FLOWERY BRANCH - There would be no upset this year for the White County boys basketball team.
The Warriors used a 12-4 run to open the game and then cruised from there in taking a 90-65 win over West Hall in the opening round of the Region 7-AAA Tournament Tuesday night at the Flowery Branch gym.
White County (21-5) the top seed from the North subregion, advances to the state tournament with the win and will play the Fannin County-Gainesville winner Friday night at 8:30 at Chestatee high School.
Last year White County was the top seed from the North but was beaten by Gainesville in the first round.
Coach Todd Cottrell, who has now guided the Warriors to the state tournament three of the last four years, said they wanted no repeat of last year.
"It's always good to get a win but our goal this year, like every year, is to make the state tournament and we have," Cottrell said. "What happened last year helped remind us of what we needed to do."
West Hall (10-15) cut the lead to five points midway through the second quarter, but White County used a 15-5 run to run out to a 50-35 halftime lead.
Heath Vinson provided most of the first half spark pouring in 18 of his team-high 26 points, including five 3-pointers.
In the second half White County used its pressure defense to force six straight turnovers to take a 67-47 lead. West Hall would not get closer the rest of the way.
"We feel the strength of our team is our defense and when we play with the kind of intensity we had tonight, we're a pretty good team," Cottrell said.
The Warriors built leads as big as 28 in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors' Emory Cain had 6 steals to go with his 18 points. Adam Cash and Jeff Belflower each finished with 17 for White County.
West Hall got into the region tournament with an upset win over Flowery Branch on Monday but could not find the same magic against White County.
Seniors Justin Brooks, 26 points, and Jerry Kendall finished their careers with solid games for West Hall.
Sunday
July 6th, 2025
4:41PM
