Sometimes the on-court offensive production isn't pretty when action heats up in the basketball postseason, but that's not necessarily a concern for the Northwest Whitfield Lady Bruins.
Northwest, challenged offensively due to early foul trouble, put the clamps down defensively in easily dispatching Druid Hills, 45-22, in a GHSA Class AAAA girls' first-round playoff game Tuesday in Tunnel Hill.
Autumn Wiley led the Lady Bruins (14-10) with 12 points, with McKenzie Brueckner adding nine as nine other players dented the scoring column.
"We got in a little foul trouble, so some young girls stepped up," said Northwest Whitfield coach Bob Williams, citing reserves Callie White and Mia Sewell as key contributors. "They tried to turn the heat up but we were able to hold them off."
Northwest, the No. 2 seed from Region 7, will get to host a second-round game after Cedar Shoals, a No. 4 seed, upset region champion Luella, 51-50, Tuesday.
GHSA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Class A Public
Trion 62, Wilkinson County 21: Fourteen players scored for the Lady Bulldogs (19-4) in the rout, led by Jenna Mosley and Summer Vaughn with 10 points each.
Class AA
Chattooga 62, Pace Academy 29: Makiya Parrish outscored the visitors by herself with 30 points as the Lady Indians (13-7) rolled past Pace (14-5). Chattooga will play the winner of today's Union County/Callaway game in the second round.
Class AAAA
Arabia Mountain 71, Heritage 36: Sydney Bunkley led Arabia Mountain with 18 points, while Lauren Mock topped the Lady Generals (17-9) with 11 points, with Gracie Murray adding nine.
Class AAA
Sonoraville 69, North Hall 48: The Lady Phoenix (22-4) used another big game from senior Alexa Geary, the schools' all-time leading scorer, to reach the second round.
Gilmer 67, Ringgold 39: The Lady Tigers saw their season end at 18-10 as the Lady Bobcats (18-6) dominated from start to finish. Baileigh Pitts led Ringgold with nine points, with Amber Gainer adding eight points and Riley Nayadley eight rebounds.
Coahulla Creek 64, White County 60: Ema Turner scored a game-high 28 points as the Lady Colts (22-4) advanced to the second round, where they will play at Stephens County Friday. Brinkley Kate Reed added 12 points and Katelyn Richards 10 for the winners.
Class AAAAA
Maynard Jackson 66, Calhoun 48
GHSA BOYS BASKETBALL
Class AA
Columbia 74, Chattooga 67: Columbia (18-6) used a huge advantage at the free throw line late to down the Indians in Summerville. Kawasaki Ricks hit 11 free throws in the final period as the visitors broke away from a 54-54 tie at the end of three quarters. A 6-0 Columbia run, with Ricks, Mason Lockhart and Jaden Baugh each getting two points put the Eagles ahead for good. Jaylon Johnson led Chattooga (17-4) with 18 points.
Class A Private
Christian Heritage 57, Lakeview Academy 36: Senior Evan Lester filled the stat sheet with 21 points, nine rebounds and six steals, with freshman Jax Abernathy adding 15 points as Christian Heritage rolled to the first-round win. The Lions (21-2) will host Athens Academy, a 65-52 winner over Hebron Christian, in the second round.
The score might not reflect it, but North Hall was a young, scrappy bunch. Alexa Geary had an outstanding scoring night and carried us offensively at times. Alexa also became Sonoraville's all-time leading scorer tonight. Her school record now stands at 1706 points.
BASEBALL
Ringgold 7, Heritage 1: Colin Mountjoy earned the pitching win with four innings of two-hit, no-earned run pitching. He also was one of four Ringgold players with an RBI, joining Mason Parker, Sam Mills and Chase Ghormley.