Lanierland girls: Lakeview favored but will get challenged by deep field

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LANIERLAND DAY 1 SCHEDULE, Thursday, Dec. 19, at North Hall High School

(3) Chestatee vs. (6) Flowery Branch (girls), 4 p.m.
(3) North Hall vs. (6) East Hall (boys), 5:30 p.m.
(7) East Hall vs. (2) North Hall (girls), 7 p.m.
(7) Chestatee vs. (2) Gainesville (boys), 8:30 p.m.

LANIERLAND DAY 1 SCHEDULE, Thursday, Dec. 19, at East Hall High School

(5) Cherokee Bluff vs. (4) Gainesville (girls), 4 p.m.
(5) Lakeview vs. (4) Flowery Branch (boys), 5:30 p.m.
(1) Lakeview vs. (9) West Hall (girls), 7 p.m.
(1) Cherokee Bluff vs. (8) West Hall (boys), 8:30 p.m.

CHEROKEE BLUFF LADY BEARS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Kassie Scott, 2nd season
-- REGION: 8-3A
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 7-3, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 5
-- RETURNING STARTERS: Jr. G Claire Carlson (15.7 ppg, 5.6 reb, 2.3 ast, 3.4 defl, 2.9 stl, 1.0 blk), So. G Bristol Kersh (13.1 ppg, 3.8 reb, 5.5 ast, 4.4 defl, 4.4 stl,), Sr. F Brooklyn Phillips (5.6 ppg, 3.2 reb, 1.9 stl), So. F Emery Jones (4.9 ppg, 5.1 reb, 1.9 defl, 1.1 stl, 1.1 blk), Jr. C Halle Wilson (5.7 ppg, 5.1 reb), Jr. F Audrey Graham
-- SEASON RECAP: The Lady Bears return eight from last year’s roster, including two of the area’s most dynamic young players, Carlson and Kersh, but they are young overall. And they are 4th in the latest PSR (GHSA Postseason Rankings) in Class 3A. They have one of the best inside tandems in Phillips and Wilson but their offense will go depending on Carlson and Kersh. They are still looking for their first Lanierland title and could make a run in 2024. Their opening game with Gainesville could be one of the best of the opening-day matchups. They have played a very tough opening schedule, with their three losses coming to ranked teams Buford, North Oconee, and White County, which is in the top 5 in the PSR in Class 3A. However, they come in riding a 3-game win streak, including double-digit wins over Franklin County and Gilmer.

CHESTATEE LADY WAR EAGLES
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Sutton Shirley, 7th season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 4-4, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 3
-- RETURNING STARTERS: Sr. G Addison Boyd (3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 4 rpg), Sr. G Caroline Bull (14 ppg, 3 spg), Sr. F Payton Cable (12 ppg, 8 rpg), Jr. G Blakely Boyd (9 ppg, 4.5 rpg), Jr. F Jamya Weaver (6.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Fr. Ali Jae Bull (10 ppg, 5 rpg, 4.5 apg)
-- SEASON RECAP: Despite losing the program’s all-time leading scorer, Riley Black, the Lady War Eagles return three seniors with multiple years of varsity experience. They still push the ball in an up-tempo, guard-oriented offense. Caroline Bull leads a solid shooting group, along with Boyd and younger sister Ali Jae, who is already having an impact on both ends of the floor. However, they are yielding the most points on defense (56.25 ppg) of any team in the field and will need to find stops against some of the better offensive teams to have any chance of reaching the finals. Cable and Weaver can pose problems inside on the offensive end.

EAST HALL LADY VIKINGS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Brad Cochran, 2nd season
-- REGION: Region 8-3A
-- CURRENT 2023-24 RECORD: 5-3, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 7
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. PG Kaylana Curry (14 ppg, 5 rpg, 5 apg, 4 spg), Sr. Terriah Watkins (15 ppg, 10 rpg, 3 spg), Sr. G Amari Burce (4 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 spg, 2 apg), Jr. Haley Barton (7 ppg, 3 rpg), So. Tanaja Harrison, So. Carlessia Jones, So. C Maliyah Butler, 
-- SEASON RECAP: The Lady Vikings returned virtually their entire roster, and the experience has shown in the early part of the season as they are 10th in the latest PSR standings in Class 3A. They won just 7 games last season and can match that, or beat it, with a deep run in the tournament. And they are capable of making one. They already own wins over North Hall (60-52) -- their opening-round opponent -- and Gainesville (78-69 in OT). They have good balance inside and out on offense with Curry, Burrce, Watkins, and Butler, but they come in in the middle of the pack (49.75 ppg) in the field in scoring. They are a solid defensive squad, allowing just 45.7 ppg, the 4th-fewest in the field.

FLOWERY BRANCH LADY FALCONS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Courtney Newton, 10th season
-- REGION: 8-4A
-- CURRENT 2023-24 RECORD: 2-10, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 6
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. G/F Jess Tamplin (18.9 ppg  4rpg), Jr. G Kinley Hawkins (6.1 ppg 5.3 rpg), Jr. F Kelsey Inman, Sr. G Maddison Pitchford 
-- SEASON RECAP: The Lady Falcons graduated 9 seniors and 5 of their top 6 players from a year ago. The remaining roster came into the season very inexperienced, and they are having some growing pains early as they come into Thursday's opening round on a 4-game losing streak. The Lady Falcons are averaging just 30.4 ppg on offense, the lowest in the 8-team field, and giving up the 2nd-most on defense (55.4 ppg). However, they are 1-1 against the field, with a win over Johnson and a loss to North Hall. They are athletic at several positions, and Tamplin, who can play inside and out, is a tough matchup. They open for a third straight season against Chestatee, which has become a fun rivalry game over the past few seasons.

