Spring Garden’s Cooper Austin drives in for a layup against Cherokee County on Friday. Photo by Shannon Fagan.
CENTRE – The Spring Garden Panthers held on for a 64-61 victory over Cherokee County Warriors in the Cherokee County Basketball Tournament on Friday.
Weston Kirk led the Panthers with 24 points, including three 3-pointers. He also grabbed 15 rebounds.
Cooper Austin sank five treys and finished with 23 points, nine boards, five steals, three assists and a blocked shot. Ryley Kirk added nine points, including a pair of treys.
Jack Amos topped the Warriors with 11 points. Nas Diamond delivered 10 points. Slade Alexander added eight points. Connor Elrod and Braden Chandler collected seven points apiece. Cade Hopper connected on a pair of treys for six points. Malachi Horton finished with five points.
The game was tight throughout, with the Warriors holding a 17-15 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Spring Garden took a 32-31 edge at halftime and led 55-53 at the end of three quarters.
Spring Garden advances to Saturday’s title game where it will face Sand Rock at 7 p.m.
Sand Rock 66, Cedar Bluff 29
CENTRE – Kaden Justice netted 21 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. He also grabbed 12 rebounds, had four steals and blocked three shots in leading the Sand Rock Wildcats to a 66-29 victory over Cedar Bluff in the Cherokee County Tournament on Friday.
Jacob St. Clair sank five treys and finished with 17 points for the Wildcats. Garyn Sharpe came away with 14 points. Cade Ballenger collected the 500th assist of his career in the contest. He finished with nine assists in Friday’s game. Xander Bradley posted six blocks and five assists.
Jacob Burleson led the Tigers with nine points. Bucky Leek added seven points and Anbre Leek finished with six points.
Sand Rock led throughout the game. The Wildcats built an 18-8 edge at the end of the first quarter and held a 39-22 advantage at halftime. A 17-5 third-quarter run increased Sand Rock’s lead to 56-27.
Sand Rock will battle Spring Garden for the county title on Saturday at 7 p.m.
