Lanierland boys: North Hall, Gainesville to battle for championship

Information was updated on Dec. 29 at 11:45 p.m.

LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT, Dec. 30
(at Chestatee)
(Girls bracket)

East Hall vs. West Hall (7th place), 9 a.m. 
Flowery Branch vs. Lakeview (5th place) 10:30 a.m.
Chestatee vs. Cherokee Bluff (3rd place), 3 p.m.
North Hall vs. Gainesville (Championship), 6 p.m.

GIRLS SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD, Dec. 29
(at Flowery Branch; seeds in parenthesis)

(2) Lakeview 54, (6) East Hall 46
(4) Flowery Branch 46, (9) West Hall 7
(2) Gainesville 67, (7 )Chestatee 62 OT
(1) North Hall 65, (5) Cherokee Bluff 56

GIRLS FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD, Dec. 28
(at Cherokee Bluff; seeds in parenthesis)

(5) Cherokee Bluff 56, (4) Flowery Branch 48
(3) Gainesville 65, (6) East Hall 39
(7) Chestatee 52, (2) Lakeview 42
(1) North Hall 74, (9) West Hall 8

LANIERLAND TOURNAMENT, Dec. 30
(at Chestatee)
(Boys bracket)

East Hall vs. Chestatee (7th place), 10:30 a.m. 
Lakeview vs. Flowery Branch (5th place), 1:30 p.m.
Cherokee Bluff vs. West Hall (3rd place), 4:30 p.m.
North Hall vs. Gainesville (Championship), 7:30 p.m.

BOYS SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD, Dec. 29
(at Flowery Branch; seeds in parenthesis)

(7) Flowery Branch 59, (6) Chestatee 51
(4) Lakeview 57, (1) East Hall 50
(2) Gainesville 68, (3) Cherokee Bluff 59
(5) North Hall 73, (8) West Hall 53

BOYS FIRST-ROUND SCOREBOARD
(at Cherokee Bluff; seeds in parenthesis)

(5) North Hall 75, (4) Lakeview 49
(3) Cherokee Bluff 72, (6) Chestatee 68 2OT
(2) Gainesville 62, (7) Flowery Branch 60
(9) West Hall 52, (1) East Hall 46

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CHEROKEE BLUFF BEARS
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL: Josh Travis, 2nd season 
-- REGION: 8-4A 
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 6-3, 3-0 FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 3
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. G Carlos Marlow (15.4 ppg, 4 rpg), Jr. SG Logan Holmes (13.7 ppg, 2.7 apg), So. F Boston Kersh (12.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg), So. G Tyler Underwood (5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.9 apg, 3 spg), Sr. G Jhace Justice (5.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg), Jr. PG Tanaka Mukono (2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), Jr. G Bryce Horton (3.2 ppg)
-- SEASON RECAP: The Bears have started the season on a roll, winning the first six out of eight games, including sub-region wins over East Forsyth, Johnson and East Hall, placing them at the top of the standings. Bluff did stumble in losses to first-year school Seckinger and Class 6A Cambridge early in the season. But the Bears come into the tournament winning the last six out of seven games and are sitting in a good position to make some noise in the tournament this week. If the Bears get hot, watch out, they could be dancing all the way to the title game. 
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: Boston Kersh converted a key offensive rebound for a basket to help Cherokee Bluff escape Chestatee in double-overtime.Kersh scored 9 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Bears past Chestatee 72-68. He played the final 12 minutes with four fouls and added a pair of key steals as well. In the second overtime, Chestatee took its biggest lead of the game, 64-62, on a Henry Grimsley basket to open the extra frame. Bluff, however, answered with a 9-0 run to take control. The War Eagles had a chance to tie at 71 but a Josh Bull 3-pointer with 10 seconds left rimmed out. Marlow had 18 points, including 7 in overtime, and Holmes chipped in 13 points for the Bears (7-3). Cherokee Bluff will take on Gainesville in the semifinals on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: Cherokee Bluff's rally fell short in a 68-59 loss to Gainesville in the semifinals on Thursday at Flowery Branch. Carlos Marlowe led Bluff with 19 points, including going 13-of-17 from the line. Holmes finished with 11, 7 in the fourth quarter, and Boston Kersh had 9 for the Bears. Cherokee Bluff will play the North Hall-West Hall loser in Friday’s third-place game at 4:30 p.m. at Chestatee.

