Flowery Branch upsets defending region champs, Johnson

GAINESVILLE - The Flowery Branch boys basketball team forced its own tempo on the Johnson Knights and that proved to be the deciding factor in the Falcons win over the defending region champs in the Region 7-AAA Tournament semi-finals.

The Falcons will go for their first region championship on Monday thanks to their 61-56 win over Johnson.

The Falcons aren't a great fast pace team and they know that, so they slowed the pace of the game down to a half court game and that helped to slow down the Knights high powered offense.

Near the end of the first half Flowery Branch's tempo started to become a factor.

A lay up by Jaybo Shaw and three point play by Josh Beale helped Flowery Branch go on an 8-0 run to end the first half.

During the Falcons' run, Johnson's offense went silent and allowed Flowery Branch to take a 32-27 half time lead.

Adarius Rodgers and Josh Beale each had 9 points by the half for the Falcons. Johnson's A.J. Gustavel helped keep the Knights close with 11 points.

Johnson came back and tied the game at 36-36, midway through the third, on a three pointer by Tracy Goss.

But a couple of minutes later Flowery Branch put their lead back up to 42-36 on a lay up by Colbey Newton.

Johnson's Tracy Goss answered the Falcons' run with a four-point play to pull the Knights back within 42-40.

Flowery Branch's Jaybo Shaw hit a big three pointer at the end of the third quarter to put the Falcons up 49-42.

In the fourth quarter, whenever Johnson scored, Flowery Branch would answer with a score of its own to hold onto the lead.

Late in the fourth quarter Johnson's Luis Romero was fouled on a three pointer and hit two-of-three free throws to pull the Knights within 58-56.

Flowery Branch then hit a free throw of its' own to make it 59-56 with about 30 seconds. Johnson had a couple chances to tie the game but no one was able to score.

Josh Beale sank two free throws with 12 seconds left to seal the win for the Falcons.

Johnson had plenty of chances to tie the game but struggled offensively and had a lot of turnovers late that proved to hurt them.

Flowery Branch's leading scorer was Josh Beale had 16 points. Adarius Rogers had 15 points and Kasey Randolph 11 points.

The Knight's top scorers' were A.J. Gustavel with 15 points and Jonas Randolph had 16 points.

Flowery Branch will play Monday at Gainesville High School at 8:30 P.M. in the region championship game.

Johnson will play in the third and fourth seeded game on Monday at 5:30 P.M.