Basketball playoffs: Six area teams move through to Sweet 16

Six northeast Georgia teams moved on to the Sweet 16 Friday night in the first round of the 2017 state basketball playoffs...

The Gainesville boys routed Creekview, 82-42, in Class AAAAAA in one of the rare boys games on the night. Meanwhile, the Flowery Branch girls rolled over North Springs, 58-32, in the Class AAAAA playoffs. It was the first-ever playoff game in program history for the Lady Knights out of Sandy Springs.

In Class AAAA, the West Hall girls pounded Troup County 78-54 behind 33 points from Anna McKendree, and the Jefferson girls whipped Gilmer 58-35. In Class AAA, Dawson County girls started strong and held off Lovett 72-61. In Class AA, the Rabun County girls throttled Therrell 70-40 in Tiger. 

It was a rough night for some others, however.

Most notably was the Gainesville girls falling to River Ridge in a heartbreaking, 54-53 loss in Class AAAAAA at the Gainesville gym. Also in Class AAAAAA, Habersham Central girls battled Region 6-AAAAAA champion Creekview all night before falling 50-40. The Chestatee girls were knocked off by Chapel Hill 51-36 at home in Class AAAA. The East Hall girls fell to Redan on the road, 62-44, in Class AAA. The Banks County girls fell 68-62 to South Atlanta at home in Class AA.

First round action will continue on Saturday around the area and state for northeast Georgia teams.

Gainesville's Bailey Minor shoots over a Creekview defender in the Red Elephants' 82-42 win in the first round of the Class AAAAAA state tournament at the Gainesville gym Friday night.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/2/503502/basketball-first-round-mixed-results-for-area-teams