CHESTATEE WAR EAGLES
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL: Tanner Plemmons, 2nd season 
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 8-2, 3-0, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 6
-- KEY PLAYERS: Jr. F Colton Wilbanks (19 ppg, 10 rpg), Sr. G Hugh Pruitt (12 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.2 apg), Sr. G Jarvis Weaver (11 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4 apg), Eli Parlier (9.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 2 apg), Jr. G Josh Bull (5.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.4 apg) 
-- SEASON RECAP: As expected, the War Eagles are one of the dominant teams in the area. After falling to Blessed Trinity in the opening game of the season, the War Eagles have won the last eight out of nine games. Their only loss in that span was an overtime defeat to Walnut Grove, 61-52. Chestatee clearly is a favorite to win Lanierland this season, with the strong play inside and out. However, a tough Cherokee Bluff team in the first round stands in the way of the War Eagles' path to winning their first-ever tournament title. 
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: Boston Kersh converted a key offensive rebound for a basket to help Cherokee Bluff escape Chestatee in double-overtime. Kersh scored 9 of his team-high 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to lead the Bears past Chestatee 72-68. Chestatee took its biggest lead of the game, 64-62, in the second overtime, on a Henry Grimsley basket to open the extra frame. Bluff, however, answered with a 9-0 run to take control. The War Eagles had a chance to tie at 71 but a Josh Bull 3-pointer with 10 seconds left rimmed out. Colton Wilbanks finished with 23 points to pace Chestatee (8-3). Jarvis Weaver had 22 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter for the War Eagles. Hugh Pruitt had 10 points for Chestatee. Chestatee will play Flowery Branch in the consolation bracket on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: Chestatee fell to Flowery Branch in the consolation round, 59-51, at Flowery Branch on Thursday. The Falcons will play East Hall for seventh place at Chestatee on Friday. Game time is set for 10:30 a.m. 

EAST HALL VIKINGS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Joe Dix, 1st season
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 1-9, 0-3 FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 1
-- RETURNING STARTERS: 
-- KEY PLAYERS: Fr. G/F Jamarcus Harrison (17 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.5 spg) Sr. G Levi Holtzclaw (10 ppg, 4.3 apg, 1.3 spg), Fr. G/F Chasen Jones (9.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 1 bpg), So. F Yair Furtado (7.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.5 bpg), Sr. F Cam Herrick, Jr. G Maddox Smith
-- SEASON RECAP: The defending champion Vikings have been without leading scorer Cletus Agborsangaya for most of the season, and it has shown in the win column. The Vikings have only one win this season and have struggled offensively, only averaging 54 ppg. If the Vikings are going to defend their title, they'll have to bring their best against an improved West Hall team. However, it's hard to count out the 25-time Lanierland champions. 
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: In a game of runs, West Hall was able to hold off defending champion East Hall en route to a 52-46 win in the opening round on Wednesday. West Hall opened up a 27-19 lead early in the third quarter and looked to be taking control. But East Hall’s C.J. Agborsangaya hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Jamarcus Harrison converted a pair of free throws, Chris Alford hit a trey, and Harrison capped a 16-4 run to give the Vikings a 35-31 lead. But the Spartans chipped away into the fourth quarter as Jenkins capped a 10-2 run for a 41-40 lead. East Hall reclaimed the lead on a Chasen Jones basket, but West Hall closed out the game with an 11-4 run as Reid and Jenkins hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 12 seconds to ice it. Harrison paced East Hall with 14 points. Agborsangaya finished with 11 points in his first action since mid-November. Alford also had 11 points. The Vikings will play Lakeview Academy at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at Flowery Branch in the consolation bracket.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: The Vikings couldn't close the gap in the second half as they fell to Lakeview, 57-50, on Thursday in the consolation round at Flowery Branch. The Vikings will play Chestatee in the seventh-place game at Chestatee on Friday. Game time is 10:30 a.m.  

FLOWERY BRANCH FALCONS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jay Burney, 4th season 
-- REGION: 8-5A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 9-1, 1-1 FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 7
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. F Tyleek Worth (14 ppg, 11 rpg), Sr. PF Fe Honors (13 ppg, 7 rpg), So. PG Jeremiah Ware (12 ppg, 3 apg), Sr. G Jayden Gudz (10 ppg, 3 apg), Sr. SG Jackson Owens (8 ppg, 3 apg), Sr. G Jack Burney (5 ppg, 3 apg)
-- SEASON RECAP: The Falcons have started the season winning nine out of 10 to finish 9-1 before the break. Behind big play from forwards Tyleek Worth and Fe Honors, the Falcons are scoring 73 points per game and giving up 55.2 ppg on defense. They'll play 23-time Lanierland champions Gainesville in the opening round. The two foes have one common opponent in Clarke Central. Gainesville lost to the Gladiators, 80-79, while the Falcons beat Clarke Central 75-60 in early December. Does that mean anything? Probably not. This game has epic written all over it.  
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: Branch had fought back from a 51-43 deficit behind sophomore Jeremiah Ware, who had 10 of his 16 points in the final 5:17 of the game. But it was Charlie Reisman’s 3-pointer that was the dagger in Gainesville’s 62-60 win. Ware’s two free throws with 1:01 left gave the Falcons a 60-59 lead. Jayden Gudz led Branch with 15 points but fouled out in the fourth quarter. Honors had 11, and Tyleek Worth had 10 for the Falcons. Flowery Branch will play Chestatee at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday in the consolation bracket at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: Flowery Branch held on to beat Chestatee, 59-51, to advance to the fifth-place game against Lakeview on Friday. 

