GAINESVILLE — Pressure situations are nothing new to Zac Swansey. He’ll always be synonymous with hitting the game-winning shot for Georgia to beat Kentucky in the tornado-ravaged SEC Tournament in 2008.
But as the new West Hall boys basketball coach coaching his first varsity game, even Swansey had to admit there were plenty of butterflies before the opening tip.
“More anxious than nerves, really,” Swansey said. “I was more worried about the guys and how they would play.”
Unfortunately for Swansey and the Spartans, it resembled a typical first game of the season. They looked good at times, not so good at others, and eventually fell 76-69 to Forsyth Central Saturday in the Turkey Shootout at the Chestatee High gym.
The Spartans (0-1) fell behind early, trailed by 15 at halftime, rallied in the second half to force overtime, but then ran out of gas in the extra period.
“There may have been a few nerves but really we just didn’t bring it in the first half,” Swansey said. “I told them at halftime they could come out and fight or quit. I was proud of how they responded.”
Xzavier Reid hit a rainbow 3-pointer with 32 seconds left to tie the game at 59 in regulation and both teams had chances to win it. A Dylan Curry shot missed for the Spartans and Cale Jackson’s floater for the Bulldogs bounced off the rim.
In the overtime, the Bulldogs opened with a 7-1 run and then held off a late West Hall charge at the free throw line.
Jackson and Ethan Hester each finished with 22 points to pace the Bulldogs (1-1). Parker Biederer and Monty Kurtz each had 10 points for Forsyth Central, who will play White County in the second round on Monday at 5 p.m. at Chestatee.
Curry poured in 18 points to lead West Hall. Reid and Esteban Ulloa each had 14 points and Markus Jones had nine for the Spartans, who will take on Creekview in the consolation round at 10:30 a.m.
WHITE COUNTY 83
CREEKVIEW 76
The Warriors poured in 30 fourth quarter points to rally past the Grizzles in the first round.
White County (2-0) led 21-17 after the first quarter but trailed 38-37 at halftime and then 56-53 heading into the fourth quarter. But behind John Ward and Whit Mauney, the Warriors outscored Creekview 30-20 in the final period to pull away for the win.
The difference was at the free throw line where the Warriors were 28-for-38 (73.6 percent) for the game. The Grizzlies were just 15-of-23 for the game.
Ward finished with a game-high 28 points to pace White County. Mauney finished with 24 and Brad Hurst added 19 for the Warriors.
Grigsby Wilkie led Creekview (2-1) with 22 points. John Gibbs had 15, Cale Mikes 11, and Chandler Wright 10 for the Grizzlies.
UPSON LEE 73
JOHNSON 41
Upson Lee used a pair of 15-0 runs, one in each half, en route to the big win over Johnson.
The two teams traded the lead early before Johnson (1-2) took a 13-10 lead into the second quarter. But Upson Lee exploded for a 15-0 run to open the second quarter and ran out to a 33-17 halftime lead.
Johnson opened the third quarter with a 4-2 run to pull within 35-21 but Upson Lee used its second 15-0 run of the night that finished with a 52-23 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Upson Lee led by as many as 41 three times before Johnson closed out the game with an 11-2 run.
Tye Fagan paced Upson Lee with 22 points as 10 different players scored.
Qua led Butler led Johnson with nine points. Ahmad Harrison, who came in averaging 19 points a game for Johnson, was held to just four points.
DISCOVERY 73
CHESTATEE 35
The Titans used a 24-2 second quarter to blow open a close game and then cruised to the victory.
Chestatee (0-1) trailed just 17-12 after the first quarter but the Titans (1-3) used their height advantage and defensive pressure to pull away for a 41-14 halftime lead.
Discovery led 60-26 after the third quarter.
Donovan Hernandez paced Chestatee with 11 points. Logan Cates had eight for the War Eagles, who will play Johnson at 1:30 p.m. on Monday in the consolation round.
Discovery was led by Brian Liles and Andrew Moore with 10 points apiece. The Titans will take on Upson Lee at 8 p.m. on Monday in the semifinals.
