Jeff Hart

East Hall’s brief hiatus from the finals of the Lanierland Tournament ended Thursday as the Vikings advanced to the boys championship game with an 81-76 win over host Flowery Branch in the semifinals at the Flowery Branch gym. North Hall will join the Vikings in the finals after knocking off defending champion West Hall 60-39 in the other semifinal.

The North Hall girls are back in the Lanierland finals after taking a 51-29 win over Lakeview Academy Thursday in the semifinals at the Flowery Branch gym. Defending champion Gainesville also advanced with a 57-45, come-from-behind win over East Hall.

Ishmael Hollis poured in 38 points to lead Flowery Branch to a thrilling 68-67, come-from-behind win over Gainesville Saturday in the first round of the Lanierland Tournament at the Lakeview Academy gym.

No. 2 Gainesville rallied from an early first quarter deficit and then pulled away in the fourth quarter to beat Flowery Branch 45-34 Saturday in the opening round of the girls Lanierland Tournament at the Lakeview Academy gym.

The East Hall boys basketball team moved into the semifinals of the Lanierland Tournament with a dominating 78-43 win over Chestatee Saturday at the Lakeview Academy gym.

Buford will get the chance to defend its two-time Class AA state title. The Wolves rallied from an early first half deficit to beat Fitzgerald 38-28 Friday night in the semifinals.

Jacob Evans scored 24 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead Dawson County to a 67-32 win over Gilmer Friday night.

North Hall built an 18-point third quarter lead but then had to hang on in the final minutes to take a 60-52 win over Johnson Thursday in the first round of the boys Lanierland basketball tournament.

After a sluggish first quarter, the North Hall girls basketball team used an 11-4 run in the second quarter to take control and then cruised to a 65-33 win over Johnson Thursday in the first round of the Lanierland Tournament.

A year removed from it first-ever Lanierland Tournament title, the West Hall boys basketball team found out Thursday night that repeating won’t come easy.