Friday March 29th, 2024 7:42AM

(VIDEO) Will talent or team decide the 58th annual Lanierland?

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

GAINESVILLE — From a historical perspective, the 2016 Lanierland Tournament was never going to match the 2015 edition, but it did see the Flowery Branch girls defend their 2015 crown for their first-ever back-to-back titles and the Gainesville boys produce the most lopsided finals win in the tournament’s history.

What drama is in store for the 58th edition of the state’s longest-running tournament is anyone’s guess. The three-day event will begin on Thursday at Lakeview Academy and finish on Saturday at Flowery Branch.

First round action opens Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Lakeview Academy gym with eight games. The contests will move to Flowery Branch on Friday and Saturday for the semifinal and finals. Friday's semifinals will begin at 4 p.m. and Saturday 's finals will tip at 7 p.m. Games will begin both Friday and Saturday at 9 a.m. with consolation round action.

(All-day admission to each day of the tournament is $7 at the door. Upon entry, the each person buying a ticket will be given a wrist band for re-entry, which will be good for the entire day.)

What we do know is that both the Gainesville boys and Flowery Branch girls are considered favorites to repeat. Both will certainly face some challenges.

But as much as the tournament is about team, fans will get a look at some of the area’s top individual talent in player’s like KJ Buffen (Middle Tennessee-signee), Kajuan Hale, and Bailey Minor from Gainesville to East Hall’s Luke Cooper and Luke Holtzclaw and Lakeview Academy’s Drew Cottrell on the boys side.

On the girls side there’s Flowery Branch’s Taniyah Worth (Alabama-commit) and Lexi Sengkemmee, West Hall’s Anna McKendree, East Hall’s Carly Winters (Georgia State-signee) and Chestatee’s Lindsey Caudell to name a few.

Most coaches will say it’s always about talent and that is something that has never changed for Lanierland. Lakeview Academy girls coach John Carrick said it has been a recruiters one-stop-shopping source for decades.

“Before I was at Lakeview I was at Georgia College (back in the 1990s), and I used to recruit the Lanierland tournament often because you got to see a lot of teams in one setting and they were all good,” Carrick said. “There’s plenty of talent this year to come and recruit.”

Carrick, who guided the Lady Lions to their best-ever finish in 2016 (fourth-place), said it takes talent to win in Lanierland.

“Last year we had Hannah Grogan, the top scorer in Lakeview history, boys or girls. We won’t have her anymore,” he said. “In fact, we lost three kids that are off and playing in college and don’t really have anybody that’s college potential on the roster as a senior, junior now. It could be a rough tournament.”

Flowery Branch boys coach David Sokol said another aspect that makes Lanierland intriguing is that the players themselves can offer detailed scouting reports.

“The players are familiar with it,” Sokol said. “There are times when we watch film and do a scouting report and I’ll ask those players, ‘hey, am I missing something that you can tell me about this player?’ Because they might have played rec ball, they might have grown up playing with them.” 

However, Chestatee girls coach Chris Guthrie said having the best player on the floor may not be enough.

“I think the team that wins Lanierland is the team that’s able to play together and use all five of their players,” Guthrie said. “We have a very good player in Lindsey Caudell. But by herself and Mckendree by herself, they’re not going to win the tournament. So I think it’s more the team that gets all five — obviously their bench players coming in — to contribute and really be contributors...those are the teams that are going to be successful.”

At 3-6 so far, the Red Elephants may seem vulnerable as a No. 1 seed but they have faced a monster schedule. Flowery Branch (7-4) comes in with the most wins on the boys side while East Hall (4-5) is riding a positive wave after a strong showing in the Carolina Forest tournament last week knocking off a nationally-ranked team. Johnson (6-5) and Lakeview Academy (4-3) are the only other teams to come in with a winning record.

For the top-seeded Lady Falcons, they come in 7-3 and as the two-time defending champs behind Worth. They are sure to be tested by teams like West Hall (8-5) and McKendree, last year’s runner-up, and East Hall (4-5) and Winters, who already has a 38-point game under her belt in 2017.

