T.J. Shipes scored a team-high 20 points, and the Buford Wolves held on to a 64-62 upset win over top-seeded Kendrick on Wednesday night in Columbus.
Trailing 12-2 early in the game, the Wolves (22-8) battled back to tie the game at halftime and stay with the Cherokees (22-7) throughout the second half. Buford had to finish the game without starting point guard Alex Flagler, who fouled out with two minutes to play after scoring 16 points.
The win, which snapped Kendrick’s 14-game win streak, sends the Wolves back to the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2006-07 season. Buford plays South Atlanta at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Northwest Georgia Trade Center in Dalton.
Baseball
JACKSON COUNTY 3, OGLETHORPE COUNTY 1: Austin Robinson pitched a complete-game shutout and allowed only five hits for the Panthers (1-3) on Wednesday in Lexington. Quinn Grogan, Robinson, Andy Williams, Troy McIntyre and Kelly Moates all had a hit for Jackson County, which visits Hart County at 5:55 p.m. Friday in Hartwell.
GAINESVILLE 16, LANIER 0: Skyler Weber had a pair of grand slams for the Red Elephants (3-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAA) in the fourth inning on Wednesday in Sugar Hill. He’s the first Gainesville player to have two grand slams in the same inning since Andre Williams in the 1980’s. Will Maddox added a pair of doubles for Gainesville, which hosts White County at 5:55 p.m. Friday at Ivey-Watson Field.
UNION COUNTY 13, TOWNS COUNTY 3: Brock Gordon pitched three innings for the Panthers (4-1) and compiled six strikeouts on Wednesday in Blairsville.
Trey Thomas led Union County at the plate with three hits, three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Coleman Sullivan added three hits with a double and two RBIs for the Panthers, and Daniel Coyne added a walk-off double and two runs scored for Union County, which hosts Lumpkin County at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
ST. FRANCIS 9, LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 6: Spencer Sorrells had three hits and a pair of RBIs for the Lions (1-3) on Wednesday in Alpharetta. Nick Drury, Jacob Whitenton and Taylor Simpson each added a pair of hits for Lakeview, which hosts Hebron Christian at 4:30 p.m. Friday in Gainesville.
PINECREST 11, RIVERSIDE MILITARY 9: Noah Curtis had a pair of hits and two RBIs for the Eagles on Wednesday in Gainesville. Mason Pope had two hits and an RBI for the Eagles, who host Pinecrest Academy at 5:30 tonight.
JOHNSON 19, WEST HALL 8: Trae Wilson hit a grand slam, a solo home run and a triple to drive in five RBIs in the win Wednesday at West Hall. Logan Pethel added a 3-run home run and Taylor Whitmire added a 2-run home run for Johnson (2-1, 1-0 Region 8B-AAA), which visits Franklin County on Friday.
Soccer
GAINESVILLE BOYS 6, WHITE COUNTY 1 (Tuesday): The Red Elephants (4-1, 2-0 8-AAA) were led by three goals from Christian Gomez. They’ll play at Franklin County 7:30 p.m. Friday.
JOHNSON BOYS 5, NORTH HALL 0 (Tuesday): The Knights got two goals each from Juan Morfin and Ariel Mejia.
Josh Martin and Eduardo Arellano combined for the shutout. The Knights host West Hall 7:30 p.m. Friday.
NORTH GEORGIA CHRISTIAN GIRLS 4, COLONIAL HILLS CHRISTIAN 2 (Tuesday): Led by three goals and an assist from Nicole Ball, the Lady Charters won Tuesday in Lithia Springs. Sarah Rhodes scored the other goal for North Georgia, which plays Heritage on Friday at Allen Creek.
NORTH GEORGIA CHRISTIAN BOYS 3, COLONIAL HILLS CHRISTIAN 2: Clay Cox, Andrew Pulliam and Dylan Boostram each scored Tuesday in Lithia Springs. The Chargers visit New Creation on Saturday.
Golf
JOHNSON FINISHES THIRD IN TRI-MATCH (Tuesday): Lumpkin County’s score of 159 was good for first place over North Forsyth (171) and Johnson (175) in a nine-hole tri-match. Carter Cagle led the Knights with a score of 38 and Luke James shot a 40.
Tennis
WEST HALL BOYS 5, FLOWERY BRANCH 0: Brenden Word, Max Wilson and Connor McFall swept singles in straight sets Wednesday at the Bobby Bailey Tennis Center. West Hall (8-0) hosts Oconee County at 5:15 p.m. today.
FLOWERY BRANCH GIRLS 5, WEST HALL 0: Anna Kate Shaw won No. 1 singles in straight games Wednesday in Flowery Branch. Elizabeth Mallory and Morgan Reed finished the sweep of singles, dropping six combined games for Flowery Branch.
FORSYTH CENTRAL BOYS 5, JOHNSON 0: The Knights (3-3, 2-2 Region 8B-AAA) only won one set Wednesday. Johnson visits Walnut Grove at 4 p.m. today.
GAINESVILLE BOYS 4, NORTH FORSYTH 1: Connor McMorrow, Jackson Goble and the teams of Austin Miller/Jake Maddox and Alexander Davis/Alec Zais earned with for Gainesville on Wednesday.
JEFFERSON BOYS 5, EAST JACKSON 0: Zack Bost, Blair Buffington and Ben Daniel swept singles without losing a game Tuesday at East Jackson.
JEFFERSON GIRLS 4, EAST JACKSON 1: Bell Blakenship, Taylor Bost and Tristan McGarity won singles matches in straight games Tuesday at East Jackson.
ATHENS ACADEMY BOYS 3, LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 2: The Lions earned doubles wins from the teams of Todd Williams/Seth Black and Grant Hocker/Will Kellemeyer in the loss Tuesday.
ATHENS ACADEMY GIRLS 5, LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 0: The Lady Lions lost in straight sets Tuesday.
Track
NORTH HALL BOYS 81.5, NORTH FORSYTH 51.5, SOUTH FORSYTH 36: Randy Olson placed first in the high jump and the 200-meter dash on Tuesday to lead the Trojans to the win.
Nate Simon won the long and triple jumps and Cody Barger won the 1,600 and 3,200-meter races, while Chase Yarbrough earned a win in the pole vault. Both the 4X100-meter relay team of Satterfield, Olson, Jacob Fortner and Hunter Berg and the 4X400 team of Simon, Satterfield, Lawson and Fortner took first place as well for North Hall.
NORTH HALL GIRLS PLACE SECOND: Ansley Lawson won the 1,600-meter race and finished second in the 800-meter and Victoria Rogers won the 3,200-meter and placed second in the 1,600-meter to lead the Lady Trojans to second place on Tuesday behind North Forsyth.
High school results may be reported by 10:30 p.m. by calling 770-718-3406, e-mail sports@gainesvilletimes.com. Results reported after deadline will appear in the following day’s paper.