The North Forsyth girls basketball team hosted the Gainesville Lady Elephants in Raider Arena on Tuesday, Jan. 12. 

Junior guard Anna Gliatta, #12,  led the way for the Raiders early as she was responsible for all nine points of the Raider’s offense throughout the first quarter. The defense was relentless as Gainesville was uncessefull at putting up many points.

The Lady Raiders kept up the pressure throughout the second quarter as they maintained a 13 point lead with 23-10 at the half.  Junior center Maddie Erickson, #32, kept the Gainesville team out of the paint, giving up virtually no points under the basket. Because of her dominance in the paint, Gainesville had trouble moving the ball around the court, forcing many turnovers.

Despite being down three junior starters, the Raiders did not let their foot off the gas or look unpolished. The Lady Raiders defense only allowed two points in the third quarter while racking up seventeen of their own. Gliatta took a tumble in the third quarter, which forced the Raiders to make a couple changes, but they were not slowed down. 

In the fourth quarter, despite being down four of five starters due to Gliatta’s injury, they pushed on with solid defense, outscoring the Elephants 11-7 in the fourth quarter. The visiting Elephants did not have enough offense to keep up as the Raiders won 51-19. The Lady Raiders prevail to 14-2 and 6-0 in region.

The boys followed up the girls at Raider Arena on Tuesday. However, they could not get the same results as the Lady Raiders. The Raiders started neck and neck with the Elephants in the first quarter, keeping the game within three points. Gainesville left the quarter with a 19-16 lead on the road.

Gainesville’s maturity and experience began to show as they pulled ahead in the second quarter. Despite the only senior on the team, center Jackson Olson, #32, finished the half with 15 points, and the Raiders still found themselves down 40-29.

Gainesville turned up the heat in the third quarter with a strong defensive effort, forcing many turnovers. When commenting on the third quarter, senior Jackson Olson expressed,  “We need to get rid of turnovers. Right now a lot of us are playing as an individual instead of the team, which we need to fix.”

The turnovers continued as the Raiders found themselves down 60-41 going into the fourth quarter. The Raiders were caught off guard in the fourth quarter as Gainesville looked more prepared and refined. It was not until the half way through the fourth quarter that the Raiders scored another point.

The Red Elephants used these turnovers as a catalyst for an offense, who was hitting on all marks. The Elephants quickly went up 72-46. Despite a try at a late comeback, the Raiders fell short falling 74-46 to the region opponents.

Olson led the team in scoring with 18 points on the night, but it was not enough to outmatch the Elephants and the Raiders fell to 4-12 on the season and 0-4 in region play.

 After the game, Olson was asked what responsibilities came with being the only senior on this year’s team and he said, “It is a lot different this year, as there were seven seniors last year. I really try to not only lead by voice but also example. [I] try to help the younger guys grow as a player and a person”.