Jeff Hart

As baseball openers go, it’s hard find one more impressive than Flowery Branch’s 12-0 rout of Buford Wednesday. The Falcons pounded three Buford pitchers for 13 hits in just five innings as the game was called because of the 10-run Mercy rule. James Mills allowed just three hits and struck out six in a complete-game effort to get the win.

Georgia junior and former Chestatee High standout Alex McRee threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings and nine Bulldogs had at least one hit in a 14-0 win over Youngstown State in front of 3,415 fans Saturday at Foley Field.

Jeremy Roenick picked up his 700th career assist in his return from a 10-week injury absence, and Ryane Clowe broke a scoreless tie 30 seconds into the third period of the San Jose Sharks' 3-1 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers Saturday night.

With just 2:14 gone, Mississippi coach Andy Kennedy called a timeout, gathered his players around him, balled his fists next to his face and laid into the Rebels for a less-than-lackluster start against Georgia. They got the message, held the Bulldogs without a point for the next 6 minutes and picked up a 69-47 win on Saturday that has them thinking about March.

Jeremiah Crutcher scored all 16 of his points in the second half and and former Chestatee High standout Parker Smith added 14 points to help lead Tennessee State past Detroit 78-75 on Saturday night.

Dante Curry came off the bench to score a game-high 14 points, including a 3-pointer with 3:50 left that put Georgia State ahead for good, in a 63-58 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday.

Gainesville boys basketball coach Todd Cottrell was the first to say it’s not about him. But after his Red Elephants held off West Hall 57-46 Saturday in the Region 7-AAA finals at the Chestatee gym, he had accomplished a rare feat: winning back-to-back titles with two different teams.

Gainesville girls basketball coach Manson Hill may not rank his teams, but after his current Lady Elephants’ squad held off arch-rival East Hall 46-39 Saturday night to win the Region 7-AAA title, he certainly has a special place for this team.

A funny thing happened during an expected shootout between West Hall and North Hall Friday night in the boys semifinals of the Region 7-AAA Tournament. Both defenses decided to steal center stage. West Hall held North Hall to just 20 points through three quarters and then pulled away in the fourth quarter in taking a 47-37 win at the Chestatee gym.

He might not have wanted to admit it then, but East Hall coach Joey Rider had a vision two weeks ago that his Lady Vikings would be playing for the Region 7-AAA title. Now, he doesn’t mind letting everyone know after East Hall beat Gilmer 59-46 Friday night in the semifinals of the Region 7-AAA Tournament at the Chestatee gym.