Jeff Hart

After the first quarter with his team leading Gilmer by eight points, Chestatee boys basketball coach Russ Triaga wanted to make sure there would be no late-game letdowns like ones against Pickens and Lumpkin County in the past two weeks.

Coming into this season, Gilmer wrestling coach Sam Snyder was wondering how his young team with no seniors and having to replace 10 starters from last year’s team would fare in the always rugged Area 7-AAA. Snyder has no doubts now after his Bobcats claimed their fifth straight Area 7-AAA traditional wrestling title Saturday holding off West Forsyth 197-172.5 at the Creekview gym.

Lumpkin County clinched second place in Region 7A-AAA Friday night with a 51-36 win over White County in boys basketball action.

Dawson County held Union County to single-digit scoring in each of the first three quarters en route to a 46-32 Region 8-AA win Friday night.

The Flowery Branch girls basketball team snapped a three-game losing streak with a 36-22 win over West Hall Friday night.

West Hall won its fourth straight Region 7B-AAA game with a 54-39 win over Flowery Branch Friday night at the West Hall gym.

Lakeview Academy kept pace with Athens Academy for second place in Region 8-A with a 61-47 win over Social Circle Friday night on the the road.

Social Circle outscored Lakeview Academy 18-10 in the third quarter to blow open a close game and then sealed a 51-42 win at the foul line in the fourth quarter in Region 8-A action Friday night.

The North Hall girls basketball team pushed No. 5 Gilmer the entire way but came up short in the fourth quarter in a 53-49 Region 7A-AAA loss on the road.

The Class AA No. 1-ranked Buford girls built a quick first quarter lead and then cruised to a big Region 6-AA 54-37 win over rival Greater Atlanta Christian Friday night.