Rome — A new venue gave a different feel to the fourth match-up this season between Wesleyan and Buford. What happened on the court, however, was entirely familiar.

Top-ranked Wesleyan beat Buford for the fourth time and advanced to the Class AA girls' final four with a 64-42 victory Saturday at The Forum in Rome. After ending Buford's season, Wesleyan will continue its own Thursday against Savannah Christian in Macon.

"We've been looking forward to March 8 all season," junior Erin Hall said, referring to next Saturday's state championship game. "So we're ready for it."

Hall led Wesleyan (28-3) with 21 points. Aysia McKenzie had 11 points and six assists, and Grace Leah Baughn had 10 points.

The win was Wesleyan's third in a row since losing to Greater Atlanta Christian in the Region 6-AA title game. Coach Jan Azar said that after that loss, Wesleyan's first since Nov. 30, her team has focused more on its own play than on which opponent it is facing.

"We weren't really concentrating on facing Buford," Azar said. "We just wanted to play our game. Because when we play our game, we don't feel like many people can keep up with us."

Wesleyan came out cold, making just one field goal in a first quarter that ended with Buford ahead 8-3. But with 25 first-half turnovers, Buford was too sloppy with the ball to take advantage.

Then Wesleyan hit its stride, opening the second quarter with a 15-0 run while holding Buford scoreless for more than seven minutes. Wesleyan led 31-17 at halftime and never let up in the second half.

"We just couldn't keep our poise," Buford coach Gene Durden said. "Their pressure caused easy turnovers."

Buford, led by Abby Johnson's 16 points Saturday, finished the season 24-7. Six of its losses were to either Wesleyan or GAC, the traditional girls' basketball powers in their region.

With only one senior this year, Durden said his team will benefit from the postseason experience next year.

"We've had a great season," he said. "We've learned a lot, and we're young. We'll be back."

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