FLOWERY BRANCH — The North Hall girls captured their first Lanierland title since 2009 holding off Lakeview Academy 66-58 Monday at th Cherokee Bluff gym.
The Gainesville boys defended their title with a 75-52 win over West Hall for their fourth straight crown.
The Lady Trojans jumped out to a quick, and big, first half lead behind eventual MVP Grace Hollified, who knocked down four 3-pointers as they used a 20-8 second quarter to open up a 37-20 halftime lead.
But the Lady Lions did not go quietly as they closed the gap to 50-38 heading into the fourth quarter and got as close as 64-58 with just over two minutes left on a Maddy Towles basket. But Lakeview would not score again as North Hall was able to play keep-away for most of the remaining time to seal the win.
It was the first-ever finals appearance for Lakeview Academy.
Hollifield finished with a game-high 27 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead North Hall. Lauren Swanson added 14 points and Maci Gillespie 12 points for the Lady Trojans.
Eliza Snyder had 20 points to pace Lakeview Academy. Towles had 10 points and Elise Roark had a season-high 10 points as well for the Lady Lions.
In the boys final, Gainesville opened the game with an 18-8 run and then blew it open with a 17-3 spurt in the second quarter. The Red Elephants extended their lead to 61-33 late in the third quarter before the Spartans mounted a furious rally to pull within 68-52 on a Canaan Koger basket midway through the fourth quarter. But Gainesville closed out the game with a 7-0 run.
Dee Buffington finished with 13 points and earned the MVP award for Gainesville. Donsha Gaither had 16 points to lead the Red Elephants. Walt Dixon had 13 points and Eli Pitts 9 for Gainesville.
Quincey Holcomb led West Hall, which was making its first finals appearance since 2008, with 15 points. Koger had 13 and Sawyer Passmore and Chase Reed each had 8 points for the Spartans.
In the girls third-place game, Flowery Branch ran past Cherokee Bluff 58-39. The Falcons fell behind early to the Bears but used a 13-5 first half run to grab the lead and put the game out of reach with a 15-6 third quarter spurt. They led by as many as 24 points in the fourth quarter.
In the boys third place-game, Cherokee Bluff opened the game with a 5-0 run and never trailed in taking a x-x win over Johnson. The Knights cut the lead to 10-8 midway through the first quarter but the Bears exploded for a 23-2 run into the second quarter to take control.
FINALS SCORES (Dec. 30 at Cherokee Bluff)
Finals
North Hall girls 66, Lakeview Academy 58
Gainesville boys 75, West Hall 52
Consolation round -- 3rd place games
Flowery Branch girls 56, Cherokee Bluff 39
Cherokee Bluff boys 65, Johnson 38
Consolation round -- 5th place games
Gainesville girls 44, Chestatee 36
Chestatee boys 69, East Hall 44
Consolation round -- 7th place games
East Hall girls 52, West Hall 42
North Hall boys 73, Lakeview Academy 44
SEMIFINAL ROUND SCORES (Dec. 28 at Johnson)
North Hall girls 58, Cherokee Bluff 32
Lakeview girls 52, Flowery Branch 47
West Hall boys 62 Johnson 26
Gainesville boys 68, Cherokee Bluff 48
Consolation round
Gainesville girls 63, East Hall 54
Chestatee girls 49, West Hall 27
East Hall boys 63, Lakeview 50
Chestatee boys 58, North Hall 48
QUARTERFINAL ROUND SCORES (Dec. 27 at East Hall)
(5) Lakeview girls 52, (4) Chestatee 51
(5) Cherokee Bluff boys 62, (4) North Hall 48
(6) Cherokee Bluff girls 57, (3) Gainesville 45
(6) Johnson boys 60 (3) Lakeview 59
(2) North Hall girls 52, (7) East Hall 30
(7) West Hall boys 56, (2) East Hall 52 OT
(1) Flowery Branch girls 55, (8) West Hall 24
(1) Gainesville boys 75, (8) Chestatee 39
