FLOWERY BRANCH - Less than a year after going 0-24, the Flowery Branch boys basketball team was on the verge of playing for a chance to go to the state tournament Monday night.<br>
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All that stood in their way in the Region 7-AAA South play-in game was a West Hall team that had lost 10-straight and lost to the Falcons by 21 just three nights earlier.<br>
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But it was not meant to be. The Spartans ended their streak with some timely free throw shooting at the end to take a 76-73 win at the Flowery Branch gym.<br>
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West Hall (10-14) will play the No. 1 seed from the North subregion, Class AAA No. 7 White County, Tuesday night in the Region 7-AAA Tournament, also to be held at Flowery Branch.<br>
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West Hall hit 20-of-25 free throws for the game. Jerry Kendall led the Spartans with 23 points and Will Bagwell had 19.<br>
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Flowery Branch Zack Swansey 25 points. Shane Strickland added 16 and Justin Heilman 10 for the Falcons.<br>
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West Hall took the lead for the first time late in the fourth quarter behind their three seniors - Kendall, Bagwell and Brooks. Bagwell hit a 3-pointer late and West Hall converted on six consecutive free throws to hold the victory.<br>
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Flowery Branch was down 1onewith 16 seconds left and the ball but Heilman's 13-footer hit the back of the rim.