GAINESVILLE RED ELEPHANTS
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL: Chuck Graham, 5th season
-- REGION: 8-6A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 3-5 FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 2
-- KEY PLAYERS:  Sr. G Charlie Reisman (20 ppg), Sr. Cade Simmons (15 ppg), Sr. G Julius Jackson (3 apg), Jr. F Octavian Demory (8 rpg), Jr. G Ellis Pitts, Sr. G Dre Raven, Sr. F Keyonate Flenoy
-- SEASON RECAP: The Red Elephants still are finding their way through the season. Although most of the starters are back, they've been without football players Ellis Pitts and Dre Raven for the first half of the season. Pitts and Raven have been with the team for the last couple of weeks now and are getting back into the basketball groove. That's good news for a team that only won two of their first six games heading into the tournament. However, they'll have a tough test in the opening round against a much improved and even a favorite to win it all, Flowery Branch. 
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: Gainesville coach Chuck Graham is glad of that after Charlie Reisman hit a 3-pointer with 21 seconds left to lift the Red Elephants to a thrilling 62-60 win over Flowery Branch in the first round of the 63rd annual Lanierland Tournament Wednesday at the Cherokee Bluff gym. Gainesville (4-5) had been 0-for-14 for the game before Reisman spotted up from the left side and found nothing but the bottom of the net. Until then it looked like the Falcons (9-2) were ready to advance to the semifinals for the first time since winning the 2015 tournament. Branch had fought back from a 51-43 deficit behind sophomore Jeremiah Ware, who had 10 of his 16 points in the final 5:17 of the game. Ware’s two free throws with 1:01 left gave the Falcons a 60-59 lead. Ellis Pitts paced Gainesville with 12 points, 11 coming in the first half. Reisman finished with 11, 7 in the fourth quarter, and Octavion Demory had 10, 8 in the second half. Dre Raven added 9 points and Cade Simmons 8 for the Red Elephants. Gainesville will next take on Cherokee Bluff in the semifinals on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: Gainesville withstood Cherokee Bluff's charge to beat the Bears, 68-59, in the semifinals on Thursday at Flowery Branch. After the Bears took a 26-25 lead on a 3-pointer from Jhace Justice, the Red Elephants closed out the half with a 6-2 run, including a layup at the buzzer from Xavier Griffin, for a 31-28 advantage. Charlie Reisman took over coming out of the half. Following Reisman’s explosion, Gainesville led 44-33 after his stick-back basket. They pushed the lead to 13 on two occasions before taking a 52-42 lead into the fourth quarter. Bluff got to within five points with 1:21 left, but that was as close as they would get. Reisman finished with 21 points to pace Gainesville. Octavion Demory added 13 points, and Cade Simmons chipped in with 12, 7 coming from the free throw line. Gainesville will play North Hall in the finals on Friday at Chestatee. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY LIONS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Tyler Sanders, 3rd season
-- REGION: GIAA 4A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 4-6 FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 4
-- KEY PLAYERS: So. G Jack Collins (14.4 ppg, 6 rpg, 5 apg), So. F Justyce Sadler (13.6 ppg, 9 rpg), So. Tayden Ware (13 ppg, 8 rpg, 3apg), Sr. G Liam Weidner 
-- SEASON RECAP: With only two starters back from last year, the Lions have navigated the first part of the season OK. Four of their losses have been by an average of six points. Lakeview has had one of the tougher non-region schedules in the county, playing bigger GHSA competition, and is close to getting over the top. Can they do it in the tournament? They'll face a tough North Hall team in the opening round. 
FIRST ROUND RECAP: Sam Gainey hit three 3-pointers in 58 seconds to spark a 13-0 run in just under two minutes to blow open a close game as the Trojans rolled to a 75-49 win over Lakeview Academy. North Hall (7-4) led just 50-42 after Lakeview’s Justyce Sadler hit a pair of free throws to open the fourth quarter. But Gailey got hot, and by the time the barrage was over, the Trojans had exploded for a 21-4 run and a 71-46 lead. Jack Collins led Lakeview with 15 points. Sadler finished with 13 points for the Lions. Lakeview will get the East Hall-West Hall loser at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: Justyce Sadler scored 16 points to lead the Lions past East Hall, 57-50, in the consolation round at Flowery Branch on Thursday. Jack Collins chipped in 14 points, and Brock Graham had 13. The Lions place Flowery Branch for fifth place on Friday at Chestatee. Game time is 1:30 p.m.

