FLOWERY BRANCH — Rematches will highlight the finals of the 58th annual Lanierland Tournament Saturday night.
Arch-rivals Gainesville and East Hall will meet in the 7:30 p.m. boys final at Flowery Branch High School for a second consecutive season. The Vikings own the most Lanierland titles at 24 but have not claimed a crown since 2010. The defending champion Red Elephants are looking for their first back-to-back titles since 1991-92.
Gainesville boys coach Benjie Wood said it's always a special event.
“There always seems to be a little extra juice when (Gainesville and East Hall) meet in Lanierland,” Wood said. “We’re looking forward to the opportunity.”
East Hall coach Joe Dix said he never tires of the traditional rivalry.
“It’s always fun when we play Gainesville and I expect it will be a typical Gainesville-East Hall game,” Dix said. “But they are very talented and it will be a tough matchup for us.”
Gainesville moved into the finals with an 81-44 wipeout of host Flowery Branch. The Vikings rolled past Lakeview Academy, 75-62.
On the girls side, the Flowery Branch and East Hall girls will meet in the finals for the second time in three years.
East Hall moved into the finals with a 57-47 win over West Hall while Flowery Branch dismantled North Hall 75-50. Tipoff for the girls championship game is schedule for 6 p.m. Saturday at the Flowery Branch gym.
The Lady Falcons are going for their third consecutive Lanierland title while the Lady Vikings are looking for their first title since 2011. Flowery Branch is trying to become the first girls team to win three straight since West Hall captured four in a row from 1997-2000.
The Lady Falcons won the 2015 title with a 72-49 romp over the Lady Vikings for their first title since 2003. Despite the last finals meeting between the two girls teams, Flowery Branch coach Courtney Newton said they are expecting a battle.
“It’s the Lanierland finals. It’s always a battle and we’re expecting one,” she said. “East Hall is playing well and I’m sure they’ll be ready for us.”
East Hall coach Justin Wheeler said they will have their hands full.
"(Flowery Branch) is an excellent team and we'll have to play our best game of the season to have a chance," Wheeler said.
In other action on Friday:
For the boys, North Hall beat Johnson 69-66 on a three-point play basket with 3.4 seconds left and West Hall held off Chestatee 74-68 in consolation games.
In the girs bracket, Lakeview Academy beat Johnson 61-30 and Chestatee nipped Gainesville 44-43 on a late basket and then watched as a Lady Red Elephants half-court heave at the buzzer rolled in and out of the basket.
2017 LANIERLAND SCHEDULE
Finals and consolation round - Saturday at Flowery Branch
9 a.m. - Gainesville girls vs. Johnson (7th place game)
10:30 a.m. - Chestatee boys vs. Johnson (7th place game)
Noon - Chestatee girls vs. Lakeview Academy (5th place game)
1:30 p.m. - West Hall boys vs. North Hall (5th place game)
3 p.m. - Girls third place game - West Hall vs. North Hall
4:30 p.m. - Boys third place game - Lakeview Academy vs. Flowery Branch
6 p.m. - Girls championship - East Hall vs. Flowery Branch -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
7:30 p.m. - Boys championship - East Hall vs. Gainesville -- Radio: 550 AM/102.9 FM
