For the third year in a row, White County Middle School has produced an undefeated girl's basketball team.
On Monday, the school's seventh grade team captured the North Georgia Mountain League championship in Ellijay. The Lady Warriors (17-0) capped off a perfect season with a 37-33 win over Fannin County in the title game. The Lady Warriors blasted Union County 46-20 in the semifinals to earn a spot in the championship game.
“It feels great to see all their hard work pay off,” head coach Kelly Morris said. “It's great to bring the trophy back to White County and continue to be a part of the winning tradition.”
Members of the seventh grade girl's team, coached by Kelly Morris, Jodie Watkins, and Kyle Watkins, are Georgia Adams, Josselyn Burke, Aslyn Burkett, Bree Burkett, Raleigh Ivy, Brooklyn Morris, Anijah Moss, Nora Oliver, and Kalynn Watkins, with Molly Free and Marley Thomas serving as managers. Jodie Watkins and Kyle Watkins are assistant coaches.
“This group of girls have seen what the previous group has done, and they wanted to continue with the winning tradition,” Morris said. “It was an exciting game. We had a lot of ups and downs. It's the third time we've played Fannin, and it's hard to beat a worthy opponent three times. It was hard fought game.”
In the championship game.
The Lady Warriors got off to a terrific start and looked like they might put the game away by halftime. After Fannin took a 2-0 lead to start the game, WCMS went on a 13-3 run the rest of the opening quarter, and then tacked on an 11-3 run in the second quarter to take a commanding 24-8 lead at the break.
But Fannin County rallied in the third quarter with a 15-7 run to get within striking range at 31-23 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Lady Rebels continued to chip away at the deficit, but the Lady Warriors hit a couple of key free throws in the final stretch to end the comeback bid.
Aslyn Burkett had had a team-high 15 points to go along with five rebounds and five assists. Watkins also had a big game, finishing with nine points, nine blocks, and seven rebounds.
Burke had six points, four rebounds, and two steals, while Moss had four points, five assists, and three steals, and Bree Burkett added three points, six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.
In the semifinal win Union County, the Lady Warriors were led by Moss with 13 points, six assists, six steals, and three rebounds.
Aslyn Burkett had 11 points, five steals and three rebounds. Bree Burkett scored eight points and had a team-high nine rebounds, to go along with three steals and two assists.
Watkins had seven points, four rebounds, and three steals, while Burke had seven points and three steals, and Raleigh Ivy had seven rebounds and two steals.
Boys fall in semis
The Warriors' eighth-grade squad had a tough loss to end their season in the league tournament in Dahlonega.
The Warriors, the No. 1 seed entering the tournament, dropped a 57-55 decision to Gilmer County, with the Bobcats scoring with in the final two seconds to post the win.
Members of the team, coached by Jacob Booke and Will Havlen, are Josh Adams, Cohen Michaud, Braxton Anderson, Judd Brooker, Carter Jo Pierce, Alex Freeman, Luke Goldman, Carter Nguyen, Casen Nguyen, Austin Garrett, Noel Lammers, Matt Turner, and Hayden Weakley.
The game was close from the start, with the Warriors and the Bobcats trading the lead for most of the second half.
Michaud hit a pair of 3-pointers and Anderson scored a several drives to basket and a handful of free throws to help the Warriors stay with the Bobcats
In the fourth quarter, the Bobcats grabbed a 55-51 lead in the final two minutes, but the Warriors' got a basket off an offensive rebound from Lammers, and then Adams scored a short baseline jump to tie things up at 55-55 with less than a minute to go in the game.
The Warriors got a stop on the Bobcats' next possession, with Alex Freeman running down the rebounding, but couldn't take advantage.
Gilmer County got a stop with 14 seconds to go in the game, and scored the game-winner on a layup with 1.5 seconds left on the clock.
Anderson had a game-high 27 points for the Warriors, but no other individual stats were available at press time due to a stat book issue.