Jeff Hart

The Flowery Branch girls basketball team shot just 34 percent for the game, and just 24 percent from 3-point range, but still pushed Allatoona every step of the way before eventually falling 55-49 on Tuesday in the first round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

The Dawson County girls are making the most of their first trip to the playoffs in 11 years.

West Hall swept the doubles and won two tight singles matches to pull out a closer-than-the-score-indicated 4-1 win over Duluth Tuesday in boys tennis action for its first win of the season.

The North Hall boys tennis team knocked off rival Chestatee 4-1 Tuesday in their season opener.

The North Hall girls swept the doubles in taking a 4-1 win over Chestatee Tuesday in tennis action.

The Johnson baseball team opened its season with a 7-1 win over Tallulah Falls on Monday at home.

Even Gainesville, which is coming off a Final Four appearance last year in Class AAA, won

Despite starting the season 2-7 and 0-5 in Region 8-AAAAA play, Gainesville coach Todd Cottrell never doubted for a second that his group could still win the region title.

The Flowery Branch girls basketball team finished a disappoting Region 8-AAAAA tournament with a 54-38 loss to Cedar Shoals in the third place game Saturday night.

Shaquan Cantrell poured in 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead Gainesville to a 62-54 win over host Apalachee Friday night in the Region 8-AAAAA semifinals.