GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The Gainesville girls basketball team shook off a slow start and held off a Lanier charge in the fourth to win 43-41 on Friday at home.
The Lady Red Elephants created plenty of opportunities in the backcourt but couldn't convert in the first half, going down by seven points early, 10-3.
Big Red kept chipping away, however, outscoring 6-0 in the final 1:31 of the first quarter to cut the lead 10-9.
Kedria Young set Gainesville on a 10-3 run to open the second quarter and push them ahead 22-13. Young scored seven points in the second quarter. She finished with 20.
The Lady Red Elephants finished the half up 24-16.
Gainesville grabbed its biggest lead, 31-17, on a KeKe Jones bucket with 4:38 to go in the third and held on to a 10-point lead, 36-26, at the end of the quarter.
Lanier's Asja Howell, who finished with 13 points, scored five points in the final 1:30 of the game to cut Gainesville's lead to 43-41.
With the win and Habersham Central's loss to North Forsyth, Gainesville is tied with Habersham for the No. 2 seed with two Region 8-6A games remaining.
NORTH FORSYTH 71,
HABERSHAM CENTRAL 29
Erin Whalen scored a game-high 24 points to lead North Forsyth's blowout win over Habersham Central on Senior Night at Raider Arena.
The win clinched the Region 8-6A regular-season title.
North Forsyth avenged last month's loss in Mt. Airy in a big way on Friday, holding Habersham Central to just 11 first-half points. North Forsyth led 36-11 at halftime.
The onslaught continued in the second half, with North Forsyth outscoring Habersham 35-18.
Kamryn Gardner finished with 11 points, while London Weaver had 10 for NoFo. Kyia Barrett led Habersham with 12 points.
LANIER CHRISTIAN 35,
PEACHTREE ACADEMY 24
Camille Hoffman scored 13 points to lead Lanier Christian past Peachtree Academy Friday.
Ellie Roberts added in 9, and Adelyn Gough chipped in 7.
The Lady Lightning (12-13, 4-4 GAPPS) will begin region play next week at Killian Hill Christian School.
RABUN COUNTY 64,
ATHENS CHRISTIAN 39
Lucy Hood scored 23 points, and Ellis Southards had 13 to help Rabun County past Athens Christian at home on Friday.
LUMPKIN COUNTY 54,
DAWSON COUNTY 39
The Lady Tigers trailed the No. 2 Lady Indians, 26-21, at halftime but couldn't get any closer in the final half, losing at home on Friday.
Mary Mullinax led Lumpkin County with 16 points. Kirklyn Porter led the Lady Tigers with 12.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL SCOREBOARD, Friday, Feb. 3
Banks County 38, Athens Academy 36*
Cherokee Bluff at Chestatee*
Buford 62, Collins Hill 49*
Elbert County 59, Commerce 33*
North Forsyth 71, Habersham Central 29*
Jefferson 65, Heritage-Conyers 60*
Gainesville 43, Lanier 41*
Lumpkin County 54, Dawson County 39*
North Hall 58, East Forsyth 55*
Lanier Christian 35, Peachtree Academy 24
Rabun County 64, Athens Christian 39*
Union County at East Jackson*
Towns County 80, Warren County 68*
Pickens 56, White County 44*
