Walton Win Has Raiders Closer to No. 1 Seed

Going into Friday's game against Etowah, the Raiders knew they needed three things to happen for them to clinch the No. 1 seed in the region tournament: they needed to beat Etowah, then beat Lassiter on Saturday and then cross their fingers and hope they win a coin toss against Wheeler. Well, they can scratch the first thing off their list. Behind 22 points from Lanerryl Esters-Johnson, Walton outgunned Etowah 85-63. Johnson scored 20 of his 22 in the game's first half.

Walton coach Joe Goydish thought his team played one of their best all-around games of February, "We want to be playing our best basketball and actually, this was our best game in about a week and a half," Goydish said. "We really got after them in the first quarter defensively."

The first quarter was a statement-making one for the Raiders as they jumped out to a 26-10 lead. The story of the quarter was Johnson, who returned after missing the last four games with an injury. "Lanerryl just gives us a whole other dimension," Goydish says of his senior star.

Johnson wasn't the only star on the court though. Walton's Karl Cochran and Chevalen Pearson also had solid games. Parson finished his night with 19 points while Cochran added 12. Nine different players scored points for the Raiders, something Goydish liked, "This was the best job we've done of distributing the basketball in about a month," the coach said.

Austin Miramonti led all Etowah scorers with 18 points.

Up next for Walton (17-6, 10-1) is Saturday's regular season finale against Lassiter. After that, they'll kick off region tournament play either next Wednesday or Thursday. If they end up being the one seed, they'll play Thursday. If they get the two seed, they'll play Wednesday. No matter what day they play, the game will be played at Etowah High School. 

Girls: Walton 67, Etowah 53

If Sarah Durdaller plays the rest of the season like she did Friday night, then Walton might never lose again. The Lady Raider senior exploded for 31 points as Walton knocked off Region 5-AAAAA No. 1 Etowah 67-53.

Durdaller scored 16 points during a backbreaking first quarter where Walton shot out to a 26-11 lead. "She's amazing," Walton coach Karen Duncan said of Durdaller. "I don't know what we would do without her. She's hardcore, she gives us great leadership."

The win was Walton's second over Etowah this season, an astonishing fact considering the Lady Eagles final regular season record is 20-4, 10-2 in the region.

"I've said from the beginning of the season that if we can play the way we should play, then we can beat anybody in our region and I honestly believe that," Duncan said. "We stepped up in both games [against Etowah]."

The Walton student section was energized by the return of senior guard Bria Bourgeois, who missed most of the season with an injury. The crowd cheered every time Bourgeois entered the game or scored. The senior finished her night with five points, "Having her on the floor is great," Duncan says of Bourgeois. "That senior leadership has propelled us to where we are."

Rachael Gibson, Walton's other senior starter, also had a big night. The point guard scored 17 points including two from downtown.

Etowah's (20-4, 10-2) leading scorer was Stephanie Huffman, who finished her night with 13.

Walton's (13-10, 6-5) regular season will conclude tomorrow night when they host Lassiter. Their first region tournament game will be on Tuesday at Etowah against an opponent that will be determined Saturday night.