GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Gainesville avenged an earlier loss to Habersham Central on Friday, taking a 51-44 win at home in a key Region 8-6A game for both teams.
The win for the Red Elephants (7-13, 5-2 Region 8-6A) moved them into second place in the standings with three games left and split the season series with Habersham Central. The loss for the Raiders (16-5, 5-3 Region 8-6A) dropped them into third place.
Gainesville outscored Habersham Central 16-10 in the second quarter to extend its lead to 27-20 by halftime. The Raiders closed to within 38-34 heading into the fourth quarter, but Gainesville was able to pull away late for the win.
Ellis Pitts scored 19 points to lead Gainesville. Xavier Griffin had 13 points for the Red Elephants.
Enzo Combs paced Habersham with 10 points. Raiders leading scorer Josiah McCurry was held to just 7 points.
DAWSON COUNTY 50,
PICKENS 48
The Tigers used a big second quarter to grab the lead and then rallied from another deficit in the fourth quarter to take a big Region 7-3A win at home on Friday.
Dawson County (12-9, 5-4 Region 7-3A) trailed 16-8 after the first quarter but eventually caught the Dragons (15-6, 6-2 Region 7-3A) taking a 28-26 late in the second quarter as part of a 21-10 run. But the Dragons reclaimed the lead 43-40 heading into the fourth.
Dawson County held Pickens to just 5 points over the final 8 minutes and outscored the Dragons 8-3 down the stretch to pull out the victory.
Trey Harvey led the Tigers with 17 points. Caden Reed added 13, and Joshua Priest had 9 for Dawson County.
McCord Purdy led Pickens with 12 points, and Parker Davis had 10 points.
BUFORD 57,
MILL CREEK 41
The Wolves stormed out of the gates with an 18-9 run en route to the Region 8-7A win at The Buford Arena on Friday.
Seventh-ranked Buford (19-3, 7-0 Region 8-7A) took a 30-21 lead into halftime and then held the Hawks (9-13, 2-5 Region 8-7A) to just 5 points in the third quarter.
Kyle Carpenter led Buford with 13 points. Brennan Wansley and Asa Williams each had 9 points for the Wolves.
Stephen Jackson paced Mill Creek with a game-high 16 points.
JEFFERSON 55,
EASTSIDE 48
Jaden Butts scored 20 points and pulled 10 rebounds to lead the Dragons (17-5, 7-2 Region 8-5A) past Eastside at home on Friday.
Micah Hooper added 10 points and had eight boards.
It will be a key day for most regions as the jockeying for seedings for region tournaments heats up.
WHITE COUNTY 53,
WEST HALL 49
David Boman scored 13 points, and Dawson Oliver had 10 to lead White County (6-15, 2-6 Region 7-3A) past West Hall (5-16, 2-7 Region 7-3A) on Friday.
Braxton Anderson added nine points
SECKINGER 81,
NORTH HALL 74
The Trojans had their two-game win streak snapped by the Jaguars on the road.
Andrew Bales led North Hall with 21 points. Cole Hulsey added 16 and Matt Ray 14 points for the Trojans.
EAST FORSYTH 57,
WALNUT GROVE 54
The Broncos snapped a six-game losing streak with their first win over a South subregion team in Region 8-4A crossover play on Friday.
East Forsyth (6-16, 3-5 Region 8-4A North) trailed 19-14 after the first quarter but outscored the Warriors (11-11, 1-5 Region 8-4A South) 19-9 in the second quarter to grab the lead.
Walnut Grove cut the lead to 40-37 heading into the fourth quarter, but the Broncos were able to hold on down the stretch, going 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.
Tyler Lesch paced the Broncos with 18 points. Louie Koulouvaris added 12 for East Forsyth.
Marcus Smith led the Warriors with 20 points. Tyler Jewell had 11 for Walnut Grove.
CEDAR SHOALS 63,
CHEROKEE BLUFF 50
Cedar Shoals jumped out to a 19-5 first-quarter lead and built a 21-point halftime advantage en route to the win over the Bears on Friday.
Daniel Washington led the Jaguars with 12 points, seven coming in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, Bluff (16-6, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) struggled offensively, scoring just 28 points in the first three quarters, falling behind 51-28. Bluff found some offense in the final period, outscoring Cedar Shoals 22-12.
Bryce Horton led the Bears with 11 points.
ATHENS ACADEMY 75,
UNION COUNTY 45
The ninth-ranked Panthers could not keep up their momentum after a big road win at Banks County on Tuesday.
The Spartans (16-4, 4-2 Region 8-2A) exploded for a 27-12 first quarter and then extended their lead to 44-19 by halftime as the Panthers never recovered.
The loss dropped Union County (16-4, 3-2 Region 8-2A) into third place in the region, one-half game behind Athens Academy.
Jude Ellis led Union County with 10 points. Maddox Young and Kaden Combs each had 8 points for the Panthers.
BOYS SCOREBOARD FOR Friday, Jan. 26
Athens Academy 75, Union County 45*
Buford 57, Mill Creek 41*
Cedar Shoals 63, Cherokee Bluff 50*
Dawson County 50, Pickens 48*
East Forsyth 57, Walnut Grove 54*
Fellowship Christian 73, Banks County 70*
Gainesville 51, Habersham Central 44*
Gilmer 65, Lumpkin County 62 OT*
Jefferson 55, Eastside 48*
Madison County 79, Chestatee 61*
North Forsyth 55, Jackson County 42*
Providence Christian 81, East Jackson 77*
Rabun County 80, Commerce 51*
Seckinger 81, North Hall 74*
White County 57, West Hall 49*
Winder-Barrow 77, Flowery Branch 39*
(* -- denotes region contest)
