By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
GAYLESVILLE – Sand Rock girls basketball coach Lisa Bates likes challenges. One of the best to date this season came on Saturday when the Lady Wildcats battled Class 6A Oxford in the Cherokee Invitational at Gaylesville.
The Lady Wildcats held their own against the Lady Yellow Jackets. After trailing by seven at the end of the third quarter, Sand Rock battled back to tie the game at 47 with 16.5 seconds remaining in the fourth on a 3-pointer by Hadlie Weaver, which ultimately forced overtime.
However, Oxford outscored the Lady Wildcats 7-3 in the extra session to take a 54-50 victory. It was only Class 2A, No. 3 Sand Rock’s third loss this season (10-3).
“I feel like we should’ve done a better job boxing out, and that kind of made the difference,” Bates said. “They didn’t hit any threes on us. It was all just put backs, but I’m proud of the girls not giving up. We leave here with a good feeling, not a great feeling. You always want to win, but I feel like we don’t give up and we fight.
“We were a little timid with ball handling (in the first half), but after halftime, we came back in the second half and handled the ball better. We looked more fluid on offense. I thought it was good we did not give up. We kept fighting even when we had two players foul out. I think we can learn a lot from that game, and that’s what we need.”
Oxford held a 14-12 advantage at the end of the first quarter and stretched its lead out to 25-19 at halftime. The Lady Yellow Jackets led 39-32 at the end of the third quarter before Sand Rock rallied to force overtime on Weaver’s third trey of the game.
“She (Weaver) wants the ball in her hands at the end of the game. She wants to shoot that shot,” Bates said. “I thought she was cool under pressure there. I know she was tired. She had to play a whole lot tonight.”
Takayvia Boyd led Oxford with16 points. Mikynlei Mosley managed 15 points. Bri Wilson tallied 10 points. Pashiyn Jenkins and Savannah Carter finished with seven and six points respectively.
Maddie Clanton topped Sand Rock with 17 points, including an 11-of-13 performance from the free-throw line. She also had six rebounds and four steals before fouling out.
Hadlie Weaver sank three treys and had 12 points to go along with four rebounds and an assist. Molly Grace Lay contributed seven points, four assists, four steals, and two rebounds. Macey Pruitt finished with six points, four rebounds, and an assist.
Spring Garden 34, Saks 33
GAYLESVILLE – Maya Jennings netted 16 points and Addie Word tossed in 11 as the Spring Garden Lady Panthers held off Saks 34-33 in the Cherokee Invitational on Saturday at Gaylesville.
Sania Angel led Saks with a game-high 20 points. Raven English added six points.
The game was tight throughout. The two teams were tied at 9 at the end of the first quarter and 17 at halftime. Spring Garden (4-4) built a 27-19 edge after three quarters, but Saks surged back in the fourth. The Lady Wildcats had a couple of chances to win the game in the closing seconds, but couldn’t convert, allowing Spring Garden to escape with the win.
Cedar Bluff 65, Ohatchee 23
GAYLESVILLE – Janaya Higgins accumulated 25 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, and four steals to lead the Cedar Bluff Lady Tigers to a 65-23 basketball victory over Ohatchee in the Cherokee Invitational at Gaylesville on Saturday.
Kylie Vadon contributed 21 points, 11 steals, three rebounds, and two assists for the Lady Tigers (13-2). Vana Martin managed 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. She also had three steals, two rebounds, and an assist. Ciana Smith finished with seven points, six rebounds, five steals, three assists and a block.
Payten Walker led Ohatchee with 12 points.
Cedar Bluff built a 19-4 advantage by the end of the first quarter and held a 33-13 edge at halftime. The Lady Tigers led 60-17 after three quarters.
Cherokee County 39, Southside 33
GAYLESVILLE – The Cherokee County Lady Warriors held off Southside of Gadsden 39-33 in the Cherokee Invitational at Gaylesville on Saturday night.
Ellisan Givens led the Lady Warriors (11-2) with 13 points. Brooklynn Bruce tossed in 10 points
Marie Crane connected on a pair of 3-pointers and finished with nine points.
Allie Kate Lincoln netted nine points to lead Southside. Zoey McKinney added eight points and Collins Reeves finished with six points.
Cherokee County led 7-6 at the end of the first quarter and 14-12 at halftime. The Lady Warriors maintained a two-point advantage at 26-24 at the end of the third quarter, then outscored the Lady Panthers 13-9 in the fourth for the final.
