GAINESVILLE, Ga. — It was close at the end of the first quarter. Then it wasn't.
The No. 9-ranked North Forsyth girls basketball team (17-6, 9-1 Region 8-6A) outscored Gainesville 34-7 over the next two quarters en route to a 54-25 win on the road Tuesday.
It was an offensive struggle for both squads in the opening period. North Forsyth and Gainesville turned the ball over five times each, and neither could toss it in the basket.
The game was tied 6-6 with 3:38 to go, and then the Lady Raiders began finding a rhythm. NoFo set out on a 12-4 run that included 3-pointers from Addison Peck and London Weaver. The Lady Raiders also forced Gainesville to turn the ball over 10 times in the second quarter. The Lady Raiders were in charge by halftime, 27-13.
The Lady Raiders opened the second half on an 18-0 run, with five players tossing in points, to take a 45-13 lead. Weaver scored a game-high 17 points and hit 8 points in the third quarter.
North Forsyth held Gainesville to just four points in the quarter.
Erin Whalen finished with 10 points, while Peck and Lindsey Pirkle added 6 each.
Keidra Young led the Lady Red Elephants (18-3, 6-3 Region 8-6A) with 15 points.
CHESTATEE 64,
EAST HALL 40
Riley Black scored 22 points, and Caroline Bull had 15 to lead the Lady War Eagles past East Hall on Tuesday.
The Lady War Eagles (17-6, 7-2 Region 8-4A) offensive output and stingy defense led to a 39-13 lead at the half. C
Callie Dale led East Hall with 12, and Maleah Harrison had 11.
FIDELES CHRISTIAN 44,
LANIER CHRISTIAN 26
Ellie Roberts scored 11 points and pulled 11 rebounds to lead the Lady Lightning (11-13, 4-4 GAPPS) in the loss to Fideles Christian on Tuesday.
BANKS COUNTY 46,
UNION COUNTY 21
The Lady Leopards held Union County to just 4 first half points en route to a Region 8-2A win at home.
Banks County (21-3, 7-0 Region 8-2A) led 10-0 after the first quarter and took a 25-4 lead into halftime. The Lady Leopards left no doubt pulling away for a 40-12 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
Addison Hoard led Banks County with 12 points. Kamryn Grier added 10 points, and Carly Segars gad 8 for the Lady Leopards, who ran their win streak to 14 with the victory.
Ariel McCarter paced Union County (12-11, 3-4 Region 8-2A) with 11 points.
LUMPKIN COUNTY 59,
PICKENS 36
The Lady Indians remained in first place in the ultra-competitive Region 7-3A with their sixth straight win, the last five by 20 or more points, at home.
Lumpkin County (19-3, 9-1 Region 8-2A) exploded for an 18-8 run in the first quarter and extended its lead to 38-19 by halftime.
Averie Jones returned to the lineup to lead the Lady Indians with 15 points. Mary Mullinax had 14 points, and Kate Jackson and Ciera Brooks scored 11 each for Lumpkin County.
Caroline Mullins led Pickens (17-5, 5-4 Region 8-2A) with 9 points.
BUFORD 65,
CENTRAL GWINNETT 49
Ava Grace Watson and Taylor Romano combined for 48 points to lead the Lady Wolves past Central Gwinnett on the road Tuesday.
Romano led Buford with 25 points, and Watson added 23 in the win.
After holding on to a 35-32 lead at the half, Central Gwinnett held the Lady Wolves to just 3 points in the third quarter to grab a 43-38 lead. Romano went off in the fourth period, scoring 17 points, 15 from the 3-point line, to lead Buford's rally back to the lead. The Lady Wolves outscored Central 27-6 in the fourth to get the win.
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SCOREBOARD, Tuesday, Jan. 31
Buford 65, Central Gwinnett 49*
North Hall 42, Cherokee Bluff 39*
Chestatee 64, East Hall 40*
East Jackson 48, Fellowship Christian 30*
Eastside 44, Flowery Branch 43*
Loganville 47, Jefferson 38*
East Forsyth 70, Johnson 9*
Fideles Christian 44, Lanier Christian 26*
North Forsyth 54, Gainesville 25*
Lumpkin County 59, Pickens 36*
Banks County 46, Union County 21*
Wesleyan 71, West Hall 16*
White County 75, Gilmer 31*
(* -- denotes region contest)
