The Georgia High School Association wrestling postseason began Friday with area and region duals for some teams, and Sonoraville wasted little time displaying a dominance coach Randy Steward hopes takes the Phoenix to the program's first state duals championship.
Sonoraville easily captured the Area 6-AAA title at LaFayette, defeating Coahulla Creek 62-15 in the final after rolling past Ringgold in the semifinals, 71-9. As a result, Sonoraville will host a state duals preliminary next Saturday and will be the top seed against the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 finishers from other area duals.
Most of the GHSA's area and region duals events, including 7-A at Trion and the 7-AAAA at Heritage, are being held Saturday.
Sonoraville, which received a bye in the first round after entering as the top seed, had six pins, one technical fall and benefited from five forfeits against Ringgold, then used nine pins against Coahulla Creek to cruise to the title. Eli Knight (132 pounds), Cole Godfrey (138) and Gavin Harper (182) each had two pins for the Phoenix, while Jebb Knight (195) had a technical fall and pin.
"We are finally starting to jel as a team," Steward said. "Young kids made improvement, and experienced kids are starting to get excited. I saw a marked difference in our performance tonight compared to last Saturday, and I am excited that they are responding."
Walker Valley 72, Rhea County 11: The Mustangs won four of their six faceoffs while taking eight by forfeit in the dual meet. Garrison McCann (145) pinned his way to victory in 31 seconds, while Class AAA's first-ranked Kallum Lowe (195) also won via pin, along with Markus Rich (152) and Jacob Anderson (220). Rhea County's Caleb Hickman (126) won by technical fall, 16-1, while Francisco Perez (170) landed a first-round pin.
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Brainerd 72, East Ridge 60: Sophomore guard Dennis Lewis Jr. scored 28 points with five 3-pointers in the Panthers' first District 6-AA win of the season. Lewis and Edward Byrdsong combined to score 19 of Brainerd's 23 fourth- quarter points after East Ridge trailed 49-46 at the end of three periods at home. The Pioneers were led by Landon Lim (15 points) and Tyree Smith (13 points).
CSAS 78, Lookout Valley 27: Fifteen players scored for the Patriots, who made 12 3-pointers in the home win. Justin Brown and Ture Gaines each scored 12 points to lead Arts & Sciences (4-1, 4-0 District 4-A), Gaines with four 3s. Lookout Valley's Jalen Bates scored 18 points.
McMinn County 80, Ooltewah 64: Hayden Frank had 20 points, 14 rebounds, four blocks and four assists in the Cherokees' District 5-AAA win. Chris Styles led Ooltewah with 22 points.
Bradley Central 71, Soddy-Daisy 47: Tucker Greene was 5-of-7 from outside the arc as he scored game-high 21 points for Bradley Central, and Mason Rothwell, who recently reached 1,000 career points, made eight free throws and finished with 12 points in the District 5-AAA road win.
Knoxville Catholic 79, Chattanooga Christian 35: Tink Scot scored 12 points and Boo Carter added 11 for the Chargers, who trailed 72-19 after three quarters.
Northwest Whitfield 93, Ridgeland 68: The Bruins (10-4, 4-2 GHSA Region 7-AAAA) were led by Payton Baker's 22 points, with Chandler Jackson adding 14 and Collin Hall 12. Ryan Clark and Matthew Ramsey led Ridgeland with 12 points each.
Murray County 54, North Murray 51 (OT): Ethan Jackson nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Indians in the Region 6-AAA thriller. Jackson took a pass from Haden Newport (14 points, 14 rebounds) in the right corner for the winner. Carson Weaver led the Indians (9-4, 6-2) with 16 points. Ty Kendrick and Janyious Ross led North Murray with 15 each.
Heritage 48, Pickens 43: Cade Kiniry led the Generals (10-5, 7-1 Region 7-AAAA) with 12 points, with Cooper Terry and Mitchell Kennedy adding nine each.
Tyner 68, Signal Mountain 35: In a Thursday win, Tyner (4-1, 4-0 District 6-AA) had nine players score at least six points, led by Latavious Conyers (12) and Anthony Sims (10). Signal Mountain's Braeden Wolford also scored 12 points.
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Silverdale Baptist 51, Boyd Buchanan 44: Senior point guard Tessa Gibson helped the host Lady Seahawks to their 26th straight district win in a row as she scored eight of her team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Becca Lamb added 15 points for Silverdale (11-7 , 3-0 Division II-AA East 2). Boyd Buchanan's Jalisa Sanders scored 17 points, and Dani Reeves added 14 for the Lady Buccaneers (7-5, 3-1).
Hixson 36, Red Bank 34: Senior Rickell Crutcher led the Lady Wildcats to the District 6-AA home win with 17 points. Ashley Ware scored 15 points for the Lady Lions, who hit seven 3-pointers. Anna Johnston helped Hixson close things out with five of her nine points in the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame 50, Grace Academy 7: Makayla Skaggs poured in 10 of her game-high 17 points in the third quarter, while Miriam Gaines (13) and Claire Mullins (nine) helped lead the Lady Fighting Irish to victory at home.
Sequatchie County 65, Bledsoe County 36: The Lady Indians were paced by Addy Edgmon and Dylan Belk, who combined for 31 points. Bledsoe's Kyndal Meloncin scored 20.
Sonoraville 57, Coahulla Creek 55: The Lady Phoenix handed the Lady Colts their second loss of the season, completing a regular-season Region 6-AAA sweep as Abby Chambers had 25 points. Matti Parker and Alexa Geary added 15 each for Sonoraville (10-3, 6-1), which withstood a furious late rally from Coahulla Creek (14-2, 8-2). Brinkley Reed had 16 points, eight in the final quarter, and Ema Turner had 11 of her 15 points in the final period for the Lady Colts.
"We were fortunate to hold on and win tonight," Sonoraville coach Stephanie Caudell said. "We played three solid quarters and then lost our composure some in the fourth. To Coahulla Creek's credit, they made some big shots and kept battling to the very end."
Trion 56, Mount Zion-Carroll 42: Summer Vaughn had 19 points and Chloe Murdock 18 to lead the Lady Bulldogs (11-3, 5-0 Region 6-A) to the road win.
Ringgold 50, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 26: Rachel Lopez scored a game-high 20 points, 15 on 3-pointers, and Riley Nayadley added 11 points as the Lady Tigers (10-4, 5-3 Region 6-AAA) won the Catoosa County rivalry game.
Signal Mountain 64, Tyner 12: The Lady Eagles scored 27 points in the first quarter and allowed just one point in three of the four period of Thursday's District 6-AA road win. Olivia Koontz scored 14 points, while Janie Kennedy and Cassidy Pawson each had 10 for Signal Mountain (6-2, 3-0).
Compiled by Lindsey Young and Patrick MacCoon. Contact Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @youngsports22. Contact MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.