CENTRE – Kori Walker’s debut as the varsity basketball coach at Cherokee County was a successful one Tuesday.

Behind Keon Rucker’s 19 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, the Warriors were able to claim a 55-45 win over Class 4A, Area 12 rival Hokes Bluff.

“With only three days of practice, our team showed some astonishing potential,” Walker said. “Our first game proved how hard transitioning between basketball and football really is. Our defense really kept us in the game, with a combined team effort of 19 steals.

"As the game wore on, fatigue played a big part in our physical abilities as well as mentally. But, now that we’ve accomplished our first win, we will continue to practice hard for more victories.”

Moryet Chambers added 11 points, eight boards and three assists for the Warriors (1-0). Colin Perry came away with 10 points and five rebounds. D.J. Fife finished with six boards.

Cherokee County will travel to Jacksonville on Monday for another area game.

Girls

Cherokee County 35, Hokes Bluff 33 – Deidra Davis netted nine points, all in the fourth quarter, to help the Lady Warriors pull out a squeaker against Hokes Bluff.

Cherokee County (1-0) was down 21-13 at the break and down by 10 points late in the third quarter before it began to chip away.

A Davis jump shot with 32 seconds left in the game gave the Lady Warriors their first lead of the game. A turnover and a free throw down the stretch by Candace Blanchard helped seal the win.

Blanchard finished with seven points. Tori Davis contributed eight points.

“I have never been so mad and so proud of my team at the same time, but we pulled out a big win against a very good Hokes Bluff team,” Lady Warrior coach Travis Barnes said. “We were basically outplayed for three quarters, and then we grew up and emerged the fourth quarter.”