SUGAR HILL, Ga. — Gainesville’s late run at a Region 8-6A title was dealt a crushing blow on Friday.
A rough shooting night hampered the Red Elephants as Lanier pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 50-42 win.
The loss for Gainesville (9-14, 7-3 Region 8-6A), coupled with first-place Shiloh’s (20-4, 10-1 Region 8-6A) 81-44 win over Jackson County on Friday, gave the Generals the region crown
Gainesville heads to Jackson County on Tuesday and then closes out the regular season against Shiloh in Snellville next Friday. If Gainesville can win out it could come down to a tiebreaker
Gainesville coach Charlemagne Gibbons said it just wasn’t the effort they needed coming down the stretch.
“I just didn't think we were very good tonight,” Gibbons said. “They are a very good team, but we just didn't play with them. We have to be confident about shooting the basketball. We just didn't shoot it very well.”
It was a close game most of the way, with Lanier (10-13, 5-5 Region 8-6A) leading just 15-13 after the opening period. The Longhorns pushed their lead to 22-18 at halftime as both offenses went cold.
In the third quarter the Red Elephants closed the gap to 32-30 but could not get any closer as Lanier outscored Gainesville 18-12 in the fourth to pull away late.
Brandon Nelson paced Gainesville with 15 points. Ellis Pitts added 13, but leading scorer Xavier Griffin was held to just two field goals and 7 points for the Red Elephants.
Dre Cowan led Lanier with a game-high 20 points. Tahai Morgan had 11 points, and Amari Morgan had 10 points for the Longhorns.
UNION COUNTY 102,
EAST JACKSON 71
The Panthers took over first place in Region 8-2A with a blowout win over the Eagles in Blairsville.
It also avenged an earlier loss to East Jackson.
Union County (19-4, 6-2 Region 8-2A) had five players score in double figures and used a huge second half to blow open a close game. The Panthers led just 53-46 at halftime but outscored East Jackson (10-12, 3-6 Region 8-2A) 49-25 in the second half.
Houston Henry led Union County with 28 points, including 4 3-pointers. Hayden Hughes added 26 points on 7 3-pointers, while Jude Ellis and Cade Dockery both added 13 points for the Panthers. Jaxon Totherow had 12 points.
East Jackson was paced by Birdy Cunningham with 26 points. Qua Watson had 20 points for the Eagles.
CHEROKEE BLUFF 77,
CHESTATEE 76
Boston Kersh hit a jumper with 8 seconds left as the Region 8-4A North champion Bears escaped with a win at home on Friday.
The War Eagles, who came into the game having lost four of their last five overall, had one last chance for the win, but a shot at the buzzer fell short.
Kersh’s game-winner was the last of 15 lead changes in the second half alone.
Bluff (18-6, 9-1 Region 8-4A North) led 25-24 after a wild first quarter. The War Eagles (7-17, 3-11 Region 8-4A North) pulled into a tie at 41 by halftime. The teams also played to a standstill in the third quarter as they went to the fourth quarter, tied at 58.
It was back-and-forth in the final period until Kersh’s shot, his only basket in the fourth quarter.
Logan Holmes led the Beards with 22 points, including four 3-pointers. Kersh finished with 14 points, and Bryce Horton knocked down four 3-pointers for his 12 points. Cooper Glover added 9 for Bluff.
Colton Wilbanks kept the War Eagles rolling, pouring in 19 of his game-high 31 points in the second half. He got help from Jordan Harris, who had 18 points, and Jace Tucker, who had 9 points and three 3-pointers.
Ethan Dunn and Josh Bull both added 8 points for Chestatee.
BUFORD 66,
COLLINS HILL 54
Buford ran its win streak to 10 straight with a big road win in Region 8-7A.
The Wolves (21-3, 9-0 Region 8-7A) got 20 points from Jackson Houston to lead the way. Asa Williams and Torre Costin each had 11 points for Buford.
Collins Hill (14-10, 4-5 Region 8-7A) dropped its third straight game in the region to drop to third place.
Javyn Smith led the Eagles with 17 points. Khy’lil Neal added 10 points for Collins Hill.
Buford already has clinched the top seed in Region 8-7A and an automatic berth into the state tournament. The Wolves will close out the regular season at home on Tuesday against Dacula.
JEFFERSON 61,
HERITAGE-CONYERS 55
Jaden Butts scored 17 points and pulled 17 rebounds to lead the Dragons (18-6, 8-3 Region 8-5A)past Heritage-Conyers on the road Friday night.
Clay Owen finished with 10 points, and Tra Harrison added nine points and 10 boards
The Dragons can lock up the No. 2 seed in the region tournament with a win over Clarke Central on Tuesday.
