Four northeast Georgia teams punched their tickets to the state semifinals after wins Tuesday in the Georgia High School Association playoffs.
(NOTE: Check below for a full list of area scores and a schedule of Saturday's semifinal round playoff matchups involving area teams. Also, visit our high school page for video highlights and in-depth game stories from Tuesday's quarterfinals.)
The Gainesville boys advanced to their first semifinal since 2013 with a 111-66 demolition of Lakeside-Evans in Class 6A action at the Gainesville gym. The Red Elephants (23-6) ran their win streak to 20 straight and set a season-high in points. They await the North Atlanta-Heritage-Conyers winner in Saturday's 4 p.m. semifinal at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton.
In the Class 5A girls playoffs, Region 8-AAAAA members Buford and Flowery Branch continued their collision course with wins at home. The defending state champion Lady Wolves (27-3) held off Eagles Landing 50-37 while the Lady Falcons (25-6) used a big third quarter to rally past Dutchtown 70-56. Should each win again Saturday in Fort Valley, the two rivals would battle for a state title. First, however, the Lady Falcons must find a way past Harris County at 6 p.m. Saturday at Ft. Valley State, while the Lady Wolves face Villa Rica at 2 p.m. Saturday at the same venue
In Class 7A, the North Forsyth girls (27-2) advanced to their first-ever semifinals with a 68-63 win over Hillgrove in Coal Mountain. Unlike their fellow northeast Georgia winners, the Lady Raiders will get a relatively short road trip for the Final Four, as they head to the Buford City Arena for a battle with Westlake.
Despite strong efforts, three other area teams saw their seasons come to an end in Tuesday's quarterfinals.
The Jefferson girls could not hold a halftime lead falling to Henry County 58-50 at The Arena in the Class 4A action.
In Class 2A action, fellow Region 8-AA foes Banks County and Rabun County both were knocked off.
The Lady Leopards put up a game fight against defending state champion Laney, who came in with a 59-game winning streak. In the end, however, they dropped a 54-38 decision at home.
Rabun County, in a rematch of last year's quarterfinals, staged a huge second half rally after falling behind by 15 points but eventually lost 70-65 to Fitzgerald on the road.
STATE QUARTERFINALS SCORES
Area teams in bold
TUESDAY, Feb. 27
CLASS 7A
North Forsyth girls 68, Hillgrove 63
CLASS 6A
Gainesville boys 111, Lakeside, Evans 66
CLASS 5A
Flowery Branch girls 61, Dutchtown 44
Buford girls 50, Eagles Landing 37
CLASS 4A
Henry County 58, Jefferson girls 50
CLASS 2A
Laney 54, Banks County girls 38
Fitzgerald 70, Rabun Country girls 65
STATE SEMIFINAL MATCH-UPS
Area teams in bold
SATURDAY, March 3
CLASS 7A - at Buford City Arena
6 p.m. - North Forsyth girls vs. Westlake
CLASS 6A - at West Georgia, Carrollton
4 p.m. - Gainesville boys vs. North Atlanta/Heritage, Conyers
CLASS 5A - at Ft. Valley State
2 p.m. - Buford girls vs. Villa Rica
6 p.m. - Flowery Branch girls vs. Harris County
