Thursday March 28th, 2024 7:12AM

(VIDEO) Basketball: GHS sweeps Lanier in 8-AAAAA

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

GAINESVILLE — After a self-induced two-week layoff, no one in the Gainesville gym was sure what to expect from the Gainesville boys basketball team Tuesday night.

Not even coach Benjie Wood.

“We just want to get back out on the court and play some basketball,” Wood said before the Red Elephants Region 8-AAAAA matchup against Lanier. 

And play they did. The rust took roughly four minutes to get knocked off but then Gainesville put together a series of big runs to roll to a 83-65 win over the Longhorns at the Gainesville gym.

The Red Elephants (7-2, 6-0 Region 8-AAAAA) had not played since Dec. 19 in a loss to Brentwood, Tenn. in the King of the Bluegrass tournament in Kentucky, which they had to leave after being involved in a fight against a team from Miami. They did not take part in the annual Lanierland Tournament.

Wood said he was anxious to see how his group would respond.

“They’re teenagers so you never really know how they react to things,” Wood said. “I was real pleased with their energy and the unselfishness. They have been real resilient through all of this. They have been good teammates to each other.”

The win kept Gainesville as the only unbeaten team left in 8-AAAAA and in first place just ahead of Apalachee and Cedar Shoals.

The long layoff showed early on as Lanier took the opening lead on a basket by Tyler Taylor. The Red Elephants rallied to take a 6-2 lead on a Simonds 3-pointer but Lanier tied the game at 7 on another basket by Taylor with 5:11 left.

It was all Gainesville the rest of the way. Messiah Dorsey drained a 3-pointer to reclaim the lead and the Red Elephants exploded for an 11-0 run on three 3-pointers, including two by Michael White, to close out the period for a 25-10 lead. Senior D'Marcus Simonds sparked the run with four assists, including three on the final three baskets of the quarter for Gainesville.

Simonds, who finished with 13 points, five blocks, six rebounds, and eight assists, said they were just glad to get back out on the court.

“We made some mistakes and suffered the consequences,” Simonds said. “But it felt real good to get out there and just play.”

The Red Elephants continued to press the action eventually taking a 34-14 lead on a pair of Bailey Minor free throws with just over four minutes left. Lanier answered with an 8-0 run but Gainesville took a 39-24 lead into halftime following a Harry Oliver 3-pointer.

Gainesville exploded out of the half using 10-3 and a 10-2 runs in the third quarter to run out to a 65-36 lead. Lanier cut it to 65-43 with a 7-0 run to close out the period but could get no closer than the final score the rest of the way.

Gainesville has a big week ahead traveling to Flowery Branch on Friday in a huge 8-AAAAA contest and then playing host to arch-rival East Hall on Saturday. Flowery Branch beat East Hall in the Lanierland Tournament finals.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Wood said. “Both teams have been playing well. It should be two good games..”

KJ Buffen paced Gainesville with 14 points. White had 13 points and Oliver and Dorsey each added 11 for the Red Elephants. As a team they dished out 21 assists.

Taylor led Lanier (5-10, 1-5) with a game-high 17 points. Juwan Jones added 10 for the Longhorns.

GAINESVILLE GIRLS     40
LANIER                          31

The Lady Red Elephants stayed perfect at home and kept pace with Flowery Branch atop the Region 8-AAAAA standings with the win.

It wasn’t a thing of beauty as the defenses for both teams forced nearly a dozen first half turnovers each. Gainesville (9-3, 6-0 Region 8-AAAAA) never trailed but led just 7-5 midway through the first quarter after Lanier’s Kalen Surles drained a long 3-pointer.

Gainesville briefly caught fire closing out the quarter with a 10-2 run fueled by a pair of Shikiya Brown 3-pointers, including one at the buzzer for a 17-7 lead.

The Lady Longhorns (5-10, 3-3) pulled within 17-11 early in the second quarter but the Lady Red Elephants took a 23-13 lead into halftime. Gainesville started strong in the second half extending its lead to 26-13 early in the third quarter.

Lanier began to chip away late in the third quarter and trailed 32-21 heading into the fourth quarter. The Lady Longhorns continued to chip away using an 8-2 run in the fourth quarter to get within 34-29 with 2:16 left.

Gainesville finished the game with a 6-2 run.

Taylor Hawks led Gainesville with 11 points. Breana Fair added 10 points and Brown finished with eight for the Lady Red Elephants.

Gainesville next will travel to Flowery Branch on Friday for the first of two battles with the Lady Falcons for first place in the region.

  • Associated Categories: Sports, High School Sports
  • Associated Tags: High school basketball, Gainesville boys basketball
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