By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – The Spring Garden basketball teams are having a banner 2024-25 season. They have a collective 38 wins and just one loss between them.
And both are defending Cherokee County Tournament champions.
On Wednesday night at The Gridiron restaurant in Centre, the Cherokee County basketball coaches rewarded both Panther squads with the top seeds in this year’s Cherokee County Tournament. The tournament, hosted by Cedar Bluff, is scheduled to be played Jan. 16-18 at Richard Lindsey Arena. Admission is $8.
The Lady Panthers (21-1) will open tournament play against the winner of the next Thursday’s 5:30 p.m. game between Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville next Friday at 4 p.m.
Cherokee County takes on Sand Rock in Friday’s other girls semifinal at 7 p.m.
The varsity girls championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5 p.m.
Spring Garden’s boys (17-0) also open tournament play next Friday at 5:30 p.m. against the winner of next Thursday’s 7 p.m. contest between Cedar Bluff and Gaylesville.
Next Friday’s other tournament semifinal is between Cherokee County and Sand Rock at 8:30 p.m.
The varsity boys title game is scheduled to tip next Saturday at 7 p.m.
Last year, Spring Garden’s varsity boys defeated Gaylesville 41-25 to clinch their first county championship since 2022 and 16th in school history. It was also the first county title for Panther head coach Levi Hatcher.
In last year’s girls’ championship game, Spring Garden earned a 64-46 victory over Sand Rock. The win secured Spring Garden’s 21st county championship, fifth in a row, and head coach Ricky Austin’s 16th in the girls division.
In the county junior varsity boys tournament, top-seeded Cedar Bluff battles Gaylesville next Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Cherokee County and Sand Rock face off prior to that game at 3:30 p.m.
The JV boys championship game is scheduled for next Saturday at 3:30 p.m., preceded by the JV girls championship game between Cherokee County and Sand Rock at 2 p.m.
Brackets are listed below.
