Jeff Hart

A.J. Johnson celebrated his return from the Under Armour All-star football game by leading the Gainesville boys basketball team to a solid 74-64 win over Oconee County Friday night.

North Hall opened Region 8A-AAA play with a solid 77-36 win over Chestatee Friday night at home.

Class AAA No. 7 Chestatee used a 17-6 first quarter to grab the lead and then cruised to a 55-43 Region 8A-AAA win over arch-rival North Hall Friday night in girls basketball action.

Gainesville rallied from a halftime deficit to beat oconee County 36-33 Friday night in Region 8B-AAA girls action at the Gainesville gym.

Austin Pearson poured in scored 17 points to lead Lakeview Academy to an 81-34 whipping of host Tallulah Falls Friday night.

Class AA No. 2-ranked Buford tuned up for its battle with No.7 GAC Saturday with a 58-38 win over Decatur in Region 6A-AA action.

ison County knocked off Flowery Branch 61-51 Friday night in the Falcons Region 8-AAAA opener.

The Lakeview girls basketball team snapped a 10-game losing streak Friday night with a 57-13 win over Tallulah Falls in a Region 8A-A battle on the road.

The Flowery Branch girls basketball team dropped its Region 8-AAAA opener to Madison County 54-40 Friday night.

Two weeks ago West Hall blew a 22-point second half lead to Gainesville in a loss to the Red Elephants in the Lanierland Tournament. Tuesday night in a crucial early-season Region 8B-AAA contest, the Spartans again led by 20 late in the third quarter.