Playoff basketball: Area teams pull upsets, get upset in the opening round of state

The fourth-seeded North Hall girls went on the road and knocked off a region champ, while the Chestatee girls suffered a reversal of that fate on Friday, as the first round of the state basketball playoffs got underway.

Welcome to the GHSA's version of madness.

(NOTE: See below for a complete list of area scores and Saturday's playoff schedule.)

There was plenty to celebrate for area teams -- especially those in Region 7-AAA -- on the opening night of what is to be a grinding day-after-day bracket thanks to last week's winter weather postponements.

The Buford boys and girls each won their initial state battles, hammering Ringgold and North Murray, respectively, while East Hall's girls and Dawson County's boys also claimed victory, making it a clean sweep for 7-AAA teams on Friday. The Lady Vikings pulled away from North Murray, while Dawson County stiff-armed Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. It's an encouraging sign for the East Hall and White County boys and Dawson County girls, who are all set to play on Saturday.

Rabun County's girls also got off to a strong start in Class AA, pushing past Westminster. Also in Class AA, the Jefferson girls advanced with a 48-38 win over Lovett. The Jefferson boys followed suit with a 69-44 thrashing of Lovett as both teams moved in the second round.

It wasn't all perfect for area programs, however, as Region 8-AAAA champ Chestatee was edged out by Region 6-AAAA No. 4 Grady at home, while Gainesville's third seeded girls fell at second-seeded Tucker. Union County's boys and girls also suffered a sweep.

Check back throughout the night for updated scores as we receive them. And check our Sports and High School Sports pages for in-depth game stories.

FRIDAY'S PREP PLAYOFF RESULTS
SCORES POSTED AS RECEIVED

Class AAAAAA
North Forsyth girls 63, Central Gwinnett 49

Class AAAAA
Tucker girls 55, Gainesville 49

Class AAAA
Grady 55, Chestatee 51

Class AAA
Buford girls 64, Ringgold 29
Buford boys 68, North Murray 34
Dawson County boys 55, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 43
East Hall girls 61, North Murray 36
North Hall girls 62, Sonoraville 53

Class AA
Jefferson girls 48, Lovett 38
Jefferson boys 69, Lovett 44
Rabun County girls 69, Westminster 56
Wesleyan girls 82, Union County 26
Greater Atlanta Christian boys 83, Union County 22


SATURDAY'S PREP PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Class AAAAA
Gainesville boys at Miller Grove, 6 p.m. Saturday

Class AAAA
Johnson boys* vs. Stone Mountain, 6 p.m. Saturday -- RADIO: 550 AM/102.9 FM
Lumpkin County boys at Columbia, 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Class AAA
Dawson County girls at Cartersville, 6 p.m. Saturday
East Hall boys at Ringgold, 6 p.m. Saturday
White County boys at Cartersville, 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Class AA
Rabun County boys at Westminster, 6 p.m. Saturday