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WINSTON-SALEM – Cherokee girls basketball outscored East Bladen by 32 points in the second half Friday at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum, helping the Braves run away with an 84-48 victory in the state title game to repeat as NCHSAA 1A state champions.
Senior guard Whitney Rogers led the No. 2 Braves (28-2) with a season-high 33 points after scoring 14 of their first 16 points, while junior guard Dvdaya Swimmer added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
After No. 7 East Bladen (26-4) kept up with Cherokee throughout the first half, heading into the break trailing by four points, the Braves exploded in the third quarter by outscoring the Eagles 18-8.
It was the advantage the Braves needed, as the fourth quarter was all Cherokee.
Both teams wanted to push the pace, and the game barely slowed after the tipoff. Cherokee took 51 shots in the first half, just 12 fewer than their season average for a complete game.
It’s the style of play that’s served the Braves all season, typically outrunning opponents and wearing them down to secure massive victories. But the Eagles came ready to run on their own, matching Cherokee step for step through the first half.
East Bladen couldn't keep up in the second half.
Cherokee is back-to-back 1A state champions after beating East Columbus last season,
(This article will be updated.)
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Cherokee defends 1A state championship with 84-48 win over East Bladen
Continue reading...
Senior guard Whitney Rogers led the No. 2 Braves (28-2) with a season-high 33 points after scoring 14 of their first 16 points, while junior guard Dvdaya Swimmer added a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
After No. 7 East Bladen (26-4) kept up with Cherokee throughout the first half, heading into the break trailing by four points, the Braves exploded in the third quarter by outscoring the Eagles 18-8.
It was the advantage the Braves needed, as the fourth quarter was all Cherokee.
Both teams wanted to push the pace, and the game barely slowed after the tipoff. Cherokee took 51 shots in the first half, just 12 fewer than their season average for a complete game.
It’s the style of play that’s served the Braves all season, typically outrunning opponents and wearing them down to secure massive victories. But the Eagles came ready to run on their own, matching Cherokee step for step through the first half.
East Bladen couldn't keep up in the second half.
Cherokee is back-to-back 1A state champions after beating East Columbus last season,
(This article will be updated.)
Evan Gerike is the high school sports reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @EvanGerike.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Cherokee defends 1A state championship with 84-48 win over East Bladen
Continue reading...