Gainesville boys coach Benjie Wood said despite the wealth of talent, his team is still trying to find its way. He says they are taking little for granted at the moment.

“Our focus right now is to take it one game at a time, one day at a time, one quarter at a time and even one possession at a time,” he said. “We try not to look at the big picture too much and control what we can control at the moment. There’s certainly going to be a lot of talent out there. Hall County is basketball tradition-rich so we’re expecting a battle every night.”

Below is a brief synopsis of each team heading into the tournament. (Teams listed in alphabetical order):

BOYS

CHESTATEE BOYS
RECORD: 4-8
SEEDING: No. 6 seed
FIRST GAME: vs. Lakeview Academy, 1:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 6th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Donovan Hernandez, Sr. G Cooper Wilson, Sr. F Nick Lyles, Jr. G Cameron Gwyn
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: No titles

EAST HALL BOYS
RECORD: 4-5
SEEDING: No. 2
FIRST GAME: vs. West Hall, 4:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: Runner-up
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Luke Cooper, Jr. G Luke Holtzclaw, Sr. G Deonte Evans  
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 24 titles, most recent in 2010; won 13 of 14 from 1994-2007

FLOWERY BRANCH BOYS
RECORD: 7-4
SEEDING: No. 5
FIRST GAME: vs. North Hall, 10:30 a.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 5th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. PG Blake Coxworth, Sr. F Myles Janess, Sr. F Justin Quick , Sr. G Patsheko Lutumba
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 1 title (2015)

GAINESVILLE BOYS
RECORD: 3-6
SEEDING: No. 1
FIRST GAME: vs. Johnson, 7:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: Champion
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. F KJ Buffen, Sr. F Bailey Minor, Sr. G Xavier Bledson, Sr. G/F Jarred Rosser, Sr. G/F Jarrel Rosser, Sr. G Kajuan Hale
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 19 titles, most recent in 2016; won the first two Lanierland tournaments (1960-61); won 9 of 11 from 1975-1985; only won 4 Lanierland's since 1992

JOHNSON BOYS
RECORD: 6-5
SEEDING: No. 8
FIRST GAME: vs. Gainsville, 7:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 8th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. PG Chan Jones, Sr. SG Will Ricther
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 3 titles as Johnson (1988, 2013, 2014); 2 titles as South Hall (1964 & 1967); last boys team to win back-to-back titles since East Hall (2006-07)

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY BOYS
RECORD: 4-3
SEEDING: No. 3
FIRST GAME: vs. Chestatee, 1:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 3rd
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Drew Cottrell (2015-16 Region 8-A Player of Year), Jr. F Evan Pitts, Sr. G Jack Blackburn, Sr. F Griffin Sewell , Jr. G Adam Cottrell, Sr. F Alec Bornhorst
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: No titles; 3rd-place finish in 2016 was the best-ever in program history

NORTH HALL BOYS
RECORD: 4-5
SEEDING: No. 4
FIRST GAME: vs. Flowery Branch, 10:30 a.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 4th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Taylor Hanson, Sr. G Noah Holman, Sr. G Cole Brooks
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 7 titles, most recent 2012; won 3 of the first 7 Lanierland's (1963, 1965-66)

WEST HALL BOYS
RECORD: 5-7
SEEDING: No. 7
FIRST GAME: vs. East Hall, 4:30 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 7th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jr. G Noah Edmondson, Jr. G Braden Martin, Sr. G Tae Reid, Jr. PG Jeremiah Prather, Jr. P Hunter Rainey, So. PG Devontae Buffington, Jr. W Quentin Smith
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 1 title (2008)

GIRLS

CHESTATEE GIRLS
RECORD: 4-8
SEEDING: No. 7
FIRST GAME: vs. West Hall, 3:00 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 7th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Lindsay Caudell, Sr. G Peri Satterfield, So. G Maggie McNair
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 1 title (2012)

EAST HALL GIRLS
RECORD: 5-6
SEEDING: No. 6
FIRST GAME: vs. Gainesville, noon
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 6th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Carly Winters (Georgia State-signee), Sr. G Summer Lindsey, Sr. W Macy Thomas, Jr. G Jenny Lopez
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 17 titles, most recent 2011; won the first two Lanierlands (1960-61); won 7 of 9 titles from 1977-1985

