The Flowery Branch High girls basketball team pulled a first-round upset of No. 2 seed Southeast Whitfield with a 54-37 win Saturday in Dalton.

With the win, the Lady Falcons advance to the second round to face the Columbia/Hart County winner Wednesday.

“I’m very happy with how our team played,” Flowery Branch coach Hazel Hall said. “We talked all week about the fact that this was a business trip for our team, and we weren’t coming up here to fool around and have a little party.

“We had business to take care of, and they did that.”

Tied 22-22 at the half, Jessica Harper scored 19 of her team-high 24 points in the second half for Flowery Branch (17-10). For most of the second quarter, Harper was out of action after getting in early foul trouble.

“They really didn’t have anyone that was able to stop her,” Hall added.

Cara Chilton also had a big game for the Lady Falcons with 11 points, eight rebounds, five steals and three blocked shots. Cash Champion chipped in nine points and seven rebounds for Flowery Branch.