WINDER — All families have dysfunction. And the Gainesville boys basketball team this season has had more than its fair share.
But, so far, the Class AAAAA No. 4-ranked Red Elephants have used every new adversity as a means to pull closer together. Tuesday night’s efficient 75-59 win over Apalachee was just the latest display of their growth on the court.
Gainesville had to play its last two games without suspended starters D’Marcus Simonds and Tae Turner. Both returned against Apalachee, but it was sophomores KJ Buffen and Bailey Minor, who set the tone throughout.
Buffen was the catalyst in the first quarter pouring in 11 points, and sparking an 11-2 run late in the period for a 25-15 lead. Buffen also had six rebounds and three steals in the quarter.
Minor scored 10 of his 18 points in a four minute stretch in the third quarter, including the final six points of the period to help push the lead to 58-40. A Minor basket midway through the fourth quarter gave the Red Elephants their biggest lead at 67-44.
“We’re really just a big family and I just tried to step up the last couple of games and get us going,” Buffen said after his 18-point, 15-rebound, three-steal, and two-assist performance.
“I feel like I’m taking on a little more of a leadership role out there. Just whatever the team needs.”
Gainesville coach Benjie Wood said the secret to the Red Elephants having not imploded thus far from a season of adversity boils down to one simple four-letter word.
“These guys just love each other and enjoy playing together,” Wood said. “They have really stepped up when we’ve had some adversity on us and stayed together.”
The team aspect also played a big factor Tuesday as the Red Elephants dished out 17 assists on their 31 field goals for the game. Four different players had three or more assists on the night.
It’s the kind of stat that Wood said could carry them as far as they want to go.
“We did a good job of sharing the ball tonight,” Wood said. “At times this year I think we’ve looked a lot like a team that could (make a run). But we’re in probably the toughest region in the state so we have to play at a high level every night.”
The Red Elephants started quick, running out to an 8-0 lead on a 3-pointer by Harry Oliver and a Minor basket with three assists along the way. Apalachee battled back to pull within 14-13 on 3-pointers by Kamar Baldwin, Omer Ahmed, and Jabari Hill with 2:43 left in the first quarter. Gainesville (17-4, 14-0 Region 8-AAAAA) took a 25-19 lead into the second quarter.
The Red Elephants came out just as hot in the second quarter, especially Oliver, who hit three more 3-pointers to highlight a 15-4 run for a 40-23 lead with 1:34 left in the half. Baldwin answered with five points in the final minute to pull the Wildcats within 40-27 at halftime.
Buffen finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, and three steals in the first half. Gainesville dished out eight assists on 15 field goals in the first half.
Baldwin had 15 of the Wildcats 27 first half points and Hill had eight as only two other players scored for Apalachee in the opening 16 minutes.
In the second half, Apalachee (17-5, 9-4) opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run to pull within 42-35. The Wildcats would get no closer, however. Gainesville answered with a 16-5 run, fueled by Minor's scoring binge, to blow the game open.
Simonds finished with 14 points and Oliver had 12 for Gainesville.
Baldwin poured in a game-high 28 points to lead Apalachee. Hill finished with 10 points and Ahmed had eight for the Wildcats.
GAINESVILLE GIRLS 39,
APALACHEE 25
Ten different players scored for the Lady Red Elephants, who have now won three straight and 10 of their last 11 overall.
The win kept Gainesville (16-4, 12-1 Region 8-AAAAA) alive for the top seed from the subregion. The Lady Red Elephants were tied with Flowery Branch heading into Tuesday’s action. In the event of a tie after the end of the regular season Saturday, a coin flip will be held to determine the top seed.
Defense carried the Lady Red Elephants, who forced 24 Apalachee turnovers and turning them into 17 points. That led to balanced scoring across the board for Gainesville.
Breana Fair, Cori Griffith, and Shikiya Brown each had six points to lead Gainesville. Taylor Hawks, Nojwallo Jones, and Jada Harrison had five points apiece for the Lady Red Elephants.
After the two teams traded a pair of turnovers, Apalachee opened the scoring on a three-point play by Shania Thomas. It would be the only lead of the night for the Lady Wildcats (5-16, 1-11).
Gainesville grabbed its first lead at 5-3 on a three-point play by Hawks and Fair drained a pair of 3-pointers as the Lady Red Elephants closed out period on a 13-0 run for a 13-3 lead.
Apalachee scored first again in the second quarter on a Thomas layup but five straight points Harrison as part of a 9-0 run pushed Gainesville lead to 24-5 with 2:20 left in the half. The Lady Wildcats pulled within 24-8 by halftime and a pair of Thomas free throws.
The Gainesville defense was stellar once again forcing 14 first half turnovers that led to eight points. The Lady Red Elephants had just two turnovers, both in the opening two minutes.
In the second half Gainesville opened with a 7-0 run for a 31-8 lead. Apalachee closed out the third quarter with a 5-0 run to get within 31-13. The Lady Wildcats opened the fourth quarter with an 8-4 run and pulled within 37-25 with 36 seconds left.
Thomas finished with a game-high 14 points and five rebounds to lead Apalachee.
Gainesville will close its regular season traveling to Winder-Barrow on Friday.
Apalachee will play host to Discovery on Friday and then travel to Flowery Branch on Saturday to close out their season.
