Web Daniel has turned Chestatee High into one of the most consistent girls basketball programs in Hall County. On Friday, he earned his 100th career victory, all with the Lady War Eagles (6-2), in a 41-29 win against Winder-Barrow in Gainesville.
"It feels great to win 100," said Daniel, who has produced back-to-back 20-win seasons at Chestatee. "To bring the program from where we started to where we are now is a great feeling."
Chestatee turned the game in its favor with an 8-0 run late in the first half, including a basket from Maegan Kenimer to take a 15-13 lead with 4:10 left in the first half.
She led the Lady War Eagles, who open the Lanierland against Jefferson at 3:30 p.m. Monday at East Hall, with 17 points and six rebounds.
"Maegan's been big for us all season," Daniel said.
Danielle Stephens also helped put the Lady War Eagles ahead during its run with both of her baskets on the night.
Kenimer, a junior, is the Lady War Eagles' inside threat to score most of their points in the paint.
Leading 21-15 at halftime, she started Chestatee on good footing in the second half with an easy layup on a pass inside, along with a basket at the buzzer to push the lead to 12 going into the fourth quarter.
Late in the third quarter, Bridgette Kelly put up a 3-pointer and a basket with a foul shot to complete another 3-point play.
Daniel feels like the team's early-season schedule has prepared the Lady War Eagles adequately for the four-day grind of the Lanierland tournament.
Chestatee's coach said the biggest challenge against Winder-Barrow was its unorthodox style of 1-3-1 defense, which took his team a bit of time to adjust to and slow down.
The Lady Bulldoggs built an 11-6 lead in the final minute of the first quarter with a basket off a steal from Brittany Hixson.
Jasmine Maske led the Lady Bulldoggs (7-2) with 14 points. Delorean Itabiyi scored seven for Winder-Barrow.
WINDER-BARROW BOYS 87, CHESTATEE 75: The War Eagles were leading by as much as 28-13 in the final minute of the opening period, but it wasn't enough to hold off the Bulldoggs, who went on substantial scoring runs in both the second and third period to win in Gainesville.
Trailing 49-48 early in the third quarter, Winder-Barrow went on a 14-0 run to take a 62-49 lead into the fourth quarter.
Chestatee, which remains winless on the season at 0-8, couldn't get any closer than 11 in the fourth quarter despite a team-high 21 point effort by Justin Jones.
The War Eagles face East Hall in the last game of opening round play of the Lanierland at 8 p.m. Monday at East Hall.
During its run in the third period, Winder-Barrow was quick to the basket and forced the War Eagles into a number of offensive miscues.
After Kendall Isler, who scored 21 points, went up for a wide open layup, Winder-Barrow forced the War Eagles into a turnover.
Trent Burton (20 points) responded immediately with a 3-pointer for the Bulldoggs, then got the ball right back after Chestatee was called for a travel. Jordan Banks scored a game-high 27 for Winder-Barrow.
Winder-Barrow tied the game with 3:10 remaining in the first half with a pair of free throws by Burton.
The War Eagles led momentarily in the third period with a basket by Keelan Passmore (14 points), followed by another basket from Lucas Bennett (16 points) to take a 49-44 lead.
Chestatee built a first-quarter lead with 3-pointers from Jordan DeGraff, Jones and Keelan Passmore. Jones' jump shot at the buzzer gave Chestatee a 30-17 lead going into the second quarter.