Jeff Hart

The mission for Russ Triaga and his Chestatee boys basketball team is simple: create a mess in Region 7A-AAA in the final two weeks of the regular season. Step 1 was completed Tuesday night when the War Eagles knocked off North Hall 68-61 at the Chestatee gym. In the girls game, North Hall girls avenged an earlier loss to Chestatee with a 51-42 win.

Marist outscored Class AAA No. 8 Flowery Branch 18-9 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 64-55 win and David Pruett scored 29 points to lead Lakeview Academy to a lopsided win over Prince Avenue Christian Saturday night in boys basketball action.

Class AAA No. 3 Franklin County and Lakeview Academy get big wins Saturday night in girls basketball action around northeast Georgia. North Hall won its fourth straight game in beating West Forsyth in Region 7-AAA action.

Add yet another milestone to the outstanding career of Gainesville boys basketball coach Jerry Davis. Gainesville's 63-46 win over Buford Saturday night at the Gainesville gym gave Davis win No. 700 in his 28-year career. The Buford girls knocked off the Lady Elephants 37-31 in a battle of state-ranked teams in the first game.

Class AAA No. 9 East Hall used a 23-0 second half run run en route to a key 80-61 win Thursday night over Chestatee in Region 7A-AAA action at the East Hall gym. The East Hall girls made it a sweep with a 64-45 win over the Lady War Eagles in the first game.

West Hall needed a win to keep pace with undefeated Flowery Branch in Region 7B-AAA. Johnson needed a win just to stay alive in the subregion race. On the strength on a 24-10 third quarter the Knights came away with 75-71 over the Spartans Tuesday night in boys basketball action at the Johnson gym. The Johnson girls earned their third win of the season with a 38-31 win in the first game.

Pardon the Georgia Lady Bulldogs if they show up wearing ruby red slippers for Sunday afternoon

Mike Krzyzewski drew a circle around the basket on his chalkboard at halftime to make his point: Clemson was dominating that part of the floor, but Duke was in control everywhere else. The No. 7 Blue Devils overcame their decided size disadvantage with quickness, using 24 points from DeMarcus Nelson to beat No. 24 Clemson 93-80 Saturday night for their 22nd straight win in the series.

Tyler Smith made two free throws with 11 seconds left and No. 6 Tennessee got some small revenge for its NCAA tournament loss to Ohio State last season with a 74-69 victory on Saturday.

Jamont Gordon scored 24 points and keyed a late run in Mississippi State's 66-56 victory over Alabama on Saturday.