GAINESVILLE — Despite a rough shooting night, Lakeview Academy held off Pinecrest Academy 49-32 on Saturday at home.
The Lions (8-9) opened the game with a 16-6 run but Pinecrest (7-9) pulled within 21-16 by halftime. They took control in the second half.
Lakeview outscored the Paladins 13-8 in the third quarter and then pulled away in the fourth.
Brock Graham led the way for Lakeview with 17 points. Tayden Ware added 14 points while Justyce Sadler and Liam Weidner each had 7 points.
The Lions next will play host to George Walton on Tuesday in a battle for the region lead in GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4.
NORTH FORSYTH 73,
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 50
North Forsyth rebounded from a loss on Friday to rout Habersham Central in Region 8-6A play behind a balanced offensive attack.
Brayden Turner led NoFo (9-8, 3-2 Region 8-6A) with 18 points. Cole Kirouac added 14 points and Braden Mullis had 13 points.
Bryce Pittman with 24 points and Josiah McCurry 9 for Habersham Central (11-5, 1-3 Region 8-6A).
LANIER 56,
GAINESVILLE 48
Jayce Nathaniel’s back-to-back 3-pointers ended up being the dagger in Gainesville hopes of upsetting No. 3 Lanier (13-4, 4-0 Region 8-6A) Saturday night in Sugar Hill.
The Red Elephants (9-6, 3-1 Region 8-6A) held on to a slim 47-45 lead with 5:52 remaining in the battle for Region 8-6A’s top spot.
Nathaniel, who finished with 17 points, swished two straight treys to give the Longhorns a 51-47 advantage with 4:16 left.
Big Red still had their chances to rally back, but missed foul shots and poor perimeter shooting dashed any hope of retaking the lead and the win. Gainesville scored one point in the final 4:30 of the game.
The loss drops Gainesville into second in the region standings, while the Longhorns take sole possession of the top spot.
Osmar Garcia was a big part of the Longhorns’ return to the lead, scoring a bucket with less than 4 minutes remaining to give Lanier a 53-47 lead.
Garcia led all scorers with 24 points.
Earlier in the game, Gainesville’s Charlie Reisman, Julius Jackson and Cade Simmons sparked a 15-7 run, pushing Big Red to the lead for the second time in the first half, 26-25. Gainesville led at the half, 28-26.
Reisman led the Red Elephants with 16 points, and Cade Simmons had 10.
In the third quarter, Garcia quickly went to work scoring six straight points to lift Lanier to a 32-28 lead, Lanier outpaced Gainesville 15-10 in the third to take a 41-38 lead into the final period.
Gainesville plays host to Jackson County on Tuesday.
