GAINESVILLE - Maybe the seeding process of the Lanierland Tournament knows-all after all.
The top-seeded Johnson girls upset Class AAA No. 1-ranked Gainesville Friday night in the semifinals of the tournament, 56-47.
In the other girls' semifinal, Flowery Branch beat East Hall, 59-48.
With the losses of Gainesville and East Hall, it will mean that for the fourth straight year a different champion will be crowned, the first time that's happened on the girls side since 1966.
Johnson and Flowery Branch will meet at 7 p.m. Saturday night for the championship. johnson last wom the title in 1991. Flowery Branch, in just its second year, it making its first final.
For Johnson, Whitney Randolph led the way pouring in 18 points. Tasha Humphrey led Gainesville with 25 points.
"We practiced hard all week and prepared for this game," Johnson coach Benji Wood said. "Our whole team played their hearts out and it was a complete team effort to beat this great Gainesville team. I'm very proud of my team and how they won tonight."
Wood said coming into the tournament that his team should not have been seeded first. Tell that to the Lady Elephants.
They turned the tables on the Lady Elephants, running out to a quick 14-3 first quarter lead. They led 35-20 at halftime.
For Gainesville, the loss means they will have won only one Lanierland title in Tasha Humphrey's four years but at least two state titles and a chance at a third.
FLOWERY BRANCH 59, EAST HALL 48: Kritina Tyler scored 19 points to lead the Lady Falcons. Courtney Newton added 17 and Beth Adcock had 13.
Whitney Pruitt paced the Vikings with 13 points.
"They kept the game close in ths first half, but we made some changes on defense that helped us pull away in the second half," said Flowery Branch coach Angela Middleton. "All my girls play hard and I'm very proud of them."
Flowery Branch outscored East Hall 22-11 in the third quarter to blow the game open.
The Lady Vikings seven got as close as seven the rest of the way.
Sunday
December 29th, 2024
2:40PM
