Basketball: Banks Co. teams make early statement in 7-AAA

OAKWOOD -- Whether the Banks County boys basketball team was looking to make an early statement in Region 7-AAA or not, its 66-45 rout of West Hall Tuesday on the road said it all.<br /> <br /> The Leopards (6-0, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) led from start to finish. They opened with a 7-0 run, used a 13-3 run to give themselves a cushion at 22-7, and then blew the game open with a 16-4 run to close out the first half for a 40-16 halftime lead.<br /> <br /> Banks County coach Mike Cleveland is enjoying his team's quick start out of the gates this season.<br /> <br /> "I like this team a lot," Cleveland said. "We threw them to the wolves the last couple of years but now they're ready to compete at a high level. This is a tough place to play anytime and I thought our guys really stepped up."<br /> <br /> Banks County outrebounded the Spartans (1-3, 0-1) by nearly 2-to-1 for the game and forced nearly two dozen turnovers. They opened up a 60-29 lead after the third quarter to put the game away.<br /> <br /> "I feel we have a good inside-outside group and they're playing defense the way we want them too early," Cleveland said.<br /> <br /> The first real test will come Friday when they play host to perennial power East Hall, which may have its best team in several years as well.<br /> <br /> "They are the measuring stick for sure and we'll see where we are after Friday," Cleveland said. "It's early but that is a big game for sure."<br /> <br /> Zez Steeple set the tone early with an opening layup and then assisted on two more baskets to build the 7-0 lead. Zac Orr helped control the inside with eight of his game-high 17 points in the first quarter to go with four rebounds.<br /> <br /> Kalmal Wiley and Steeple each finished with nine points and Austin Venable had eight points in limited action since recovering from an illness.<br /> <br /> West Hall was paced by Zack Majerus off the bench with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Hykeem Bennett added 10 points and Dylan Baron had eight points and five assists for the Spartans.<br /> <br /> <b>BANKS COUNTY GIRLS 80<br /> WEST HALL 41</b><br /> <br /> The Lady Leopards used a 20-0 third quarter run to blow things open en route to the lopsided win in both teams' Region 7-AAA opener.<br /> <br /> Senior Furman-commit Kaitlyn Duncan sparked the big run with six points, three rebounds and a pair of assists. Junior Jaylyn Lock hit two of her five 3-pointers as they turned a 41-31 lead early in the period into a 69-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter.<br /> <br /> Bank County (5-1, 1-0 Region 7-AAA) outscored West Hall (2-2, 0-1) 29-4 in the quarter. The Lady Leopards led by as many as 40 twice late in the fourth quarter.<br /> <br /> The game was close for the first 12 minutes. The two defenses set the tone early forcing 15 turnovers combined.<br /> <br /> West Hall led 3-2 after a 3-0 run but at one point in the first quarter but the Lady Spartans had almost as many turnover (8) as points (9) at one point. West Hall would get a spark from Kristen Hunter with four quick points to tie the game at 14-14 but Banks County answered with a 4-1 spurt in the final minute for an 18-15 lead.<br /> <br /> Banks County took control in the second quarter. After four straight points by freshman Anna McKendree to give West Hall a 19-18 lead, the Lady Leopards went on a 19-3 run, highlighted by three 3-pointers from Lack for a 37-22 lead.<br /> <br /> The Lady Spartans used a 7-3 run to close out the half to trail 40-29 at halftime.<br /> <br /> The Banks County press was tough forcing 33 West Hall turnovers for the game. Banks County had six early turnovers but just three over the final 13 minutes of the first half and finished with just 13 for the game.<br /> <br /> Lack finished with 21 points to pace Banks County. Duncan added 19 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists. Abby Parks and Allison Smith has 11 points each for the Lady Leopards.<br /> <br /> McKendree finished with 20 points, five rebounds, and two assists for West Hall. Hunter had nine points off the bench for the Lady Spartans.<br /> <br /> The Lady Leopards are a perfect 3-0 on the road so far in the early going. <br /> <br /> Banks County will play host to East Hall on Friday in an early key region showdown.<br /> <br /> West Hall will travel to Franklin County on Friday.