Jeff Hart

White County used a 10-2 opening quarter to grab the lead and then held on to beat Dawson County 50-42 Saturday in girls basketball action.

The 16-year wait for a Lanierland Tournament title is finally over for North Hall basketball fans.

The Class AAA second-ranked Gainesville girls came into the 50th annual Lanierland basketball tournament looking for their second straight title and to show they were still the top lionesses in Hall County and Region 7-AAA. Apparently, North Hall didn’t get the memo.

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.