Jeff Hart

North Hall boys basketball coach Benjie Wood wouldn’t directly say he has been waiting for his Trojans to prove they are ready to join the ranks of East Hall and Gainesville as an elite program.

Jaymee Carnes didn't look her usual self for a half, but once she kicked her game into gear in the second half there was no question that the Gainesville girls basketball team was headed back to the Region 7-AAA championship game.

Flowery Branch girls basketball coach Hazel Hall vividly remembers sitting at the Lady Falcons home gym in December watching some other team win a Lanierland title on their court. It did not sit well with her at the time.

While Jaymee Carnes draws most of the attention for the Gainesville girls basketball team, the rest of the Lady Elephants showed Saturday they are not a one-girl show.

It’s been two LONG years for East Hall boys basketball coach Joe Dix. Two years since his Vikings have been to the state tournament. For Dix and most East Hall fans, it has been something they are unaccustomed to.

After surviving a one-point win over Lumpkin County two weeks ago on its home floor, the North Hall boys basketball team knew Friday’s Region 7-AAA quarterfinal matchup with the Indians for a spot in the Class AAA state tournament would not be easy.

After one half, Gainesville standout Jaymee Carnes was halfway to a triple double in the Lady Elephants’ Region 7-AAA Tournament first round game against White County Thursday.

Flowery Branch’s Jessica Harper was not ready to see her high school career come to end.

The first round of the Region 7-AAA Tournament has not been kind to the Pickens girls basketball team the last several years.

After watching Lumpkin County upset Flowery Branch in the opening game of the Region 7-AAA Tournament Wednesday, East Hall made sure the trend would not continue against Gilmer.