CENTRE – Throughout their varsity basketball careers, Piedmont 5-foot-10 senior forward Sarah Garner and 5-11 senior center BreAnna Thompson have created matchup problems for their opposition.

On Tuesday in the opening round of the Cherokee Medical Center Thanksgiving Tournament, the duo was hard for the Gaston Lady Bulldogs to handle.

Garner posted a game-high 23 points and Thompson tallied 10 points to lead the Lady Bulldogs to a 46-25 victory.

“I think they were a matchup problem for them, that was the biggest thing,” Piedmont coach Matt Deerman said. “They both have the size, the quickness and the ability to go to the basket.”

Garner and Thompson made their presence felt early, leading Piedmont (1-0) to a 16-4 first-quarter lead and a 29-13 advantage at halftime. Piedmont led 38-17 at the end of the third quarter.

“We got out to a good start, but then we got a little complacent,” said Deerman, who noted the Lady Bulldogs only played seven players. “We can’t do that against good teams because it can come back and bite us.”

Kierra Porter led Gaston (0-1) with 14 points. Bre Green added six points for Piedmont.

Piedmont takes on Section in the tournament championship semifinals on Wednesday at 7:45 p.m. Gaston plays Alexandria in the consolation bracket at 2:30 p.m.

The following is a wrap-up of the rest of Tuesday’s tournament action.

Hokes Bluff 36, Saks 24

CENTRE – Carlie Shields netted a game-high 19 points to lead the Hokes Bluff Lady Eagles to a 36-24 victory over Saks in the opening round of the Cherokee Medical Center Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday.

Kendall Johnson and Hannah Evans both added six points for the Lady Eagles.

Jordan Briskey led Saks with 10 points. Taylor West contributed seven points.

Hokes Bluff held a 10-7 edge at the end of the first quarter and led 17-9 at the half. The Lady Eagles went on a 12-5 run in the third quarter to take a 29-14 lead.

Hokes Bluff advances to face Pinson Valley in the tournament championship semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. Saks will play Etowah in the consolation bracket at 4:15 p.m.

Section 57, Alexandria 32

CENTRE – Hannah Presley tossed in 31 points and Kaylea McAlister added 11 to lead the Section Lady Lions in a 57-32 rout of Alexandria Tuesday in the opening round of the Cherokee Medical Center Thanksgiving Tournament Tuesday.

Autum Hicks and Reagan Kipp finished with six and five points respectively for Section.

Carly Edwards led the Lady Cubs with 12 points. Mendi Lash had six points and Jaycee Cooper came away with five.

Section led 14-7 at the end of the first quarter and built a 26-14 advantage at halftime. The Lady Lions went on a 13-5 run in the third to take a 39-19 lead.

Section advances to the tournament championship semifinals, where it will meet Piedmont at 7:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Alexandria takes on Gaston in the consolation bracket at 2:30 p.m.

Pinson Valley 52, Etowah 43

CENTRE – Pinson Valley had three players score in double figures, helping the Lady Indians capture a 52-43 victory over Etowah Tuesday in the opening round of the Cherokee Medical Center Thanksgiving Tournament.

Destini McKinney led the charge with 11 points. Maralie McKinney and Alex Lowery both netted 10 points. Karianna McAdoo had nine points and Nahtika Belser finished with six points for the Lady Indians.

Maelin Trammell led Etowah with 12 points. Kaelin Trammell added 11 points. Neah Meeks tallied six points. Haley Hyde and Brooke Perry both finished with five points for the Lady Blue Devils.

Pinson Valley jumped out to an 18-4 advantage in the first quarter and led 29-17 at halftime. The Lady Indians held a 42-26 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Pinson Valley takes on Hokes Bluff on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the tournament championship semifinals. Etowah faces Saks at 4:15 p.m. in the consolation bracket.