JEFFERSON — After seeing its 18-year Georgia High School Association State Duals title streak come to an end in 2020, Jefferson got started on a new streak on Saturday at The Arena.
The Dragons made easy work of finals newcomer, and fellow Region 8-4A foe Flowery Branch, with a 61-15 win in the Class 4A finals.
But Jefferson wasn’t the only northeast Georgia area team to pin down a championship. Buford, in its first season in Class 6A, captured the 6A crown with a 46-17 over Creekview. North Hall won its third Class 3A title in four years with a thrilling 37-27 win over Gilmer.
Commerce fell 48-27 to Mt. Pisgah in the Class A final as Mt. Pisgah won the final three matches to pull away late.
Banks County finished sixth in Class 2A and Jackson County also finished sixth in Class 5A.
Jefferson stormed out to a 20-0 lead, including pins at 132-pounds and 138 before the Falcons managed its first win at 145 on a decision. The Dragons put the match away winning five straight after that, including pins at 160, 170, 182, and 195. They added pins at 285 and 106.
Flowery Branch got pins at 220 and 113 for its final points.
Commerce looked to be riding high after knocking defending champion Trion 32-31 on a tiebreaker and led Mt. Pisgah 18-9 early. But Mt. Pisgah tallied six pins and a Major Decision down the stretch to capture its first-ever GHSA wrestling title.
SEMIFINAL ROUND
Commerce avenged a loss in last year's Class A finals by knocking off defending champion Trion.
The Tigers pulled out a thrilling 32-31 win to advance to the final against Mt. Pisgah, which beat 2020 Class 2A state runner-up Social Circle in the other semifinal.
Meanwhile, Jefferson and Flowery Branch advanced to the Class 4A title.
The two Region 8-4A foes moved into the finals with thrilling wins in the semifinals. Host Jefferson held off North Oconee, a third Region 8-4A squad, 36-30 while the Falcons took a slim 37-33 win over Perry in the other semifinal.
In other Duals action around the state, Buford advanced to the Class 6A finals with a 37-33 win over top seed Alexander in the semifinals.
In Class 3A, top seed North Hall advanced to the finals with a 45-28 win over Sonoraville in the semifinals.
In Class 5A, Jackson County stayed alive for a possible third place finish nipping Ware County 34-33 in the consolation round. The Panthers, however, lost to Ola to be eliminated.
In Class 2A, Banks also stayed in the running for third place with a 42-36 win over Toombs County in the consolation bracket. But the Leopards fell to Vidalia.
INITIAL STORY
In the opening rounds, in the Class 4A meet in Jefferson, the host and top-seeded Dragons rolled past Central-Carroll 62-13 while No. 3 seed Flowery Branch advanced to the semifinals with a 56-21 win over Spencer.
In Class 3A being held at Cherokee Bluff, top seed North Hall moved into the semifinals with a 63-15 victory over Greater Atlanta Christian.
In the Class A meet in Trion, Commerce, the No. 4 seed, advanced with a 63-12 win over Screven County. The Tigers will take on defending state champion Trion in the semifinals in a rematch of last year’s championship match.
In Class 6A being held at Lassiter in Marietta, No. 5 seed Buford is into the semifinals after taking down Richmond Hill 38-18.
However, Jackson County in the Class 5A meet in Locust Grove, fell 67-11 to Cass in the opening round. The Panthers dropped into the consolation round and will take on Ware County trying to stay alive for a top four finish.
And in Class 2A in Lamar County, Banks County lost a heartbreaker, 37-33, to Lovett in the first round. The Leopards will take on Toombs County in the consolation round looking to stay alive.
