Region 8-AAAA: Trojans, Knights, Wolves all punch tickets to state; Warriors just miss out (VIDEO)

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

Posted 10:59AM on Wednesday, February 11, 2015

OAKWOOD -- Despite coming off a 6-20 season in 2014, North Hall boys basketball coach Tyler Sanders never wavered in his belief of his young squad. They didn't let him down Tuesday night against Madison County in the quarterfinals of the Region 8-AAAA Tournament at the Johnson gym. North Hall built a big lead early, fell behind in the third quarter, and then exploded for a decisive 13-0 run in the fourth quarter to take a 63-53 win over the Red Raiders and a spot in the Class AAAA state playoffs. It is the first state playoff appearance for the Trojans since 2013 and the first with Sanders at the helm. He could not contain a smile from ear-to-ear afterwards. "It's just an amazing feeling, especially with this group," Sanders said. "It's almost the entire group from last year and after a tough season last year I just feel great for them. The Trojans (14-12) trailed 43-42 after a 3-pointer by Madison's Dylan Gentry with 5:42 left in the game but Carson Heinen answered with a 3-pointer of his own moments later to ignite the big run. Heinen drained another trey and a running jumper, and Sam Jackson hit a free throw to cap the 13-0 run for a 55-43 lead with 1:34 left. The Red Raiders (14-12) never got closer than 10 the rest of the way. North Hall sealed the win by hitting 7-of-12 free throws and and forcing two Madison turnovers in the final 2:11 of the game. "That's been the typical game for us," Sanders said. "We've played a tough schedule so they're used to tight games. I thought we did a good job of executing in the fourth quarter." North Hall was red-hot to start the game. The Trojans stormed out to a 20-4 lead after the first quarter on the strength of its 3-point shooting. Heinen, Harrison Harper, and Brock Wingo each hit a pair of 3-pointers as they went a blistering 6-of-9 from beyond the arc in the period. They held Madison County to just 1-of-7 shooting in the quarter. "That was our plan. We felt we could get some open looks at (3-pointers) and the guys shot the ball great in the first quarter," Sanders said. The second period was a complete reversal. The Red Raiders caught fire behind Malik Freeman, who scored 12 points in the period. North Hall's Harrison Lovell gave the Trojans a 24-11 lead midway through the quarter but they would get just one more field over the final 3:51. The big blow came with just :02 seconds left in the half. Freeman was fouled and completed a three-point play then intercepted the inbounds pass and drained a half-court shot at the buzzer to pull the Red Raiders within 26-24 at halftime. The Trojans went 0-for-5 on 3-pointers in the period while Madison County was 8-of-14 from the field in the period. Madison County opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run for a 34-28 lead and then extended it to 38-30 late in the period. But North Hall battled back to tie the game at 40 heading into the fourth quarter. Freeman finished with a game-high 34 for Madison County but the Red Raiders did not have another player in double-figures. Cameron Stevenson had nine points for Madison County. Heinen finished with 20 points, including two 3-pointers, to lead North Hall. Wingo added 19 points, fueled by five 3-pointers, and Harper had 10 points for the Trojans. North Hall improved to 5-2 on neutral courts this season. However, the Trojans are just 4-6 on the road and they will play Johnson in the semifinals on the Knights' home floor. JOHNSON BOYS 71 STEPHENS COUNTY 50 After a sluggish first half Class AAAA No. 2 Johnson exploded for 31 points in the third quarter en route to the victory and a berth in the Class AAAA state playoffs The top-seeded Knights (25-0) led just 37-29 after a NuNu Walker 3-pointer for the Indians (8-19) with 5:17 left in the quarter. Junior Andrew Sims sparked a 21-0 run with two steals and six quick points. Roderick English capped it with a fastbreak layup for a 58-29 lead with just over a minute left. Stephens County's Deundre Singleton completed a three-point play with 1:09 left in the period to snap their scoreless streak at over four minutes. Johnson coach Jeff Steele was wary of the eighth-seeded Indians after barely escaping Toccoa last week with a win. "We knew they would be tough. They tried to hold the ball and slow us down," Steele said. "It's just a relief to get this one over with." The Johnson defense was the difference. Sparked by a pair of enthusiastic rebounds and a basket from Ladarius Odem in the second quarter, the Knights finished the first half with a 12-4 run and then used seven steals in the third quarter to help break it open. "Overall I was very happy with our defense and rebounding," Steele said. "Ladarius fired the rest of the guys up. He gives us that energy we like." Johnson led by as many as 31 points in the fourth quarter. The Indians got as close 23 in the final minute. The first half resembled the two teams' double-overtime game in Toccoa last week. The Indians opened the game with a 5-0 run while Johnson was cold from the field to start missing its first five shots. But English hit a 3-pointer to tie the game at 5-5. It would stay close with the Knights leading 15-13 after the first quarter and then they watched as Stephens County tie the game at 17 early in the second quarter. Ty Cockfield, held to just three points until final four minutes of the first half, finally broke loose scoring the final 10 points of the half for the Knights to give Johnson 29-21 lead at halftime. Cockfield finished with a game-high 28 points for Johnson. English added 19 points and Sims 10 for the Knights. Odem also had six points for Johnson. Tay Jones paced Stephens County with 14 points. Singleton finished with 11 for the Indians. MONROE AREA BOYS 68, WHITE COUNTY 63 The Purple Hurricanes exploded for 31 fourth quarter points to deny the Warriors a state tournament and Region 8-AAAA semifinal berth on Tuesday in a game played at Buford. Monroe Area drained four 3-pointers and went 11 of 16 from the free throw line in the final period to help pull off the comeback win after White County built a 47-37 third quarter lead. The outcome ended the Warriors season. Witt Mauney did his best to keep White County's campaign going, scoring 10 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter -- including an 8 of 8 performance at the free throw line. Yet only Will Gearing and Bradley Hurst could also manage points in the period -- the Warriors sinking just two field goals, including a 3-pointer from Gearing. Gearing and Desmon Mataro also scored 13 points each for the Warriors, while Hurst added 10. Kevon Debose scored 13 to pace Monroe Area, while D.A. Silmon, Marquez Williams and Emory Sheats also added 10 points apiece. The Purple Hurricanes will face Buford in the region semifinals at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Johnson High in Oakwood. BUFORD BOYS 54, CHESTATEE 33 The Wolves' defense clamped down on the War Eagles on Tuesday, not allowing Chestatee to score more than nine points in any single quarter en route to the win at home. Buford pulled away from an 11-8 first quarter lead to clinch a state playoff berth and a spot in Friday's Region 8-AAAA semifinals, where the Wolves will take on Monroe Area at 5:30 p.m. at Johnson High in Oakwood. Tre Hansborough scored a game-high 17 points to pace Buford, including two 3-pointers. Taylor Mills also added eight points, as nine different Wolves got on the scoresheet. Hunter Creamer paced Chestatee with 12 points, while Caleb Jameson added seven points. The War Eagles season is now complete.

Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

Region 8-AAAA: Trojans, Knights, Wolves all punch tickets to state; Warriors just miss out <b> (VIDEO) </b>