GAINESVILLE — The North Hall boys basketball team stormed out of the gates but could not shake Carrollton in the first round of the Class AAAA playofs on Wednesday in Gainesville.
It proved all that the visitors -- specifically Jarel Rowe and Marshun Farris -- needed.
Rowe carried the Carrollton offense for much of the contest and Farris provided the final shot, sinking a last-ditch 3-pointer to knock North Hall from the Class AAAA playoffs in a 59-56 finish in Gainesville.
Rowe scored 15 of Carrollton's 22 over the final eight minutes and finished with a game-high 33. Farris managed 11.
It proved just enough to out-do a stellar night from North Hall's Carson Heinen, who so nearly shot the Trojans into the second round, scoring 27 points -- including six 3-pointers. The senior came out on fire, drilling four treys in the first quarter alone to help North Hall to a 17-11 advantage. But the Trojans could not pull away, as Rowe began to respond in the second quarter, scoring nine points to help Carrollton (12-14) to within 29-26 at the half.
Yet North Hall (21-8) kept Rowe quiet in the third quarter, as he managed just two points, and the Trojans increased their lead to 45-37 -- five different Trojans scoring during the period. Yet Carrollton's Desmond Webb kept the visitors in striking distance, scoring seven of his nine points in the quarter.
It set the stage for Rowe's and Farris' barnstorming finish that ended a strong campaign for the Trojans.
"That's the fourth-most wins we've had in 20 or 25 years," North Hall coach Tyler Sanders said. "I couldn't be more proud of them, this group of seniors, we've grown up together. I'm gonna be lost without them for a little while."
Fellow senior Harry Harper added seven points for the Trojans, while junior Evan Easton put up eight.
"Most of these guys that are graduating were playing when they were sophmores and some freshman; they've done a lot to get us to where we've expected to be," Sanders said of a group that includes nine players on the roster.
North Hall's season is now complete.
BUFORD GIRLS 63,
WHITEWATER 38
The Lady Wolves (23-5) broke open a close game in the third quarter, scoring 24 points after leading just 22-18 at the half.
The win moves second-seeded Buford into the Class AAAA second round, where it will take on No. 1 seed Mt. Zion, tip time still to be announced.
Tory Ozment scored 14 points to pace a balanced Lady Wolves line-up that also got 10 points from Marissa Bruce and nine apiece from Jessica Nelson, Zikaya Wright and Pamela Johnson.
