Clear Creek returned from Thanksgiving break to take on a pair of league opponents.
The CCMS Bobcats were at home last Monday versus the Lumpkin County Indians, and the Lady Cats were on the road.
The Lady Cats came away with wins of 38-19 and 52-31 in the seventh and eighth-grade games, respectively. The seventh-grade Bobcats fell 58-42 ahead of an eighth-grade win of 44-27.
The Bobcats returned to the road Thursday to take on Pickens, and the hometown Dragons won both games. CCMS seventh graders lost 66-27, and the eighth graders were defeated, 63-47.
The Lady Cats earned a win on the day as the seventh graders were victorious, 44-28. Pickens was able to top the eighth-grade Cats, 49-34.
Lady Cats
Coach Les McDaniel noted that while points did not come easy early on versus Lumpkin, the seventh-grade Cats followed the game plan and remained aggressive
“We preach to them often, ‘good things happen when you attack the basket.’ Our defense was great again and has really been this team’s calling card all season, defense leading to offense,” said McDaniel. “Our guards had active hands and played stingy defense all night. Likewise, our post did a good job of denying entry passes.”
Rosie Everett led the way with 10 points, Kensey Pritchett added eight and remaining points were scored by Makenna Taylor (seven), Braylee Stewart (six), Mary Grace Jones (five) and Alley Phillips (two).
The eighth-grade Cats kept the Indians guessing in the half court as their offense struggled.
“We switched up our defense several times throughout this game and our girls did a good job of keeping Lumpkin off balance,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel praised Morgan Palmeiri and Sarah Dale for their defensive intensity, Kenley Thompson and Jones for taking charges that swung the momentum and Jaylee McDaniel and Madison Hall for pulling down key rebounds late in the game. Hall also hit a three pointer that helped seal the win.
“This team’s ability to play man-to-man defense has improved by leaps and bounds,” McDaniel said.
“Offensively, we had nice ball movement and did a good job of playing inside-out basketball. This team’s court vision and awareness has improved tremendously and I’m proud of that for them.”
CCMS scoring: Thompson (14), Dale (11), Palmieri (10), McDaniel (eight), Emma Kate Bramlett (four), Hall (three) and Taylor (two).
Versus Pickens, the seventh graders maintained their attacking style on both ends of the court.
“Our posts were making good quick outlet passes and our guards were making the extra pass ahead, which we love to see,” McDaniel said. “We attacked the basket, and when we didn’t score, we often drew a foul and did much better at the free-throw line than in our past game.”
Taylor led the way with 14 points and was a defensive stalwart for CCMS. Jones and Pritchett both added eight points, Everett scored six and Phillips finished with four. Both Stewart and Lola Howard scored two.
Defense allowed CCMS to stay in the eighth-grade game, but fouls in the post did not make the Cats’ task any easier. The Cats were down 24-14 at the half, and Pickens did what it needed late in the game to cement the win.
“We had to start fouling down the stretch to stop the clock, and Pickens did a good job of knocking down free throws,” McDaniel said. “Offensively, we just couldn’t get going all night. We had several unforced turnovers and missed opportunities around the rim. We can and must be more efficient offensively.”
Thompson and Taylor each scored 11 points. McDaniel chipped in with six, and Palmieri, Dale and Jones each had two.
Bobcats
The seventh graders fell behind early versus Lumpkin but cut the deficit to five points entering the fourth. However, 21 LCMS points over the final seven minutes were enough to hold off the Cats for a 58-42 win.
The eighth-grade Cats had a well-rounded scoring effort while the Indians’ offense never got going. The Bobcats extended their lead through three quarters and held off LCMS in the fourth to win, 44-27.
Versus Pickens, the seventh-grade Dragons’ 24-point first quarter included seven scorers. Pickens’ well-rounded offensive effort kept the points coming, and CCMS trailed by 15 at halftime.
The Cats’ were unable to get their offense in gear in the second half, and the Dragons won with room to spare.
Pickens eighth graders snagged a quick lead before Clear Creek’s Douglas Callihan and Peyton Chancey gave the Cats the one-two punch needed to lead by two at the half.
The third quarter turned out to be the difference in the game where Pickens added 27 points to its tally for a 45-29 edge with a quarter to play. Points were traded evenly in the fourth as Pickens claimed the win.
Seventh-grade
1 2 3 4 F
CC 6 10 15 11 42
LC 11 17 9 21 58
CCMS scoring: A.J. Callihan, Noah Rice (15). Andrew Chastain (five). Silas West, C.J. Phillips (two).
1 2 3 4 F
CC 10 10 3 4 27
P 24 11 19 12 66
CCMS scoring: Chastain (10), Callihan (five), Rice (four), S. West (three), Jasper Barr, Easton Wright (two). Slade Smith (one).
Eighth-grade
1 2 3 4 F
CC 14 12 13 5 44
LC 8 1 7 11 27
CCMS scoring: Peyton Chancey (14), Preston McVey (12), Mason West, Douglas Callihan, A.J. Callihan (four). Jase McCollum, Andrew Chastain (three).
1 2 3 4 F
CC 2 18 9 18 47
P 12 6 27 18 63
CCMS scoring: Chancey (13), McVey, A. Chastain (nine), D. Callihan (seven) M. West (five). A.J. Callihan (four).