Both the Buford boys’ and girls’ basketball teams managed to hang on and win their respective region titles on Wednesday, Feb. 12.
Boys basketball
Buford 56, Collins Hill 55
The No. 1 team in Region 8-6A, the Buford boys basketball team traveled to take on the No. 3 team in the region, Collins Hill during the region championship game Wednesday night. In the third quarter, the Wolves came from behind and by the end of the quarter, they were up 40-36 over the Eagles.
Buford and Collins Hill stayed neck and neck throughout the fourth quarter trading the lead several times. During the last quarter, fouls would be called three times on Buford and five times on Collins Hill. It would be the last of the five fouls that would cost the Eagles the championship title as Buford’s Kyle Carpenter made the free throw and then point needed for Buford to defeat Collins Hill 56-55 to claim the Region 8-6A championship title.
Dillon Nixon led the Wolves’ offense with 17 points while Carmelo Williams was just behind him with 16. Buford goes into the GHSA Class 6-A state playoffs with an overall record of 23-3.
Carpenter, Nixon and Williams made the Region 8-6A All-Region Team. Edward Hunter III received an All-Region Honorable Mention, as did Torre Costin. Costin was also named to the Region 8-6A All-Defensive Team. Buford head coach Wes Parker was named the Region 8-6A Coach of the Year.
Girls basketball
Buford 56, Mill Creek 54
The lone loss for the Buford girls’ basketball team in Region 8-6A this season came at the hands of Mill Creek on Dec. 16. After that, Buford had a score to settle and they managed to do just that after soundly defeating the Hawks 70-58 during their next meeting on Jan. 29.
Fast forward to the championship game for Region 8-6A Wednesday and everyone knew it would be a close battle to capture the title.
Mill Creek, led by their star player Bella Ragone, led Buford 29-25 going into halftime. The Hawks lead by eight points at one point during the third quarter and by the end of the quarter, Mill Creek remained in the lead by three points.
In the fourth quarter, Buford comes from behind to take the lead on a free throw and the two teams continue trading the lead through the remainder of the game with the Wolves ultimately coming out on top with the final score 56-54. Buford captured the 2025 Region 8-6A title.
Buford’s offense was led by Lydia Ledford, who scored 24 points and E’miah Fields contributed with 20 points.
Going into the state playoffs, Buford’s overall season record is 23-2. The Wolves will be the host team for the first round of state playoffs on Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Buford Arena.
Ledford and Fields were named to the Region 8-6A All-Region Team and Audrey Adams received Region 8-6A All-Defensive Team honors.
