WC girls run past Chestatee for fourth consecutive victory
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Dasha Cannon works in the lane between two defenders during Tuesday night's win over Chestatee. Cannon, a junior, was honored during the game for going over the 1,000-point total in her high school career. (Photo/Mark Turner)
The White County Lady Warriors picked up a key region win Tuesday night in Gainesville, knocking off Chestatee, 53-37.
The win was the fourth straight for the Lady Warriors as they improved to 7-5 overall and 3-1 in 7-AAAA play.
The Lady Warriors, along with the WCMS boys' team, is in Panama City for the Beach Bash Christmas Tournament, This year's event features 40 teams from a handful of different states, competing in 52 games today, Friday, and Saturday. This is the second straight year the WCHS teams have participated in the event.
The tournament host schools are North Bay Haven Charter Academy, Bay High School, and Surfside Middle School will play host to 52 games over the three days.
NBH athletic director Kevin Jacobs, who coached at Jefferson earlier in his career, said that it’s always fun for teams and fans to see teams from other states that they wouldn’t ordinarily get to see.
“It’s always good for our kids and good for our school, and we’re really appreciative of Bay High and Surfside for helping us out,” he said. “they get to see some good basketball. I think lot of those teams like coming down here, too, so they can get to play some different people.”
The Lady Warriors tip off the tournament today at 7 p.m., taking on Leeds, Alabama.
Three more wins
On Tuesday, the Lady Warriors jumped on Chestatee early and never let their foot off the gas. Bentley Cronic and Maddie Futch keyed a 17-9 run in the first quarter. Cronic drained a pair of 3-pointers and scored nine points in the quarter, while Futch added six points. The Lady Warriors maintained the early lead as Dasha Cannon, Naomi Crumley and Ellie Gearing all knocked down 3-pointers in the second quarter to help WCHS take a 29-21 lead into the locker room.
After Cannon's basketball, the game was stopped to recognize Cannon eclipsing the 1,000-point mark in her career. She was presented a game ball for the honor.
The Lady Warriors put the finishing touches on the region win in the third quarter with a 17-8 run. Cronic had a basket, and Cannon and Crumley followed with back-to-back 3-pointers to extend the lead to 39-21 midway through the quarter. Less than a minute later, Cannon hit another 3-pointer to give the Lady Warriors their biggest lead of the night at 41-21.
Cronic paced a balanced attack, finishing with 13 points, while Cannon scored 11 points, and Futch and Crumley each had 10 points.
Gearing added seven points, and Rachel Lovell had two points.
Last Saturday, the Lady Warriors picked up a big win over Dawson County during the North Georgia High School Showcase in Dawsonville.
The Lady Warriors came with 22 points in the fourth quarter to hold off a late rally by the Lady Tigers in a 64-57 win.
Futch, Cannon, and Crumley all scored six points in the decisive quarter to help the Lady Warriors hold off the comeback attempt.
Cannon and Crumley each went 4-for-4 from the free throw line during the quarter, while Cronic hit a 3-pointer and added a free throw.
Futch finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Cronic had 14 points and three steals. Cannon added 12 points, six rebounds and six assists, and Crumley finished with with 10 points and four rebounds.
Madison Adams had eight points, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first half, Makenna Moose scored three points, and Gearing had one point.
Last Friday, the Lady Warriors rolled past Habersham Central by a 59-39 final.
Cronic led the way with 13 points, while Cannon and Futch both scored 12 points.
Lovell had five points, Camyrn McAfee scored four points, Adams, Crumley, Moose, Naomi Roberts, and Chesnee Freeman each scored two points, and Gearing and Caitlyn Gailey had one point.