Jeff Hart

Any other time over the past 49 years just the mere mention of a Gainesville-East Hall matchup in the Lanierland Tournament would require Fire Marshall approval to get into the gym. But Tuesday night’s showdown was like no other before. For the first time in the tournament’s history the two teams met in the consolation round after first round losses.

The final score Tuesday night showed Lakeview Academy 41, Johnson 25. But for the Lady Lions basketball team, it meant a lot more than just a win over a Hall County opponent. It was the first-ever win for Lakeview in the annual Lanierland Tournament.

Matt Ryan had a career day going 24-for-33 for 315 yards with one touchdown, but the Falcons came up short against the Saints, 29-25.

The Class AAA No. 3-ranked Gainesville girls basketball team turned up the defense in the third quarter outscoring Chestatee 12-3 en route to a 52-42 win in the first round of the Lanierland Tournament Saturday. Flowery Branch also advanced with 31-22 win over West Hall in the other first round game Saturday at the North Hall gym.

For the third straight year Lakeview Academy will be heading to the semifinals of the Lanierland Tournament after knocking off Flowery Branch 79-63 Saturday night in the opening round of the boys bracket. Johnson also advanced to the semifinals after beating Chestatee,71-62, in the other opening round game saturday. North Hall and West Hall advanced on Friday.

North Hall knocked off six-time defending Lanierland Tournament champion East Hall 98-84 Friday night while West Hall sent Gainesville into the conslation round with a 75-68 win Friday night in the first round of the 2008 Lanierland Tournament at the North Hall gym. The two teams will meet next Friday in the semifinal round at Gainesville High School.

It will be a rematch between the East Hall and North Hall girls basketball teams next Friday in the Lanierland Tournament. Only yhis time, the two teams will meet in the semifinal round. East Hall pulled away late to beat a scrappy Lakeview Academy team 44-31 while North Hall rallied in the second half to beat Johnson 59-47 at the North Hall gym.

The Flowery Branch boys basketball team outscored Buford 38-5 in the second and third quarters to beat Buford 70-29 Tuesday night in its home opener.

North Oconee hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to beat Chestatee 48-47 Tuesday night.

North Georgia led by as many as nine points in the first half, but fell 76-64 to the Railsplitters of Lincoln Memorial Tuesday evening in non-conference action.