HIAWASSEE — The Lumpkin County boys basketball team opened the Battle of the States Tournament with a 79-62 win over Polk out of Tennessee at the Towns County gym.
Jack Howard and Brandon Zarate each had 26 points to lead the Indians (11-2).
The Indians led just 24-23 after the first quarter but blew things open in the second. They outscored Polk 21-8 to take a 45-31 lead into halftime. They extended their lead to 69-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
Lumpkin County advanced to the semifinals with the win. The Indians will take on the winner of the Towns County-Piedmont winner at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.
The tournament features teams from Georgia, Tennessee, Alabam, and North Carolina.