In Region 8-A Division 1, the Rabun County girls (17-5, 4-1 Region 8-A D1) will play host to Athens Christian (17-3, 5-0 Region 8-A D1) with the Lady Wildcats looking to pull into a tie for first place with just two more games to follow. However, the Lady Eagles, who beat Rabun County in their first meeting, can clinch the region title with a win.
NORTH HALL 89,
EAST FORSYTH 67
The Trojans snapped a two-game losing streak with a dominating win over the Broncos at home on Tuesday.
North Hall (11-13, 7-3 Region 8-4A North) led 33-26 at halftime but exploded for 58 second-half points to blow the game open.
Matt Ray was the catalyst, pouring 20 of his 22 points in the second half and 15 points in the fourth quarter. Andrew Bales and Cole Hulsey both had 18 points, as 10 different players scored for the Trojans.
Tyler Lesch scored 20 points to lead East Forsyth (7-18, 4-6 Region 8-4A North).
MARANATHA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 86,
TRINITY CLASSICAL 60
Maranatha's defensive effort in the third quarter was enough to spark a big win at home.
Tarrell Grant led all scorers with 35 points to go with 8 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals to lead the Eagles. Bode Fisher finished with 25 points and 10 rebounds for Maranatha (9-6).
Jaxon Merritt chipped in with 8 points, and Nigel Clayton added 6 points and 5 assists for the Eagles.
Maranatha will play host to Promise Prep on Tuesday.
LOGANVILLE 56,
FLOWERY BRANCH 54
The Falcons couldn’t hold on in the final two minutes to knock off Loganville at home on Friday.
Branch was up six points with just over 2 minutes left in the game.
Loganville led at halftime, 30-29, and was up 41-40 at the end of the third quarter.
All but two of the Falcons’ 14 points in the fourth quarter came from the 3-point line. The Falcons hit 12 3-pointers on the night.
Jordan Hayes led the Falcons with 18 points, 12 of which came from 3. Landon Mealor added 11 points.
WHITE COUNTY 64,
PICKENS 47
White County led most of the way but blew it open in the fourth quarter, outscoring Pickens 27-14 to knock off Pickens at home on Friday.
The Warriors have won the last 3-of-4 games.
David Boman led the Warriors with 18 points. He was one of three scorers in double digits.
Blayne Gunter added 16, and Dawson Oliver had 12 points.
LUMPKIN COUNTY 52,
DAWSON COUNTY 46 OT
Cal Faulkner exploded for 22 points in the second half to rally the Indians (12-12, 5-6 Region 7-3A) to the win in overtime at home on Friday.
Faulkner ended the night with a game-high 27 points.
Dawson County (13-10, 5-5 Region 7-3A) led 27-18 at halftime but allowed Faulkner to score 16 points during a 20-4 run that pushed the Indians ahead 36-31 in the second half.
In the fourth quarter, Dawson County went on a 10-4 run to take the lead off a Joshua Priest 3-pointer with 2:21 to go
But Lumpkin answered back to push ahead 46-43. Ethan Parker answered with the game-tying bucket with 8 seconds to go.
In overtime, Faulkner gave the Indians the lead 48-46 with 1:43 to go. The Indians outscored Dawson 9-3 in OT to seal the victory.
Caden Reed led the Tigers with 12 points. Priest and Trey Harvey added nine each.
Jan Chambers added 13 points for the Indians.
EAST HALL 81,
JOHNSON 48
Chris Alford and Chasen Jones scored 16 points each to lead the Vikings (13-11, 7-3 Region 8-4A North) past Johnson at home on Friday.
The Vikings led 32-19 at halftime and 56-36 at the end of the third quarter.
Jamarcus Harrison and Khalil Goss added 10 each. Caden Crocker chipped in nine points.
(See the entire scoreboard for Friday below.)
BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD FOR Friday, Feb. 2
Athens Academy 69, Banks County 63*
Rabun County 77, Athens Christian 65*
Buford 66, Collins Hill 54*
Cherokee Bluff 77, Chestatee 76*
Lumpkin County 52, Dawson County 46 OT*
Elbert County 59, Commerce 55*
Jefferson 61, Heritage-Conyers 55*
East Hall 81, Johnson 48*
Lanier 50, Gainesville 42*
Loganville 56, Flowery Branch 54*
Maranatha Christian Academy 86, Trinity Classical 60
North Forsyth 75, Habersham Central 71*
North Hall 89, East Forsyth 67*
White County 64, Pickens 47*
Shiloh 81, Jackson County 44*
Union County 102, East Jackson 71*
Warren County 65, Towns County 52*
(* -- denotes region contest)
