GAINESVILLE — Never discount the value of game film.
Gainesville coach Chuck Graham said they watched plenty of their 78-77 overtime loss to Lanier two weeks ago. It paid off big time Friday night as the Red Elephants jumped on the Longhorns early, never trailed, and eventually ran away with a 66-48 victory in their regular season finale at the Gainesville gym.
The Gainesville defense was a swarm the entire first quarter and the catalyst for a quick start forcing seven Lanier turnovers while building a 17-4 lead. The Longhorns never got closer than 11 the rest of the way.
“We watched a lot of film (of that first game) and saw some things we felt we could do,” Graham said. “Give the assistant coaches the credit for putting together a good game plan and to the kids for executing it.”
Gainesville turned those early turnovers into 9 points, with Maurice Hector and Eli Pitts both draining 3-pointers off Lanier miscues and Rafael Rubel and Datavian Buffington converting steals into layups.
After a Sean Foster basket to open the second quarter for Lanier, Brent Kelly hit a trey and a jumper on consecutive possessions to give the Red Elephants a 22-6 lead. They would push the lead to as much as 30-9 late in the second quarter on a Walt Dixon basket before the Longhorns pulled within 31-15 by halftime on a Foster 3-pointer.
Gainesville used a 7-0 run early in the third quarter to get back to a 21-point lead and led 53-28 a minute into the fourth quarter. Lanier pulled its starters to begin the fourth quarter and went with the second- and third-team units the rest of the way.
“The defense was very good for three quarters. We had a lot of energy, especially to begin the game, and that’s what we want,” Graham said. “But I thought we had some lulls in the fourth quarter so that’s something we’ll have to address.”
It was more than just a lull as the Longhorns’ bench went on a 15-1 run against the bulk of the Gainesville starters and got within 54-43 on a 3-pointer from freshman Conner Marcantel with 1:56 left.
But Rubel sparked a 12-2 run with six of his 15 points in just under 90 seconds to regain control.
Hector paced Gainesville with 16 points, including three 3-pointers. Kelly had 11 points and Datavian Buffington 10 for the Red Elephants.
Jehloni James had 13 points and Foster 8 to lead Lanier. The pair combined for 38 in the first meeting between the two teams as the swarming Gainesville defense held them in check on Friday.
The win moved the Red Elephants (17-8, 9-1 Region 8-6A) into first place in the region just one-half game ahead of the Longhorns (16-7, 8-1 Region 8-6A). Lanier closes out its regular season against Apalachee at home on Saturday.
Gainesville can earn the No. 1 seed in the upcoming Region 8-6A tournament with an Apalachee win. If the Longhorns win they will conduct a coin flip for the top seed. However, both teams already have clinched spots in the state playoffs.
“Our goal all year has been to win the region so we put ourselves in a position to do that tonight,” Graham said. “That’s the only thing we could control. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
LANIER GIRLS 73,
GAINESVILLE 50
The Lady Longhorns dominated the boards and forced 24 Gainesville turnovers as they completed the season sweep over the Lady Red Elephants.
Lanier (21-3, 9-0 Region 8-6A) trailed 5-2 early after a Lauren Teasley steal and layup but answered with an 11-1 run and never trailed again. Gainesville did tie the game at 21 early in the second quarter on the strength of two Tija Blackwell 3-pointers and a Sadie Roach free throw.
But the Lady Longhorns used their height advantage pulling down 9 offensive rebounds and forcing 7 Gainesville turnovers over the final 5:23 of the first half while building a 34-24 lead. A Teasley 3-pointer in the waning seconds snapped the long drought for the Lady Red Elephants, who trailed 34-27 at the half.
Lanier blew the game open with a 16-2 run to begin the third quarter for a 50-29 lead taking advantage of five more Gainesville turnovers over the first four minutes. The Lady Longhorns led by as many as 29 in the fourth quarter.
Lanier outrebounded Gainesville 33-14 and had a whopping 13 offensive rebounds that they converted into 20 points.
Mekala Fuller had 21 points and 8 rebounds and Christabel Ezumah had 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 blocks to lead Lanier. Nala Lawrence added 11 points for the Lady Longhorns.
Gainesville (11-12, 3-7 Region 8-6A) was paced by Blackwell with 24 points, including five 3-pointers. Tia Shelton and Roach each had 9 points for the Lady Red Elephants.
Gainesville next will play in the Region 8-6A tournament next week in Winder while Lanier takes on Apalachee at home on Saturday in its season finale.
