Basketball season tips off

CUMMING - High school basketball season officially opened Saturday with several Hall County and northeast Georgia teams tipping off their seasons.

In the South Forsyth Turkey Shootout Tournament, the Gainesville girls basketball team opened its season with an impressive 54-44 win over Class AAAAA Roswell.

Sophomore Jaymee Carnes led the Lady Elephants with 30 points and 16 rebounds. Madison Strickland added eight points and Taylor Ricketts had six for Gainesville (1-0).

The Lady Elephants led 24-21 at the half and took a six-point lead into the fourth quarter.

Gainesville next will take on another Class AAAAA team in host South Forsyth on Wednesday.

Also in Turkey Shootout, Junior Jayla Moon had 13 points but it was not enough to lead West Hall past Class AAAAA Forsyth Central.

Senior Shelley added seven points and senior Tiffany Black had six for the Lady Spartans (0-1).

Forsyth Central (1-0) was paced by Caylin Davenport's 14 points.

Both teams will resume play Wednesday.

In Marietta in the Grey Hound Thanksgiving Tournament at Pope High School, seniors Kasey Smith and Erica Lackey each recorded double-doubles to lead the Chestatee girls basketball team to 47-36 over Class AAAAA Meadowcreek.

Smith had 13 points and 14 rebounds while Lackey added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Chestatee (1-0) broke open a close game outscoring the Lady Mustangs 14-5 in the second quarter to run out to a 22-11 lead.

Meadowcreek closed the gap to 33-25 heading into the fourth quarter but could get no closer.