It was a stellar night for northeast Georgia area teams Wednesday night in the second round of the Georgia High School Association basketball playoffs.
(NOTE: Check below for a full list of area scores and a schedule of Thursday's second round playoff matchups.)
Seven of eight area programs moved on to next week's quarterfinals. Only the Lanier girls, who fell to 2017 state runner-up Harrison 61-54 in Kennesaw, did not advance.
And not only did the seven teams prevail, they did it in style as each won by at least 16 or more points.
The Gainesville boys routed Alexander 82-57 in Class 6A while the North Fosyth girls pulled away from Grayson in the second half for a 56-40 victory in Class 7A action. In Class 5A, the defending state champion Buford girls dunked Jackson-Atlanta 75-40 while the Flowery Branch girls clobbered Lithia Springs 68-39 on the road.
The Jefferson girls looked strong in whipping Pickens 62-40 at The Arena in Class 4A. In Class 2A, the Banks County girls exploded in the second quarter en route to a 70-28 win over K.I.P.P at home and the 2017 state runner-up Rabun County girls rolled to a 63-42 win over Lamar County on the road.
Nine more area teams will be in action on Thursday with several intriguing matchups, including the defending Class 5A state champion Buford boys playing host to perennial state power Miller Grove, the owners of seven state titles over the last nine seasons. In Class 2A, the Banks County boys will play host to defending state champion South Atlanta.
(NOTE: Click here for a round-up of contests involving northeast Georgia teams.)
SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF BASKETBALL SCORES/SCHEDULE
Area teams in bold
WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
CLASS 7A
North Forsyth girls 56, Grayson 40
CLASS 6A
Gainesville boys 82, Alexander 57
Harrison 61, Lanier girls 54
CLASS 5A
Flowery Branch girls 68, Lithia Springs 39
Buford girls 75, Jackson, Atlanta 40
CLASS 4A
Jefferson girls 62, Pickens 40
CLASS 2A
Banks County girls 70, KIPP 28
Rabun County girls 63, Lamar County 42
THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE
CLASS 6A
Lanier boys at Hughes, 7 p.m.
CLASS 5A
Flowery Branch boys at Lithonia, 6:30 p.m. -- RADIO: 550 AM/102.9 AM
Miller Grove at Buford boys, 6:30 p.m.
CLASS 4A
Jefferson boys at Lafayette, 6:30 p.m.
Stephens County boys at Sandy Creek, 7:30 p.m.
CLASS 3A
East Hall girls at Lovett, 6 p.m.
Dawson County boys at Cedar Grove, 7 p.m.
CLASS 2A
South Atlanta at Banks County boys, 6 p.m.
CLASS A Private
Lakeview boys at Holy Innocents, 7 p.m.
