Boys basketball scoreboard: North Hall wins clash with Chestatee; Buford, Lakeview, Towns, Lumpkin, Bluff all win

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — It is what everybody expects when two rivals play each other. 

The North Hall and Chestatee boys battled each other until the end, with the Trojans (8-11, 4-2 Region 8-4A North) taking the win, 83-76, at Lynn Cottrell Court on Friday in a key Region 8-4A contest. 

The War Eagles (6-14, 1-5 Region 8-4A North) fell behind by halftime, 41-34, but came out firing in the third quarter. Colton Wilbanks poured in 16 of his game-high 45 points in the third quarter to rally the War Eagles within a point, 57-56. 

He continued to carry his team in the fourth quarter, dropping 16 more points, but North Hall had seven guys score in the fourth quarter, including a combined 15 points from Cole Hulsey and Micah Jimmerson to hold off the War Eagles' run in the second half and get the win. North Hall outscored Chestatee 26-18 in the final period. 

Jimmerson led the Trojans with 17 points. He was one of five in double figures for the Trojans. Hulsey and Luke Sanders finished with 16 each, Andrew Bales had 14, and JT Chester chipped in 11. 

Jordan Harris finished with 20 points for the War Eagles. 

LUMPKIN COUNTY 46,
WESLEYAN 41

The Indians got a much-needed Region 7-3A win at Wesleyan on Friday, but it was a slow crawl to the end for both teams, especially the first half. 

The two teams struggled offensively, scoring a combined 11 points in the first quarter, and the Indians held on to a slim 16-15 lead at the half. 

It was neck and neck in the third quarter. Lumpkin's Cal Faulkner and Wesleyan's Tidwell did most of the scoring. Faulkner hit nine points in the third, and Brayden Tidwell had eight points. At the end of the third, Lumpkin was up 33-30.

The Indians outscored Wesleyan 13-11 in the final quarter to hold on for the win. 

Faulkner finished with a game-high 23 points. Tidwell led Wesleyan with 18. 

BUFORD 59,
DACULA 47

Brennan Wansley scored 15 points, and Asa Williams had 12 to lead the Wolves past Dacula on the road Friday. 

Geyon Greenlow led the Falcons with 14 points. 

TOWNS COUNTY 69,
LINCOLN COUNTY 51

The Indians (13-4, 8-0 Region 8A Division 2) jumped out to an early lead behind Zane Floyd and Tanner Cunningham in the first quarter to pace the win over Lincoln County at home on Friday.

Floyd and Cunningham combined for 18 of the team's 19 first-quarter points. The Indians led 19-15 at the end of the opening period and extended the lead to 39-27 by halftime. 

After a sluggish third quarter in which Lincoln outscored Towns, 17-15, the Indians slammed the door on a potential Lincoln comeback to get the 18-point win. 

The win leaves the Indians on top of the region standings. 

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 61,
LOGANVILLE CHRISTIAN 49

Mekhi Barber scored 25 points to lead the Lions (16-4, 3-0 GIAA) to the win over Loganville Christian on Friday. 

Keelan Harper added nine points in the win. 

CHEROKEE BLUFF 80,
JOHNSON 9

Logan Holmes scored 24 points, and Boston Kersh had 18 to lead the Bears past Johnson in Oakwood, Ga. on Friday. 

The Bears held the Knights to just one point in the second half. 

Tyler Underwood scored nine points, and KT Thompson finished with 8. Tanaka Mukono scored four points, pulled eight rebounds and swiped eight steals. 

Brayden Black led the Knights with five points. 

JEFFERSON 82, 
FLOWERY BRANCH 44

Micah Hooper scored 16 points to lead the Dragons past Flowery Branch on the road Friday.

The Dragons had five players score double-digits.

Drew Williamson had 12 points and 10 assists. Tra Harrison added 13 points and 14 rebounds, Josiah Morris had 12, DaShaun Keith netted 11 and Clay Owen chipped in 10. 

RABUN COUNTY 79, 
ELBERT COUNTY 61

Cooper Welch recorded a double-double to help the Wildcats knock off the Blue Devils on Friday.

Welch scored 23 points and pulled 10 rebounds to lead Rabun County in the Region 8A Division 1 win.

Hayes Free added 16 points, Huey Blalock hit 11 points and dished out nine assists, and Reed Burrell also turned in a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.