GAINESVILLE -- Things came full circle for Kristi House Saturday night.
The North Hall girls basketball coach watched as her Lady Trojans dispatched arch-rival Chestatee 42-29 in the finals of the Region 8-AAA tournament to win their first region title of any kind since 1991, when House was a member of that North Hall team.
"I hadn't even thought much about it, really, it was so long ago," House said. "I just really wanted this for our seniors so bad. They have had a tremendous year and this is just another accomplishment we put as a goal this year."
Experience played a factor as the Lady Trojans, loaded with seniors, used that advantage, particularly in the second half. After falling behind early in the third quarter, they regrouped after a technical foul on North Hall, and held Chestatee without a point for more than nine minutes.
"We told them to settle down and just do what they do and they did a great job of doing that," House said. "We knew Chestatee was not going to go away but we felt like our experience would be a big plus for us."
The nine-minute drought by Chestatee was fueled by the North Hall defense, which took advantage of a smaller Lady War Eagle team that was without leading scorer Maegan Kenimer, who was in foul trouble. Kenimer, who had 12 first half points, picked up her fourth foul midway through the third quarter and North Hall went on a 15-0 run to pull away for a 38-26 lead. Kenimer would eventually foul out with 14 points, just two after halftime, midway through the fourth quarter.
McKenna Rushton did most of the heavy lifting for North Hall during the run with 10 of her 18 points in the third quarter. She hit back-to-back 3-pointers to turn a 26-23 Chestatee lead into a 29-26 North Hall advantage and the Lady Trojans would not trail again.
Chestatee, playing in its first-ever region final, was looking to make a little of its own. But the Lady Trojans dominated the boards and eventually wore down the Lady War Eagles with its smothering pressure defense.
Early on it looked like North Hall was going to run the Lady War Eagles out of the gym. Two quick 3-pointers in the opening minute sparked an 11-0 run for the Lady Trojans.
Chestatee (18-10) did not get on the board until more than four minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Erin Clifford cut the lead to 11-3. Chestatee then began to chip away and pulled to within 15-8 on a Sam Brown free throw to end the first quarter.
The second quarter was nearly all Chestatee. After a basket by North Hall's McKenna Rushton pushed the lead to 17-8, Chestatee then went on an 11-0 run of its own and took its first lead, 18-17, on a jumper by Kenimer. North hall, however, would have the final say of the first half on a three-point play by Taylor Swoszowski for a 20-19 halftime lead.
North Hall and Chestatee will play host to first round games in the Class AAA state tournament, which begins next week, taking on the No. 4 and 3 seeds from Region 7-AAA, respectively.
OCONEE COUNTY GIRLS 56,
GAINESVILLE 54
The Gainesville girls will take the No. 4 seed from Region 8-AAA after falling to Oconee County Saturday in the consolation game.
The Lady Warriors outscored gainesville 12-10 in the final period but Gainesville had just one field over the final four minutes. The Lady Elephants had three chances to take the lead after getting to wihin one point but not convert.
Hunter Pugh led Gainesville 19 points.
Monday
February 3rd, 2025
4:56PM
