COAL MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Foul shots can help you, and they can kill you.
The foul line was good to Gainesville, especially Cade Simmons, who was 8-of-10 down the stretch to help Big Red knock off North Forsyth, 81-75, at Raider Arena on Friday.
The win lifts the Red Elephants (9-5, 3-0 Region 8-6A) in a tie for the Region 8-6A lead with Lanier. They'll travel to Lanier on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 7:30 and can be heard live on 94.5 FM The Lake.
The game lived up to the hype, with both Region 8-6A foes going toe to toe for 32 minutes in a good ole fashioned slobber knocker.
The Red Elephants, behind 12 points from Simmons, jumped out to a 22-16 lead after the first quarter, but the Raiders (8-8, 2-2 Region 8-6A) stormed back in the second period, holding Gainesville to just 12 points.
NoFo's Braden Mullis tossed in 9 points in the second quarter to lead the Raiders' rally to the lead by halftime, 39-34.
But Gainesville's Charlie Reisman, who finished with 19 points, scored 11 points in the third quarter to push Big Red back in front, 57-55.
From there, it was a back-and-forth battle, but Simmons's fourth-quarter performance helped the Red Elephants hold on for the win. Simmons scored 12 of his game-high 24 points in the final period.
Kal-el Delgadillo scored 21 points to lead the Raiders, Cole Kirouac added 14, and Brayden Turner hit for 12.
Isaiah Rico finished with 11 points for Gainesville, and Ellis Pitts chipped in 9.
EAST FORSYTH 66,
CHEROKEE BLUFF
Matthew Rouse went off in Flowery Branch Friday night.
The junior guard scored a game-high 39 points to lead the Broncos' rally past Cherokee Bluff (12-6, 5-1 Region 8-4A). Rouse scored 20 points in the second half, including 11 points in the fourth quarter.
It was Bluff's first sub-region loss.
After a sluggish start, falling behind 15-7 after the first eight minutes, the Broncos, behind Rouse's 17 second-quarter points, cut the Bears' lead to 35-27. EaFo (8-11, 3-3 Region 8-4A) continued its run to the lead, trailing by two points at the end of the third quarter. The Broncos didn't take the lead until the final period, 48-46.
Boston Kersh led the Bears with 15 points and was one of four Bluff players in double digits. Bryce Horton finished with 14 points, Logan Holmes scored 13, and Carlos Marlow scored 10.
LAKEVIEW 86,
BETHLEHEM CHRISTIAN 62
Justyce Sadler poured in 29 points, and Jack Collins had 28 to lead the Lions past No. 5 Bethlehem Christian on the road Friday.
The Lions jumped to a 22-8 lead in the first quarter. Bethlehem Christian went on a run in the second quarter to cut the lead 42-32, but the Lions took control in the third quarter, going up 66-46.
Tayden Ware added 17 points in the win.
Lakeview will play Pinecrest Academy at home on Saturday. Tip-off is set for 5 p.m.
EAST HALL 54,
NORTH HALL 46
Levi Holtzclaw scored 22 points to help lead the Vikings (4-14, 2-4 Region 8-4A) Friday at Valhalla.
The Vikings avenged the early season 81-59 loss to the Trojans and have won three straight.
Chasen Jones added 14, Cletus Absongoya added 12.
