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A high school basketball playoff game in the state of Georgia ended in controversy due to an error made by the home team’s clock operator. The egregious mishap ended one team’s championship pursuit.
The mistake came in a girls’ hoops contest involving Cherokee Bluff and Monroe. It might’ve sent one deserving team home with a loss.
Both schools compete at the 3A level in the Peach State. Cherokee Bluff is located in Flowery Branch, a city in Hall County positioned between Charlotte and Atlanta.
The Bears travelled to Albany to square off against Monroe for the opportunity to make the Final Four in the Georgia Girls’ State Tournament.
Cherokee Bluff controlled the first half. They led the Golden Tornadoes 34-24 at the break.
A third quarter explosion allowed Monroe to take the lead. Drama unfolded in the final period.
Cherokee Bluff lost the Georgia high school state playoff game.
Despite falling behind to start the fourth quarter, the Bears regained the lead in the final seconds of play. Monroe trailed 61-60 with 6.8 seconds left on the clock.
They had an opportunity to go ahead from the charity stripe but missed back-to-back free throws to keep the deficit at one point.
Monroe then grabbed three offensive rebounds before sinking the go-ahead shot. Should it have counted?
The operator never started the clock. Six-to-seven seconds passed before the game-winning shot swished through the net.
Shameful. Home clock keeper don’t start the clock. @CBluff_WBB up 1 with 6.8 seconds. Clock never started.
Over 7 seconds goes off the clock before the last shot leaves her hands.
Game should’ve been over and Bluff going back to final four. @OfficialGHSA pic.twitter.com/ODqIu3rrab
— Michael Parker (@coachparker82) March 4, 2026
Was it home cooking?
It’s unclear who was operating the clock. The assumption is that it was a staffer affiliated with Monroe as it was the host team.
That may or may not be the case. It’s feasible to believe a neutral party was brought in for the postseason. Without clarity on the situation, controversy was sparked.
“Home court advantage…,” one follower wrote on X.
Another echoed the sentiment with a comment reading, “Ending the career of these kids due to a HOME clock keeper not starting the clock. Intentional or not, a home fan/clock worker should not end the careers of these young ladies.”
The basket was ultimately awarded to Monroe. Cherokee Bluff’s final attempt to win the game fell harmlessly to the ground after 4.7 seconds were put back on the clock.
“It was taken from us,” said Bears coach Kassie Scott. “I’m proud of my girls. I’m proud of my team, but that was absolutely taken from them.”
With the loss, Cherokee Bluff’s season ends. Monroe, meanwhile, advances to the Final Four where it awaits the winner of Stephenson and Sandy Creek.