By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.
ONE FEATHER STAFF
Raylen Bark, Lady Braves sophomore point guard, hit an inside shot seven seconds into the game and Cherokee (17-6) rolled from that point on as they cruised over Hiwassee Dam 71-52 on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 20. The game, played at the Charles George Memorial Arena, was a first round contest in the 1A state playoffs.
CRUISIN’: Cherokee’s Deante Toineeta is all alone as she makes a lay-up in the first half of a game against Hiwassee Dam at the Charles George Memorial Arena on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 20. With 19 points, she led the Lady Braves to a victory over the Lady Eagles in a first round game of the 1A state playoffs. (SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photos)
“I thought we played well in the first half, but the second half got a little sloppy,” said Chris Mintz, Lady Braves head coach. “We were just trying to get through there at the end and get on to the next round.”
Cherokee came into the playoffs with a #10 seed in the Western Division. Following Tuesday’s win, they will more than likely have road games for the duration. “I told them we’ll have to be road warriors. We have to go four hours Thursday, and then we have to turn around and go on the road again and then go on the road again until we get to the Regionals.”
The Lady Braves never trailed in Tuesday’s contest and got off to a quick start leading 23-8 at the end of the first quarter. For the first five minutes of the second, Cherokee outscored the Lady Eagles 19-8 and went on to lead 49-23 at the half.
Midway through the third quarter, Cherokee had extended its lead to 27 points (52-25), and they led 57-36 at the end of three. The Lady Braves led by 29 points (70-41) at the 4:43 mark of the fourth and went on to take the 71-52 victory.
Deante Toineeta led Cherokee with 19 points. Other Lady Braves scorers included: Raylen Bark 8, Carla Wolfe 16, Jamie Lossiah 3, Naomi Smith 6, Shelby Wolfe 3, Kayleigh Wolfe 4, and Tori Teesateskie 12.
Hiwassee Dam scorers included: Kenda Roberts 7, Hannah Rhodes 1, McKenzie Haney 4, Brittany Davis 8, Alexis Finlay 4, Jenna Bandy 2, Izzy Bradbeer 7, Sharron Morrow 4, and Katie Gibson 15.
JUMP BALL: Cherokee’s Raylen Bark (left) and Tori Teesatskie tie up the ball with Hiwassee Dam’s Eden Shaffer.
