GAINESVILLE - A win is a win.
But Gainesville boys basketball coach Jerry Davis was not happy despite watching his Red Elephants hold on for a 64-57 win over West Hall in the Region 7-AAA Tournament semifinals Saturday night at the Gainesville gym.
"I was displeased with out effort in the second half. We did some good things in the first half but the second half was not good, especially in the third quarter," he said.
"We have to play with some intensity from here on out or it will be a short playoff run for us."
Gainesville (23-4) will move to on play Flowery Branch (15-13) which knocked off defending Johnson 61-56 Saturday night. Game time is set for 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Gainesville gym.
It looked the rout was on early as Gainesville jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead. But the Spartans (10-13) responded with a 9-2 run to close to within 12-9 but Gainesville finished the quarter with a 9-0 run for a 21-9 lead. The Elephants outscored West Hall 14-9 in the second quarter to take what looked to be a commanding 35-18 lead at halftime.
But West Hall's Hunter Chandler had other ideas hitting two 3-pointers and helped shoot the Spartans back into the game with a 20-12 third quarter to close to within 47-38.
After Gainesville used a 6-0 run to pull out to a 53-38 to start the fourth quarter, the Spartans' Demagio Stephens got hitting two straight 3-pointers to get West Hall with seven points.
Stephens finished with 11 of his team-high 14 points in the fourth quarter but Gainesville traded baskets with the Spartans the rest of the way to hold on for the win.
Chandler finished with 11 for West Hall.
Tavious Pittman had his best in a while for Gainesville leading the Elephants with 17 points. Chaz Smith added 11, Jamarko Warren 10 and Joe Kennedy had nine.
(By Jeff Hart)
Monday
May 27th, 2024
7:12PM
