Boys basketball: Trojans set up showdown with Buford, whip Dawson Co.

MURRAYVILLE -- Despite a matchup with Class AAA No. 1 Buford looming on the horizon, North Hall did not steer away from the task at hand Friday night.

After a slow start, the Trojans exploded for a 26-8 second quarter and then held on for a 56-42 win over Dawson County in a key Region 7-AAA matchup for both teams.

The win for North Hall (14-1, 6-0 Region 7-AAA) sets up a monster showdown for first place in the region on Tuesday against the Wolves. Dawson County (14-2, 4-2) needed a win to keep pace in the region after falling to Buford on Tuesday.

For North Hall coach Benjie Wood, it was an effort to feel good about heading into their first meeting with Buford.

"This was a good win over a good team that is well-coached," Wood said. "(Tuesday) is just another regular season game. Buford is like an All-Star team so it will be a tough game. It really won't mean much overall. If we win, we're in first place. If we lose, we're second. There's still a long way to go."

The Tigers came out energetic to start the game using an 8-0 run over the final 5:27 of the first quarter to take an 11-5 lead. But the Trojans cranked up their defense in the second quarter forcing six Dawson County turnovers and getting a 9-0 run in the opening two minutes to grab a 14-11 lead, capped by a Taylor Ryder 3-pointer.

After the Tigers' Lucas Pain cut the lead to 14-13, the Trojans closed out the first half with a 17-6 run, powered by seven points from Ethan Smith and six from Griffin Olsen, for a 31-19 halftime lead.

Wood said they didn't do anything different except execute better in the second quarter.

"I liked our defensive intensity, especially in the second quarter," Wood said. "Matt Booth I thought gave us a huge spark tonight. He came out with energy and picked the rest of the team up."

Dawson County would stage a rally in the third quarter pulling to within 39-31 on a pair of Jonathan Sanderson free throws with 1:49 left. But North Hall would open the fourth quarter with a 5-0 run for a 46-33 lead and the Tigers would not get as close as nine points the rest of the way.

North Hall closed out the game with a 7-0 run after Dawson County had closed to 49-40 with just over two minutes left.

Ethan Smith and Adam Kelly would lead North Hall with 19 points apiece. Kelly had nine in the fourth quarter, including four straight free throws to help put the game away. Olsen finished with 11 points for the Trojans.

Camron Chester paced Dawson County with 11 points. Gunnar Armstrong had 10 points and Sanderson finished with nine for the Tigers, who were playing their second straight game without Will Anglin, who was suspended two games for receiving two technical fouls against East Hall last week.