Six northeast Georgia teams moved on to the Sweet 16 Friday night in the first round of the 2017 state basketball playoffs...
The Gainesville boys routed Creekview, 82-42, in Class AAAAAA in one of the rare boys games on the night. Meanwhile, the Flowery Branch girls rolled over North Springs, 58-32, in the Class AAAAA playoffs. It was the first-ever playoff game in program history for the Lady Knights out of Sandy Springs.
In Class AAAA, the West Hall girls pounded Troup County 78-54 behind 33 points from Anna McKendree, and the Jefferson girls whipped Gilmer 58-35. In Class AAA, Dawson County girls started strong and held off Lovett 72-61. In Class AA, the Rabun County girls throttled Therrell 70-40 in Tiger.
It was a rough night for some others, however.
Most notably was the Gainesville girls falling to River Ridge in a heartbreaking, 54-53 loss in Class AAAAAA at the Gainesville gym. Also in Class AAAAAA, Habersham Central girls battled Region 6-AAAAAA champion Creekview all night before falling 50-40. The Chestatee girls were knocked off by Chapel Hill 51-36 at home in Class AAAA. The East Hall girls fell to Redan on the road, 62-44, in Class AAA. The Banks County girls fell 68-62 to South Atlanta at home in Class AA.
First round action will continue on Saturday around the area and state for northeast Georgia teams.
