By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
High school scoreboard: Feb. 17
East Hall boys secure spot in state playoffs
Placeholder Image

The East Hall boys basketball team rode a 21-point halftime lead to the 77-47 win over Banks County in the second round of the Region 8-AA tournament Thursday at Hart County. With the win, the Vikings, who saw 13 players score in the victory, secured a spot in the state playoffs for the second consecutive season.

Joshua Hampton led East Hall (21-5) with 21 points, while Brian Edwards added 10. The Vikings will face Elbert County at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Rabun County for a spot in the Region 8-AA championship game.

Jacob Blalock scored 10 points to lead Banks County (6-18), whose season is now complete.

RABUN COUNTY BOYS 87, JEFFERSON 68: Tate Chesser scored a team-high 17 points an David Watson added 13, but it wasn’t enough as the Dragons (15-12) saw their season come to an end Thursday at Hart County.

Tanner Plemmons scored a game-high 33 points for Rabun County, which pulled away by outscoring Jefferon 31-18 in the final period.

BUFORD BOYS 61, BLESSED TRINITY 36: Kyle Kellam had a team-high nine steals to go with nine points as the Wolves earned a spot in the Class AA playoffs Thursday in Atlanta.

T.J. Shipes scored a game-high 12 points, while Nick Mitchell scored 11 and Alex Flagler added 10 for Buford (19-7), which outscored Blessed Trinity 31-14 in the second and third quarters. The Wolves will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Region 6-AA tournament in Atlanta against an opponent to be determined.

BUFORD GIRLS 74, ATLANTA-JACKSON 29:
Led by 22 points from Andraya Carter, the two-time defending state champion Lady Wolves secured a spot in the state playoffs Thursday in Atlanta.

Kaela Davis scored 16 points and Shereese Williams added 13 for Buford (22-3), which led 50-17 at halftime and limited Jackson to just 12 points in the second half.

The Lady Wolves will play the winner of Blessed Trinity/Lovett at 4 p.m. Friday in the semifinals of the Region 6-AA tournament in Atlanta.

NORTH GEORGIA CHRISTIAN 64, GRACE CHRISTIAN 52:
Led by a season-high 27 points from Zach Pendley, the Chargers won in the Independent Christian Schools of Georgia and Alabama state semifinals Thursday at Columbus State.

Ashton Wright scored 12 points and Clay Cox added 11 for North Georgia (18-6), which outscored Grace 33-18 in the second half. The Chargers play for the state championship against Horizon Christian Academy at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Columbus State.

Soccer

FLOWERY BRANCH GIRLS 2, LAKESIDE-DEKALB 1 (PENALTY KICKS):
Cassidy Elrod scored on a penalty kick with 2:16 left in the first half and the Lady Falcons converted all five of their penalty kicks after a scoreless overtime to earn the win Thursday at North Gwinnett High.

Lauren Dunn recorded 11 saves in goal for Flowery Branch (1-2), which won after Lakeside-Dekalb’s fifth penalty kick went off the post. The Lady Falcons will host Cedar Shoals in their first region game at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Tennis

WEST FORSYTH BOYS 4, FLOWERY BRANCH 1: The No. 1 doubles team of Luke Smith and Isacc Black earned the only win for the Falcons on Thursday in Flowery Branch.

Smith and Black won 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 for Flowery Branch (0-2) which visits Buford at 4 p.m. Monday.

GAINESVILLE BOYS 5, OCONEE COUNTY 0: Led by singles wins from Ryan Joiner (6-4, 6-3), Connor McMorrow (6-1, 6-2) and Austin Miller (1-6, 6-1, 6-3), the Red Elephants won Thursday.

The doubles teams of Jake Maddox/Jackson Goble (6-3, 6-1) and Alexander Davis/Alec Zais (6-1, 6-4) also won for Gainesville, which faces Walnut Grove at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Longwood Park.

WEST HALL BOYS 5, JOHNSON 0:
The Spartans won in straight sets Thursday at Bobby Bailey Tennis Center.

Brenden Worth (6-1, 6-0), Max Wilson (6-1, 6-0), Min Kim (6-2, 6-2), the team of Conner McFall/Grayson Kyle and the team of Ryan Casey/Conner Kirkland (7-6 (5), 6-1) each earned wins for West Hall (5-0, 2-0 Region 8B-AAA), which will host Walnut Grove at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Wrestling

THREE NORTH HALL WRESTLERS QUALIFY FOR QUARTERFINALS:
Tyler Kratzer (125 pounds), Shane Doster (171) and Lee Sisson (189) each won their match in the first round of the state traditionals Thursday at the Gwinnett Arena.

Kratzer, Doster and Sisson will wrestle in the state quarterfinals beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at the Gwinnett Arena. Should either win, the semifinals will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

TWO SPARTANS EARN WAY INTO QUARTERS:
Tanner Yates (140 pounds) and Logan Herford (145) each won their match in the first round of the state traditionals on Thursday at the Gwinnett Arena.

The two Spartans will wrestle in the quarterfinals, beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, with the semifinals to follow at 6:30 p.m.

High school results may be reported by 10:30 p.m. by calling 770-718-3406, e-mail sports@gainesvilletimes.com.

Friends to Follow social media