RABBITTOWN — It didn't take long for Clark Howell to get in basketball shape.
Only nine days removed from the football field, Howell poured in a game-high 23 points to lift the North Hall past East Hall, 80-73, on the opening night of Region 7-3A play at Valhalla.
The Trojans (5-1, 1-0 Region 7-3A) completed the sweep of the Vikings (1-3, 0-1 Region 7-3A). The Lady Vikings won 49-33 in the first game of the doubleheader.
DJ Gray was top scorer for the Vikings with 18 points.
It was a tight game in the first quarter thanks to East Hall's Clete Cooper. Cooper knocked down nine of his 15 points from the arc to keep the Vikings close, 20-17.
But Howell came to life in the second quarter, scoring 12 points, nine from the 3-point line, to lead the Trojans' 26-point charge in the second quarter and a 46-34 halftime advantage.
In the second half, Gray's 9 points cut the Trojans' lead to seven points, 60-53. But North Hall's Luke Gunter tossed in 10 points in the final period to stall the Vikings' run.
Along with Howell, the Trojans had four players in double digits. Gunter finished with 12 points. Brock Cooper had 11 and Cole Ellis had 10.
The Vikings also had four players in double figures, along with Cooper and Gray, Aaron Thomas and Imre Earls scored 16 points each.
WEST HALL 67,
FLOWERY BRANCH 31
West Hall started strong and never looked back in taking a Region 7-4A win on the road Tuesday night.
The Spartans (3-0, 1-0 Region 7-4A) jumped out to a big first quarter lead and took a 38-16 advantage into halftime. They extended it to 59-26 heading into the fourth quarter.
Sawyer Passmore led three players in double figures with 19 points, including 11 in the 21-point third quarter. Chase Reed poured in 13 points, mainly in the paint, while Canaan Koger had 12 points. Quincy Holcomb added 7 points and Colton Smith 6 points for West Hall.
West Hall next will play host to Riverside Military Academy on Friday.
Flowery Branch (1-6, 0-1 Region 7-4A) travels to Chestatee on Friday in another region showdown.
MONROE AREA 71,
JEFFERSON 68
Jefferson led for three quarters but could not hold off the Hurricanes in both teams’ Region 8-3A openers at The Arena.
The Dragons (3-4, 0-1 Region 8-3A) led 17-10 after the opening period and took a 36-28 lead into halftime. But Monroe Area (6-3, 1-0 Region 8-3A) began to chip away in the third quarter.
The Hurricanes trimmed the lead to 54-51 by the end of the third quarter and outscored Jefferson 20-14 in the fourth quarter to pull out the road victory.
Monroe Area was able to get back in the game as the Dragons struggled at the free throw line hitting just 9-of-23 for the game and just 6-of-13 in the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes also poured in 29 field goals, including 27 inside the 3-point line, against the Jefferson defense.
The Dragons’ leading scorer, Jacob Radaker, also did not play due to illness.
Owen Parker led Jefferson with 22 points. Spencer Darby and Daniel Parker each had 9 points for the Dragons.
Dabarius Partee paced Monroe Area with 20 points. Derrick Brown added 14 points for the Hurricanes.
GALLOWAY 58
COMMERCE 37
The Tigers could not get past the Class A Private ninth-ranked Scots.
Galloway (6-1) rained down 8 3-pointers to just three for the Tigers (2-1) for the game. Despite the loss, Commerce already has matched last year's entire win total.
Galloway also held the Tigers to just 34 percent shooting for the game and outrebounded Commerce 31-22.
Ian McConnell had 14 points and 5 rebounds to lead Commerce. Shawn Cunningham added 9 points and Creed Dunbar pulled down 7 rebounds for the Tigers.
LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 75,
TRINITY CHRISTIAN 50
CHEROKEE BLUFF 82,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 48
After being held scoreless in the first quarter, Griffin Neville scored 22 points to help the Bears to the Region 7-3A win over Lumpkin at home on Tuesday.
Neville scored 10 points in the second quarter. It was part of a 29-point quarter in which the Bears extended their lead, 47-27.
In the second half, the Bear held Lumpkin to 21 points while pouring in 35 in the blowout.
Bosko Norman scored 14 points and Palmer Weaver and Jason Evrett chipped in 9 each.
Peyton Polk had 16 and Gus Faulkner had 10 points to lead the Indians.
DAWSON COUNTY 85,
FANNIN COUNTY 43
Mason Barnes scored 22 points and Jasper Gibson had 16 in the Tigers' rout of Fannin County at the Ford Phillips Center in Dawsonville on Tuesday.
The Region 7-3A opener was never in doubt for the Tigers as they posted a 34-22 lead at the break.
Barnes and Gibson opened the second half with a combined 21 points. It was all part of the Tigers' 33-point third quarter to take a 67-33 advantage.
Eli Burruss finished with 13 points and Campbell Reed had 9 for the Tigers.
Cohutta Hyde and Andre Bevins had 9 points each for the Rebels.
HART COUNTY 61,
JACKSON COUNTY 26
Kalib Clinton surpassed the 1,000-point mark for his career for the Panthers but it wasn't enough to knock off the Class 3A fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
Clinton poured in 17 points to pace Jackson County (1-3, 0-1 Region 8-3A).
Shone Webb had 24 to lead Hart County (2-0, 1-0 Region 8-3A).
The Panthers were held to 10 points or less in every quarter by the Bulldogs, who are considered a state title contender. Hart County led 15-6 after the first quarter, 28-10 at halftime, and 42-16 heading into the final period.
Jackson County will travel to Monroe Area on Friday in another region 8-3A battle.
