden jumped out on a 20-2 run en route to a 64-33 girls basketball win at No. 8 Cedar Bluff.

Ace Austin led the Lady Panthers (25-1) with 17 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals. Libby Brown contributed 12 points, six steals, four rebounds and two blocks. Maggie Jarrett delivered 10 points, three rebounds and two steals.

Olivia Law posted nine points, four rebounds, four steals, three assists and a block. Chloe Rule finished with seven points, two rebounds and an assist.

Kylie Vadon topped Cedar Bluff (17-10) with 11 points, three rebounds and two assists. Ciana Smith accounted for eight points, five rebounds, an assist and a steal. Caley Bruce finished with five points, three rebounds and a steal.