GAINESVILLE — After suffering their first region loss in 53 games last week, the Lakeview boys basketball team rebounded in style on Friday.
The Lions, who fell short of the Region 8-A tournament finale in their previous outing, hammered Landmark Christian 85-49 in the first round of the Class A Private playoffs in Gaiensville.
Drew Cottrell paced paced Lakeview with a double-double -- 22 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists -- while Evan Pitts added 24 points and 7 rebounds. Arturo Varela also scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, and Jack Blackburn provided 7 assists.
The ninth-seeded Lions (21-7) moved on to the Class A Private Sweet 16, where they will travel to face eighth-seeded Holy Innocents. Game day and time is to be determined.
BANKS COUNTY BOYS 67,
COOSA 51
The Leopards (25-4) fought back from a first half deficit and pulled away for the win on Friday in the first round of the Class AA playoffs in Homer.
Banks County trailed 20-14 after the first quarter and 35-30 at halftime but piled on 21 third-quarter points to take a 51-47 lead. The Leopards then held Coosa to just four points over the final eight minutes to seasl the win and move into the Sweet 16.
Gabe Martin helped pace Banks County with 21 points, 6 rebounds and a steal, while Dylan Orr added 14 points, 22 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and a block. Darius Bonds also had 14 points, 7 rebounds, 12 assists and 3 blocks, and Bosko Norman chipped in with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and 5 assists. Gatlin Lunsford also finished with 8 points, 7 rebounds, a steal and 2 assists.
Banks County will play host to the winner of the Temple vs. South Atlanta contest on Thursday in the second round.
