East Hall’s Levi Holtzclaw was put on the foul line with :00.3 seconds left to win the game for the Vikings.
Tied at 61, Holtzclaw toed the line and missed the first of two shots, adding more drama to the long-awaited rematch between Gainesville and East Hall in Lanierland finals. Holtzclaw nailed the second, and the faithful fan base from Rabbittown erupted as the Vikings erased 11 long years of tournament frustration to capture the 2021 Lanierland title on Lynn Cottrell Court at North Hall High School on Thursday.
Then, the iconic East ... Hall chant began to fill the hot gym as the Vikings rushed the floor to hoist the no-longer elusive championship trophy.
Holtzclaw said after the game that he wasn't worried at all to have the pressure of the win on his shoulders.
"I just focused and it went in," he said. "It's the greatest feeling in the world right now."
His coach, Tommy Yancey, described Whitmire as "tough as nails."
"So I felt confident he would make it,” he said about the second attempt. “Just a great Lanierland finals between two good teams -- the way it should be. It also means (East Hall) hold onto the title lead.”
The Red Elephants had closed the overall tournament title gap between the two foes to just one game and had won the last five in a row. With the win, East Hall takes a two-game lead over Gainesville, 25-23.
LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT, Dec. 30
(at North Hall High School)
(Boys bracket)
Championship game: East Hall 62, Gainesville 61
3rd place game: Cherokee Bluff 74, Lakeview Academy 45
5th place game: North Hall 77, Chestatee 60
7th place game: Flowery Branch 66, West Hall 50
LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT, Dec. 29
(at Gainesville High School)
(Boys scores)
North Hall 65, West Hall 54 (consolation)
Chestatee 72, Flowery Branch 49 (consolation)
East Hall 68, Cherokee Bluff 58 (semifinals)
Gainesville 60, Lakeview Academy 42 (semifinals)
LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT, Dec. 28
(1st round scores)
Lakeview Academy 64, Chestatee 63
East Hall 64, North Hall 50
Cherokee Bluff 79, West Hall 49
Gainesville 60, Flowery Branch 36