NORTH HALL TROJANS
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL: Miles Kendall, 3rd season
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 6-4, 2-1, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 5
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. G Sam Gailey (9.4 ppg), Jr. G Matthew Ray (8.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Cole Hulsey (11.4 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Luke Sanders (9.7 ppg, 4.2 apg), JT Chester (7.9 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.9 apg) David Garrison (4.3 rpg)
-- SEASON RECAP: The Trojans have played the entire first half of the season without top-scorer Andrew Bales, and although it's been an adjustment on both ends of the floor, the Trojans are in the mix as contenders for this year's tournament title. North Hall started the season with back-to-back losses to Hebron Christian and Union County but has won the last six out of eight games, including sub-region wins over East Hall and Johnson.  
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: Sam Gailey delivered for North Hall in the opening round of the 63rd annual Lanierland Tournament Wednesday morning at the Cherokee Bluff gym. Gainey hit three 3-pointers in 58 seconds to spark a 13-0 run in just under two minutes to blow open a close game as the Trojans rolled to a 75-49 win over Lakeview Academy. North Hall (7-4) led just 50-42 after Lakeview’s Justyce Sadler hit a pair of free throws to open the fourth quarter. But Gailey got hot and by the time the barrage was over the Trojans had exploded for a 21-4 run and a 71-46 lead. Casey Payne finished with 15 points to lead North Hall. Luke Sanders and Gailey each had 14 points and Cole Hulsey had 10 points for the Trojans, who hit 10 3-pointers as a team for the game. North Hall will take on the East Hall-West Hall winner at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the semifinals at Flowery Branch.
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: The Trojans jumped out to a 39-5 lead in the first half and held West Hall scoreless for 8 minutes in the first half en route to a 73-53 win in the semifinals on Thursday at Flowery Branch. Luke Sanders paced 11 North Hall scorers with 14 points, including four 3-pointers. Corey Hulsey added 13 points, and JT Chester had 11 points for the Trojans. The Trojans will play in the finals for the first time in a decade on Friday against Gainesville. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.

WEST HALL SPARTANS
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL:  Bobby Pless, 7th season
-- REGION: 7-3A
-- CURRENT 2022-23 RECORD: 6-6, 2-1, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 8
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. F Andrew Malin (9.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Sr. PG Owen Jenkins (19.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.3 spg), Sr. W Isiah Holder (11.8 ppg, 9.9 rpg), So. Xavier Felix (6.2 ppg, 2 rpg), Sr. Zach Stephens (3.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg), W Sr. Quintavious Reid (5.3 ppg, 2 rpg), Jr. G Ethan Clifford (3.7 ppg)
-- SEASON RECAP: It's been a streaky start to the season for the Spartans, dropping two of their first three games, then reeling off five wins in a row to post a 6-2 record. But West Hall rolls into the tournament on a four-game skid, falling to non-region opponents Athens Academy, Choctawhatchee and South Walton, and losing to region foe White County. The good news, however, the Spartans are tied for second in the Region 7-3A standings, allowing them to use Lanierland as the final tuneup for a Region 7-3A title run.
-- FIRST ROUND RECAP: In a game of runs, West Hall was able to hold off defending champion East Hall en route to a 52-46 win in the opening round on Wednesday. West Hall opened up a 27-19 lead early in the third quarter and looked to be taking control. But East Hall’s C.J. Agborsangaya hit back-to-back 3-pointers, Harrison converted a pair of free throws, Alford hit a trey, and Harrison capped a 16-4 run to give the Vikings a 35-31 lead. But the Spartans chipped away into the fourth quarter as Jenkins capped a 10-2 run for a 41-40 lead. East Hall reclaimed the lead on a Chasen Jones basket, but West Hall closed out the game with an 11-4 run as Reid and Jenkins hit 3-of-4 free throws in the final 12 seconds to ice it. Andrew Malin led West Hall with 14 points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Quintavious Reid finished with 12 points, Owen Jenkins had 11, and Isaiah Holder 8 for the Spartans. West Hall takes on North Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the semifinals.  
-- SECOND ROUND RECAP: West Hall found themselves down 39-5 in the first half to fall to North Hall, 73-53, in the semifinals at Flowery Branch on Thursday. The Spartans were held scoreless for 8 minutes of the first half. Owen Jenkins finished with 20 points, 18 in the second half, to lead West Hall. Andrew Malin had 12 points and Xavier Felix 6 for the Spartans. West Hall will play Cherokee Bluff in the third-place game on Friday at Chestatee. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.