While 12 northeast Georgia high school basketball teams marched through the first round of the state playoffs on Friday, 12 more will look to join their ranks as another big slate of GHSA postseason play gets under way this afternoon.
(NOTE: For complete scores from Friday's games and a look at Saturday's playoff schedule, scroll down. You can also read in-depth game stories and watch video highlights from contests from around northeast Georgia on our high school sports page.)
Jacobs Media will carry two of today's contests live on radio, including the Gainesville and East Hall boys.
The Region 8-6A champion Red Elephants will play host to Pope in Class 6A in a game broadcast live on 1240 AM ESPN Radio. Meanwhile, the Region 7-3A third-seeded Vikings travel to take on 8-3A second seed Hart County in a game broadcast live on WDUN AM 550/102.9 FM. (Fans may also listen online.)
At least two area teams will fall on Saturday, as four programs square off against each other. Jefferson plays host to the West Hall boys and the Chestatee girls in a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 6 p.m. It is just part of a big night of high school basketball after Friday's showdowns cleared the path to the Sweet 16 round.
All three Class 5A teams and all three Class 2A teams swept through to the second round -- both Buford teams, both Banks County teams, the Flowery Branch girls, and the Rabun County girls all rolling to big wins.
In Class 5A, the Buford girls walloped a young Kell team 75-24 while the Buford boys routed Cass 82-49 at The Buford Arena. In Class 2A, the Banks County girls whipped Pepperell 52-30 and the Banks County boys pulled away from Coosa for a 67-51 win. The Rabun County girls blew past Rockmart 73-46. The Branch, meanwhile, lit up Rome 78-63.
In Class 7A, the North Forsyth girls used a 26-1 fourth quarter to take a 51-25 win over Mountain View. In Class 3A, the East Hall girls held off a late charge by Hart County for a 63-52 victory. In Class 4A, Stephens County knocked off Marist in a 68-44 thumping on the road.
The biggest surprises both came by Lanier teams in Class 6A. The Lanier boys took down 24-game winner Cambridge on the road for the program's first-ever playoff win. The Lanier girls also got their first-ever playoff win, beating Alpharetta 58-54 at home.
The Lakeview Academy boys fought off a slow start to rout Landmark Christian 85-49 at home in Class A Private.
However, five teams saw their teams come to an end on Friday.
The Gainesville girls fell 66-31 to Northview in Class 6A. In Class 4A, the West Hall girls were undone by a bad third quarter in a 50-32 loss to Madison County and the White County girls lost 53-51 to North Oconee on a buzzer-beater. In Class 3A, Dawson County could not get past undefeated Franklin County in a 56-35 loss in Carnesville.
In Class A Private, Galloway knocked out the Lakeview Academy girls 64-47 while Walker nipped the Tallulah Falls boys 65-64 with a late basket.
FIRST ROUND STATE PLAYOFF RESULTS FOR AREA TEAMS
FRIDAY SCORES
CLASS 7A
North Forsyth girls 51, Mountain View 25
CLASS 6A
Northview 66, Gainesville girls 31
Lanier boys 74, Cambridge 69
Lanier girls 58, Alpharetta 54
CLASS 5A
Buford girls 75, Kell 24
Flowery Branch girls 78, Rome 63
Buford boys 82, Cass 49
CLASS 4A
Madison County 50, West Hall girls 32
North Oconee 53, White County girls 51
Stephens County boys 68, Marist 44
CLASS 3A
Franklin County 56, Dawson County girls 35
East Hall girls 63, Hart County 52
CLASS 2A
Banks County girls 52, Pepperell 30
Banks County boys 67, Coosa 51
Rabun County girls 73, Rockmart 46
CLASS A Private
Galloway 67, Lakeview Academy girls 47
Walker 65, Tallulah Falls boys 64
Lakeview Academy boys 85, Landmark Christian 49
SATURDAY SCHEDULE
CLASS 6A
Pope (Region 7, No. 4 seed) at Gainesville boys (R8, 1S), 6 p.m. -- RADIO: 1240 AM
CLASS 5A
Flowery Branch boys (R8, 3S) at Villa Rica (R7, S2), 6 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Chestatee girls (R7, S4) at Jefferson girls (R8, S1), 6 p.m.
White County boys (R7, S4) at St. Pius (R4, S1), 7 p.m.
West Hall boys (R7, S3) at Jefferson boys (R8, S2), 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
East Jackson boys (R8, S4) at GAC (R7, S1), 2 p.m.
Monroe Area (R8, S3) at Dawson County boys (R7, S2), 5 p.m.
North Hall girls (R7, S3) at Morgan County (R8, S2), 5:30 p.m.
East Hall boys (R7, S3) at Hart County (R8, S2), 6 p.m. -- RADIO: WDUN AM 550/102.9 FM
North Hall boys (R7, S4) at Morgan County (R8, S1), 7 p.m.
