With 30 seconds left, the North Hall student section could finally chant: “We want Gainesville.” They weren’t in position to safely say it any earlier.

The North Hall boys expected to have their hands full against Lakeview Academy in the first round of the 52nd annual Lanierland tournament on Monday at East Hall High.

The Lions didn’t disappoint, roaring back from a double-digit deficit to get within four points before the Trojans did what they have already done many times this season, hold on for a 77-71 win behind 18 points by Ethan Smith.

“We knew this was going to be a nail-biter,” said North Hall coach Benjie Wood. “If you want to win big games, you have to weather the storm.”

The Trojans (7-1) will play Gainesville at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson High in the tournament semifinals.

The last time the two played was in the Region 8-AAA tournament at Franklin County, a game that the Red Elephants won 72-69 to keep North Hall out of the state tournament.

“We’ve got a little bit of a grudge with them,” said Smith.

Lakeview (6-3) will play Johnson at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at East Hall in the consolation round. The game was originally scheduled for 1:30 but has been switched with the other boys consolation semifinal because Lakeview Academy is still in session for the fall semester.

The Lions entered the tournament on a six-game winning streak and very nearly left with seven straight. Austin Pearson led all scorers with 26 points for Lakeview, and Austin Montgomery added 24.

Pearson sank four 3-pointers and scored 14 points in the third quarter, as Lakeview climbed out of a 54-38 hole early in the third.

“We knew this was the best team they’d ever had,” Smith said. “And Pearson was lights out.

“It’s Lanierland, it’s always going to be a good game.”

The Trojans won, as they have all year, with balance. Besides Smith, Griffin Olson added 15 and Amin Aziz and Imani Cross added nine apiece.

It’s that balance that prevented Lakeview from shutting down the North Hall attack, no matter who was on the floor.

“We’ve got so much balance,” Smith said. “When I’m out of breath, we’ve got two shooters who can come in and make any shot.”

For awhile though, it was Lions’ senior Pearson who couldn’t miss.

With North Hall ahead 72-63 midway through the fourth, Pearson sank a 3-pointer to get within six. Montgomery added a layup to make it 72-68.

In typical North Hall fashion, four different players scored the final five points for the Trojans as they held on for the win.

The defense did the rest, preventing the Lions from coming all the way back.

“North Hall’s press was very effective,” Lakeview coach Seth Vining said. “Hopefully we’ll learn from it.

“That was a very good basketball team.”