GAINESVILLE - Looking to keep pace with White County in the Region 7-AAA North race, the North Hall boys basketball team could not afford a letdown against rival Chestatee Tuesday night at home.
The Trojans made sure of it early, opening the the game on a 15-2 run en route to a 64-44 win over the War Eagles.
It was the seventh straight win for the Trojans (13-6, 6-1).
In the girls game, North Hall ended its three-game losing streak with a 71-53 win over Chestatee.
Ronny Hulsey, who finished with 23 points, scored six straight points after a Russ Short 3-point play and dominated on the inside all night.
"We felt we could go inside and Ronny had a big game for us," North Hall coach Bobby Pless said. "Our starters are really starting jell. I like where we are right now."
Pless's lineup, however, took a hit as Josh Stephens went down in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Pless thought he might be out the rest of the season but Stephens, who was smiling as they carried him to the locker room after the game said he'll be back.
"I think I'll be back next week. It hurts but they said it wasn't as bad as they thought at first," Stephens said.
Pless said they will take an MRI of the ankle in the next couple of days.
"He's an important part of our team and we struggled some in the second half without him. I hope he's able to come back," Pless said.
Chestatee (3-16, 2-5) rallied to pull withtin 19-14 on a Jesus cantu 3-pointer just seconds into the second quarter. But the Trojans used a 17-2 run to finish off the first qhalf for a 36-16 halftime lead.
North Hall led by as many as 32 in the second half.
Tyler Smiley added 12 points, Short finished with 9 and Robby Hamilton 8 for the Trojans.
Cantu finished with 18 to lead Chestatee.
Saturday
July 5th, 2025
7:06AM
