The Dawson County boys on Wednesday joined three other northeast Georgia area basketball teams in the semifinal round of the Georgia High School Association playoffs around the state.
The Tigers rallied from a double-digit second half deficit to beat Franklin County 60-58 at a rocking Dawson County gym in the Class 3A playoffs. It is the first time in program history the Tigers advanced to the Final Four.
Meanwhile, the Gainesville boys could not hold a late lead as the Red Elephants fell to Tucker 65-58 on the road in the Class 6A playoffs.
In action on Tuesday:
In Class 5A, the Buford girls and Buford boys both rolled in a doubleheader at The Buford Arena. The Lady Wolves whipped Veterans 59-44 while the Buford boys routed Dutchtown 69-35 to advance to Saturday's semifinals at Columbus State University. The Buford girls will play Southwest DeKalb at 2 p.m. while the Buford boys will take on the Woodland-Henry/Southwest DeKalb winner at 4 p.m.
In Class 4A, the Flowery Branch girls rallied past Henry County 54-50 at home in a showdown of top three teams to advance to Saturday's semifinals against Carver-Columbus/Heritage-Catoosa, who play on Wednesday, at 6 p.m. at Fort Valley State University. It is the third consecutive season the Lady Falcons have advanced to the Final Four.
In Class 3A, the Beach girls ended Dawson County's season in a 64-51 win in Savannah while the Jefferson girls suffered a brutal shooting night against defending Class 3A state champion Johnson-Savannah in a disappointing 48-32 loss at The Arena.
In Class 2A, the Rabun County bid for their second Final Four in three years came to a shocking end in a 73-60 loss to Early County in Tiger.
And in Class A Private, the Lakeview Academy girls put up an early fight against perennial power Wesleyan before falling 76-61 at home. The Eagles Landing Christian boys held off a late Riverside Military Academy charge in a 59-53 victory in McDonough. The Eagles were looking for their first-ever semifinal appearance in GHSA play.
GHSA PLAYOFFS, QUARTERFINALS
(Area teams in bold)
WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Class 6A
Tucker boys 65, Gainesville 58
Class 3A
Dawson County boys 60, Franklin County 58
TUESDAY'S SCORES
Class 5A
Buford boys 59, Veterans 44
Buford boys 69, Dutchtown 35
Class 4A
Flowery Branch girls 54, Henry County 50
Class 3A
Beach girls 64, Dawson County 51
Johnson-Savannah girls 48, Jefferson 32
Class 2A
Early County girls 73, Rabun County 60
Class A Private
Wesleyan girls 76, Lakeview Academy 51
Eagles Landing Christian boys 59, Riverside Military Academy 53
SATURDAY'S SEMIFINAL SCHEDULE
Class 5A (at Columbus State)
Buford girls vs. Southwest DeKalb, 2 p.m.
Buford boys vs. Southwest DeKalb, 4 p.m.
Class 4A (at Fort Valley State)
Flowery Branch girls vs. Carver-Columbus, 6 p.m.
Class 3A (at Georgia Southern University at Savannah)
Dawson County boys vs. Hart County, 8 p.m.