GAINESVILLE LADY RED ELEPHANTS
-- COACH, YEARS AT SCHOOL: Vanessa White, 3rd season
-- REGION: 7-5A
-- CURRENT 2023-24 RECORD: 6-3, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 4
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. G Julia Payne (13 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 spg, 2 apg), Fr. G Shailyn Jones (9 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 spg), Fr. G Damaria Colburn (9 ppg, 3 apg, 3 rpg, 3 spg), Fr. G Jaucelyn Smith (9 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 spg), So. F/P Jaylah Mintz (8 ppg, 10 rpg), Sr. F Mattie White (6 ppg, 5 rpg), Jr. F/P Branae Shiloh (missed 2023-24 with ACL injury)
-- SEASON RECAP: They face perhaps the toughest road to the finals along with Cherokee Bluff, as the two open against each other in the first round. The winner will likely get defending champ Lakeview Academy in the semifinals. With a healthy Shiloh and Payne, Mintz, and White and a year of experience, LRE has been more explosive on the offensive end, coming in as the 2nd-highest scoring team in the field (58.8 ppg). But the Lady Red Elephants will have to rely on their quickness as Shiloh is the only player 6 feet or taller on the roster. They also are allowing the 2nd-fewest points (42.77 ppg) on defense but also have come into the tournament on a 3-game losing streak, including a loss to East Hall in OT.

JOHNSON LADY KNIGHTS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jared Hodge, 7th season
-- REGION: Region 6-3A
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 0-8, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 8
-- KEY PLAYERS: Jr. G Emily Hernandez (8.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), So. Harbor Landers (9.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Sr. P Karina Ordonez
-- SEASON RECAP: It's been another rebuilding year for the Lady Knights, who graduated 4 starters from last year’s team that won just three games. Only 2 players return -- Hernandez and Ordonez -- with any varsity experience. They were beaten by West Hall in the play-in game earlier this month and did not make the tournament field this season.

LAKEVIEW ACADEMY LADY LIONS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Ken Huffman, 2nd season
-- REGION: GIAA AAAA/AAA District 4
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 6-2, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 1
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. F Taliah Gaither (19.6 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3 bpg), Jr. G Emyrie Combs (18 ppg, 7 apg, 4 spg), So. G Taylor Clark (12.0 ppg, 6.0 spg, 4.0 rpg), Sr. G Dynesty Putman (2023-24 stats: 11 ppg, 5 rpg, 3 apg, 3 spg)
-- SEASON RECAP: The Lady Lions are the defending Lanierland and GIAA Class 3A state champions and picked up right where they left off to open the season. The only question coming into the 65th Lanierland is whether Putman, who has missed the first half of the season due to an injury, would be available. Coach Huffman said before the season she may be back for the start of the tournament, but we will see. But without Putman, they have played a challenging schedule and are ranked No. 1 by MaxPreps in GIAA Class 3A. Their only losses are to defending GHSA Class A D1 state champion St. Francis and to defending GHSA Class 4A state champion Baldwin. Combs has picked up the slack at the point in Putman's absence and is putting together a solid opening half of the year. Clark is another underclassman that gives the Lady Lions perhaps the deepest backcourt in the field.

NORTH HALL LADY TROJANS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Anna Claire Atha, 1st season
-- REGION: 6-3A
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 4-4, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 2
-- KEY PLAYERS: Jr. G Martha Vachstevanos (injury), Sr. G Athena Vachtsevanos (18.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.1 apg), So. P Zara Gosse (5.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.4 apg), Jr. G Lauren Hemmer, Sr. P Sibley Fountain (North Oconee transfer)
-- SEASON RECAP: The loss of Martha Vachstevanos before the season began was a big blow. However, they opened the season 4-1 before dropping 3 straight coming into the tournament. They are 2-1 vs. the field so far this season, with wins over Flowery Branch and Johnson and an early-season loss to East Hall (60-52). They can shoot the ball from the outside behind Athena Vachtsevanos, capable of a career game on any given night, and are averaging the 3rd-most points (55.0 ppg) of the 8-team field. Gosse and Fountain give them a solid tandem inside. They will look to pressure teams on the defensive end, but they also allow the 3rd-most points of any team in the field (51.71 ppg) so far this season.

WEST HALL LADY SPARTANS
-- COACH/YEARS AT SCHOOL: Jacob Selman, 3rd season
-- REGION: 8-3A
-- CURRENT 2024-25 RECORD: 3-5, FULL SCHEDULE HERE
-- LANIERLAND SEEDING: No. 9
-- KEY PLAYERS: Sr. PG Cayla Radich (5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg), Sr. F Kihanna Rich (3.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 2.7 spg), Fr. G Zy Farmer (7.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 spg), Fr. G Peyton Morrow 7.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg), Fr. F Nyliveyah Harris (4.8 rpg)
-- SEASON RECAP: The Lady Spartans already have more wins than the entire 2023-24 campaign, including knocking off No. 8 seed Johnson in the play-in game earlier this month to get into the tournament. They opened the season as a very young team, with 13 freshmen joining the program. Farmer and Morrow give them a young and talented pair to go with Radich in the backcourt. Harris is another complement inside with Rich. But they come in riding a 5-game losing streak against a very difficult schedule leading up to region play. They are tough on the defensive end, allowing just one team to score more than 53 points on the season. But they bring the 2nd lowest-scoring offense (36.1 ppg) into the tournament and will need to find a way to keep up on the offensive end.