Thursday March 28th, 2024 9:23PM

Lanierland 2020 boys: GHS, North Hall, Bears all roll into semifinals

By Jeff Hart Sports Reporter

GAINESVILLE — Defending champion Gainesville used a huge second quarter run to pull away from Lakeview Academy en route to a 78-50 win Monday night in the first round of the Lanierland Tournament.
 
The Red Elephants joined Chestatee, Cherokee Bluff, and North Hall into the semifinals.
 
Gainesville jumped out to a quick 8-0 led by its defense. But Lakeview answered with a pair of 3-pointers to get within 8-6. The Red Elephants then got going.
 
They closed out the first quarter with a 13-7 spurt and then held the Lions to just 7 second quarter points while racing out to a 44-20 halftime lead. The Red Elephants maintained a 20-plus point lead the rest of the way. 
 
Gainesville will play Chestatee in Tuesday’s semifinals. The Lions fell into the consolation bracket but will receive a bye into the fifth-place game due to Johnson’s pulling out of the tournament because of COVID-19 issues.


NORTH HALL 60,
WEST HALL 40

 
Robert Terry drained a long 3-pointer to give North Hall the lead and they never looked back in taking a win over the Spartans on Monday in the first round of the Lanierland boys tournament at the Gainesville gym.

The Trojans trailed just twice in the early moments and Terry’s shot, which gave them a 5-4 advantage, sparked an 11-0 run in the first quarter that also featured 3-pointers from Edward Doig and Brady Hall. They took an 18-6 lead after the first quarter and then kept up the pressure in the second.
 
West Hall cut it to 18-11 on a basket by Darius Smith early in the second period, but then exploded for a 17-2 run, capped by a pair of Eli Campbell 3-pointers in the waning moments of the half for a 35-13 lead at the break.
 
The Spartans finally got some momentum in the third quarter trimming the lead to 41-25. But  12-6 North Hall spurt into the fourth quarter pushed the lead to 53-31 and ended any comeback hopes.
 
Campbell finished with 18 points, including four 3-pointers, to lead North Hall. Terry had 15 points and Doig 8 for the Trojans.
 
Chase Reed had 17 points to lead the Spartans. Andrew Malin had 13 points for West Hall.
 
The Trojans advanced to the semifinals and will take on Cherokee Bluff on Tuesday.
 
West Hall dropped into the consolation bracket and will play East Hall on Tuesday.


CHEROKEE BLUFF 69,
EAST HALL 52

 
Cherokee Bluff led from start to finish in taking a win over East Hall in the first round.

But it didn’t come without the Vikings making it closer than the score indicated.
 
The Bears, paced by six quick points from Dre Raven and capped by a Corey Thomas 3-pointer, exploded for an 11-0 run to open the game. But East Hall answered with an 11-2 run run into the second quarter. The bulk of the damage came from Christian Torres, who had 8 points in the run, and included 3-pointers from Imre Earls and Clete Cooper to get within 22-21. 
 
But Thomas drained another 3-pointer to answer that run for a 27-21 lead and the Vikings never got closer as the Bears finished the first half with a 14-3 spurt for a 36-24 halftime lead
 
East Hall got within 10 points three times in the second half but Cherokee Bluff closed out the game with a 21-14 run.
 
Raven finished with a game-high 22 points for Cherokee Bluff. Thomas added 21 points and 4 blocks and Carlos Marlow had 10 points for the Bears.
 
Torres led East Hall with 21 points and 10 rebounds. Earls and Cooper had 9 points each for the Vikings.
 
Cherokee Bluff advances to its second straight semifinal and will take on North Hall on Tuesday.
 
East Hall fell into the consolation bracket and will play West Hall on Tuesday.


LANIERLAND MONDAY, DEC. 28 (at Gainesville)
GIRLS
Gainesville 50, Cherokee Bluff 45
Chestatee 54, Flowery Branch 33
East Hall 59, Lakeview Academy 33
North Hall 60, West Hall 22
BOYS
Cherokee Bluff 69, East Hall 52
North Hall 60, West Hall 40
Gainesville 78, Lakeview Academy 50


LANIERLAND SCHEDULE FOR TUESDAY, DEC. 29 (at Gainesville)
GIRLS
Gainesville vs. North Hall
Flowery Branch vs. Lakeview Academy
Chestatee vs. East Hall
Cherokee Bluff vs. West Hall
BOYS
Cherokee Bluff vs. North Hall
East Hall vs. West Hall
Chestatee vs. Gainesville

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