FLOWERY BRANCH GIRLS
RECORD: 7-3
SEEDING: No. 1 
FIRST GAME: vs. Johnson, 6:00 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: Champion
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Taniyah Worth (Alabama-commit), Sr. PG Lexie Sengkhammee (Emmanuel College-commit), Jr. G Caroline Wysocki, Jr. G Ashley Woodroffe
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 3 titles (2003, 2015, 2016)

GAINESVILLE GIRLS
RECORD: 3-3
SEEDING: No. 3
FIRST GAME: vs. East Hall, 3:00 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 3rd
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jr. PG/SG Tija Blackwell, Sr. PG Jada Harrison, Jr. G/PG Tia Shelton, P Tiya Cantrell
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 11 titles, most recent in 2014; won 4 straight from 1992-95

JOHNSON GIRLS
RECORD: 0-8
SEEDING: No. 8
FIRST GAME: vs. Flowery Branch, 6:00 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 8th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. PG Kenny Velasquez, So. SG Tori Smith, So. SF Amy Berry
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 5 titles as Johnson, most recent 2004; won back-to-back titles as South Hall in 1966-67

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY GIRLS
RECORD: 5-4
SEEDING: No. 4
FIRST GAME: vs. North Hall, 9:00 a.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 4th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: So. PG Jackie Allen, Jr. P Sadie Thrailkill , So. G Maddie Towles, Sr. G Maddie Blackburn
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: No titles; last year’s finish was the highest ever for the Lady Lions

NORTH HALL GIRLS
RECORD: 5-4
SEEDING: No. 5
FIRST GAME: vs. Lakeview Academy, 9:00 a.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 5th
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Jr. P Ansleigh Ferguson, Sr. G Natalie Nixon, So. G Macy Gillespie, Jr. G Macy Clark, Sr. G Camilla Howell
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 13 titles, most recent 2009, second-most to East Hall; won 4 of 5 from 1986-90 and 8 of 16 from 1975-90

WEST HALL GIRLS
RECORD: 8-5
SEEDING: No. 2
FIRST GAME: vs. Chestatee, 3:00 p.m.
2016 LANIERLAND FINISH: 2nd
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Sr. G Anna Mckendree, Sr. G Reagan Horton, Sr. G Kylie Passmore, So. F Kinsey Wilson, So. G Aashyah White, So. F Cadie Shirley, Jr. F Kylie Stasierowski
TOURNAMENT HISTORY: 4 titles, most recent in 2000; all 4 titles came in a 4-year stretch from 1997-2000

2017 LANIERLAND SEEDINGS
Based on 2016 Lanierland finish
GIRLS
1. Flowery Branch
2. West Hall
3. Gainesville
4. Lakeview
5. North Hall
6. East Hall
7. Chestatee
8. Johnson

BOYS
1. Gainesville
2. East Hall
3. Lakeview
4. North Hall
5. Flowery Branch
6. Chestatee
7. West Hall
8. Johnson 


2017 LANIERLAND SCHEDULE
First Round - Thursday at Lakeview Academy
9 a.m. - Lakeview girls vs. North Hall -- Radio: 1240 AM
10:30 a.m. - Flowery Branch boys vs. North Hall -- Radio: 1240 AM
Noon - Gainesville girls vs. East Hall -- Radio: 1240 AM
1:30 p.m. Lakeview boys vs. Chestatee -- Radio: 1240 AM
3 p.m. - West Hall girls vs. Chestatee -- Radio: 1240 AM
4:30 p.m. - East Hall boys vs. West Hall  -- Radio: 1240 AM
6 p.m. - Flowery Branch girls vs. Johnson -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
7:30 p.m. - Gainesville boys vs. Johnson -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM

Semifinals and consolation round - Friday at Flowery Branch
9 a.m. - Girls consolation
10:30 a.m. - Boys consolation
Noon - Girls consolation
1:30 p.m. - Boys consolation
3 p.m. - Girls semifinal -- Radio: 1240 AM
4:30 p.m. - Boys semifinal -- Radio: 1240 AM
6 p.m. - Girls semifinal -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
7:30 p.m. - Boys semifinal -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM

