Jeff Hart

Flowery Branch advanced to the Class AAAA volleyball playoffs for the first time after winning a tough three-set match over Apalachee in the morning session of the Region 8-AAAA Tournament at Cedar Shoals High School on Saturday.

Johnson and West Hall may not sport the shining records of Flowery Branch or Gainesville, but the two south Hall teams always find a way to make the Battle of Oakwood a game to remember. And the 2010 edition may go down as one of the best in the annual dual.

Gainesville scored on five straight first half possessions, sparked by three touchdown passes from Deshaun Watson in a 41-7 win over Oconee County Friday night in a Region 8B-AAA game on the road.

Class AAAA sixth-ranked Flowery Branch scored 28 points unanswered points to end the game in taking a 42-7 Region 8-AAAA win over Habersham Central Friday night on the road.

Dylan Lackey and Jeremy Greenway combined for 188 yards rushing and three touchdowns to lead Banks County to a key 25-11 win over Dawson Friday in Region 8A-AA action.

Stephens County won its fifth straight game and scored its most points since 2007 in a 53-14 win over Chestatee Friday night at The Reservation.

Lakeview Academy battled back from an early deficit to take the lead against River ridge in the fourth quarter but couldn

Atlanta Thrashers goalie Ondrej Pavelec was in stable condition at a hospital Friday night after collapsing to the ice in the early minutes of the season-opening game against the Washington Capitals.

Union County qualified for the Class AA state tournament with a 2-0 win over Dawson County Thursday. The second-ranked Lady Panthers got a huge effort from Angie Hughes, who went the distance with 14 strikeouts.

Things went true to form in Region 8-AAA as the top four seeds all advanced to the upcoming Class AAA state playoffs.