Thursday proved a tougher day for northeast Georgia's prep basketball teams in the second round of the state tournament -- though there was still plenty to celebrate, as Gainesville, Buford and Lakeview Academy boys all marched on in postseason play.
Yet five other teams saw their campaigns brought to an end, as the East Hall, Banks County, Towns County and Tallulah Falls boys each fell, as did the North Hall girls.
Thursday's trio joined the six other squads already in the quarterfinal round after an impressive set of second round performances on Wednesday.
(NOTE: To see a complete list of second round state tournament scores from Wednesday and Thursday, as well as quarterfinal match-ups ahead for northeast Georgia programs, simply scroll down.)
Both Buford and Lakeview found themselves in shootouts on Thursday -- and shot their way right out of trouble, including a thrilling buzzer-beater for the Wolves, as Alex Jones drained a 12-foot jumper as time expired to nip New Hampstead 69-68 in Buford. As a result the Wolves moved on to the Class AAAAA quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.
Meanwhile, the Lions overcame a second-half deficit to force overtime -- and then a second overtime -- before clinching a 60-58 defeat of Wesleyan in Class A Private. It represented Lakeview's second straight quarterfinal berth and second in program history.
Gainesville's boys kept things much simpler, drilling Effingham County 70-44 in Class AAAAAA. The Red Elephants moved into the state quarterfinals for the first time since finishing as state runner-up in 2013.
Each of the nine northeast Georgia programs still alive will play one more round either home or away on Tuesday or Wednesday of next week before the state semifinals move into neutral gyms on March 4.
THURSDAY'S STATE SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF SCORES
Class AAAAAA
Gainesville boys 70, Effingham County 44
Class AAAAA
Buford boys 69, New Hampstead 68
Class AAA
Islands 89, East Hall boys 62
Johnson-Savannah 64, North Hall girls 38
Class AA
Josey 77, Banks County boys 68
Class A Public
Calhoun County boys 75, Towns County 48
Class A Private
Lakeview Academy boys 60, Wesleyan 58 2OT
St. Francis 79, Tallulah Falls boys 51
QUARTERFINAL ROUND PLAYOFF MATCH-UPS
(Tip times added when received)
Class AAAAAA
- Langston Hughes (Region 5, No. 3 seed) at Gainesville boys (Region 8, No. 1), 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Class AAAAA
- Warner Robins (Region 1, No. 1) at Buford boys (Region 8, No. 1), 6 p.m. Wednesday
- Buford girls (Region 8, No. 1 seed) at Warner Robins (Region 1, No. 1), 5:30 p.m. Tuesday
- Flowery Branch girls (Region 8, No. 2) at Carrollton (Region 7, No. 1), 6 p.m. Tuesday
Class AAAA
- Jefferson girls (Region 8, No. 1) at Carver, Columbus (Region 1, No. 1), 6 p.m. Tuesday
Class AAA
- Dawson County girls (Region 7, No. 2) at Morgan County (Region 8, No. 1), 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
Class AA
- Fitzgerald (Region 1, No. 1) at Rabun County girls (Region 8, No. 1), 6 p.m. Tuesday*
Class A Private
- Darlington (No. 11) at Lakeview Academy girls (No. 3), 5:30 p.m. Wednesday
- Athens Christian (No. 7) at Lakeview Academy boys (No. 2), 7 p.m. Wednesday
* - Coin flip determines home-court advantage