Finals and consolation round - Saturday at Flowery Branch
9 a.m. - Girls consolation
10:30 a.m. - Boys consolation
Noon - Girls consolation
1:30 p.m. - Boys consolation
3 p.m. - Girls third place game
4:30 p.m. - Boys third place game
6 p.m. - Girls championship -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
7:30 p.m. - Boys championship -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
 

ALL-TIME LANIERLAND CHAMPIONS
GIRLS
Team, number of titles
East Hall - 17
North Hall - 13
Gainesville - 11
Johnson/South Hall* - 7
West Hall - 4
Flowery Branch - 3
Chestatee - 1
Forsyth County - 1

Year, team
1960 -- East Hall
1961 -- East Hall
1962 -- Gainesville
1963 -- East Hall
1964 -- North Hall
1965 -- Forsyth Co.
1966 -- South Hall
1967 -- South Hall
1968 -- East Hall
1969 -- North Hall
1970 -- East Hall
1971 -- North Hall
1972 -- Johnson
1973 -- Gainesville
1974 -- Johnson
1975 -- North Hall
1976 -- North Hall
1977 -- East Hall
1978 -- East Hall
1979 -- East Hall
1980 -- North Hall
1981 -- East Hall
1982 -- North Hall
1983 -- East Hall
1984 -- East Hall
1985 -- East Hall
1986 -- North Hall
1987 -- North Hall
1988 -- North Hall
1989 -- Johnson
1990 -- North Hall
1991 -- Johnson
1992 -- Gainesville
1993 -- Gainesville
1994 -- Gainesville
1995 -- Gainesville
1996 -- East Hall
1997 -- West Hall
1998 -- West Hall
1999 -- West Hall
2000 -- West Hall
2001 -- East Hall
2002 -- Gainesville
2003 -- Flowery Branch
2004 -- Johnson
2005 -- Gainesville
2006 -- East Hall
2007 -- North Hall
2008 -- Gainesville
2009 -- North Hall
2010 -- East Hall
2011 -- East Hall
2012 -- Chestatee
2013 -- Gainesville
2014 -- Gainesville
2015 -- Flowery Branch
2016 -- Flowery Branch

BOYS
Team, number of titles
East Hall - 24
Gainesville - 19
North Hall - 7
Johnson/South Hall* - 5
Flowery Branch - 1
West Hall - 1

Year, team
1960 -- Gainesville
1961 -- Gainesville
1962 -- East Hall
1963 -- North Hall
1964 -- South Hall
1965 -- North Hall
1966 -- North Hall
1967 -- South Hall
1968 -- East Hall
1969 -- East Hall
1970 -- East Hall
1971 -- Gainesville
1972 -- East Hall
1973 -- East Hall
1974 -- North Hall
1975 -- Gainesville
1976 -- Gainesville
1977 -- Gainesville
1978 -- Gainesville
1979 -- Gainesville
1980 -- East Hall
1981 -- East Hall
1982 -- Gainesville
1983 -- Gainesville
1984 -- Gainesville
1985 -- Gainesville
1986 -- East Hall
1987 -- Gainesville
1988 -- Johnson
1989 -- Gainesville
1990 -- East Hall
1991 -- Gainesville
1992 -- Gainesville
1993 -- North Hall
1994 -- East Hall
1995 -- East Hall
1996 -- East Hall
1997 -- East Hall
1998 -- East Hall
1999 -- East Hall
2000 -- East Hall
2001 -- Gainesville
2002 -- East Hall
2003 -- East Hall
2004 -- East Hall
2005 -- East Hall
2006 -- East Hall
2007 -- East Hall
2008 -- West Hall
2009 -- North Hall
2010 -- East Hall
2011 -- Gainesville
2012 -- North Hall
2013 -- Johnson
2014 -- Johnson
2015 -- Flowery Branch
2016 -- Gainesville

*-South Hall became Johnson High

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