Basketball playoffs: Lakeview boys, Rabun girls advance; Buford, Dawson, Lumpkin, Rabun, Towns boys all eliminated

MACON, Ga. — The Lakeview Academy boys made the most of a week off to get ready for the GIAA Class 3A playoffs on Saturday.

The third-seeded Lions looked solid in taking a 52-34 win over John Milledge in the quarterfinals at First Presbyterian Day School in Macon.

Lakeview Academy (24-5) was dialed in on both ends of the floor to start the game. The Lions jumped out to a 17-3 lead after the first quarter but John Milledge cut the lead to 27-17 by halftime. The Trojans continued to chip away pulling within 38-29 heading into the fourth quarter but Lakeview outscored John Milledge 14-5 in the final period to pull away for the big win.

Tayden Ware paced Lakeview Academy with 17 points. Brock Graham and Mekhi Barber each had 8 points for the Lions. 

The win puts Lakeview Academy into the GIAA Class 3A Final Four. The Lions will take on St. Andrew's on Wednesday at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.

RABUN COUNTY GIRLS 70,
MOUNT PISGAH 57

The Lady Wildcats drilled 13 3-pointers en route to a win at home on Saturday.

Rabun County (23-6) stormed out of the gates running out to a 39-22 lead at halftime. Mount Pisgah (16-11) battled back in the third quarter to pull within 48-41 heading into the fourth.

However, the Lady Wildcats were able to pull away down the stretch to advance to their second Elite 8 in the last three years.

Lucy Hood led four players in double figures with 19 points. She also added 7 assists and 5 rebounds. Mili Watts poured in 15 points and grabbed 6 rebounds, Adelyn Thompson had 13 points, and Ellie Southards had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Lady Wildcats.

Morgan Blake and Tobi Owolabi each had 16 points to lead Mount Pisgah.

Rabun County will take Bryan County on Tuesday in Tiger for a spot in the Final Four.

MANCHESTER 71,
TOWNS COUNTY 58

The Indians were outscored 25-15 in the fourth quarter as a second half comeback fell short in the Class A Division 2 playoffs.

Towns County (19-8) had trimmed a 33-26 Manchester lead at the half down to 46-43 heading into the fourth quarter. But the Blue Devils were able to put the game away at the free throw line, hitting 25-of-35 for the game, including 17 in the final period. The Indians shot just 15 free throws.

Zane Floyd, Connor Chastain, and Taylor Cunningham all had 13 points to lead Towns County.

NORCROSS 54,
BUFORD 48

The Region 8-7A champion Wolves could not hold onto an early lead in losing the Blue Devils in Class 7A.

Buford (24-5) led 14-11 after the first quarter but Norcross (17-13) used an 18-9 second quarter to grab a 29-23 halftime lead.  The two teams played to a standstill in the second half and a late Wolves rally fell short.

Chase James Robinson led Buford with 13 points. Jackson Houston added 10 points for the Wolves.

Toby Ojujwu led Norcross with 13 points. 

Alex Pace and Casey Williams each had 10 points for the Blue Devils.

DOUGLASS-ATLANTA 79,
DAWSON COUNTY 42

Dawson County’s run in the Class 3A state playoffs came to an end on Saturday on the road.

The Region 7-3A No. 4 seeded Tigers were coming off an upset win over Region 6-3A champion Adairsville in the first round. But the Astros, a Final Four team in 2023, were on another level.

And the Tigers had trouble right from the start with the taller Astros. Douglass held Dawson County to just 6 points in the first quarter while building a 15-point lead. 

Dawson County trailed 49-22 at the half and tried to mount a second half comeback. But the Astros made sure there would be no upsets for the Tigers this time around, outscoring Dawson County 21-11 in the third quarter and then cruised in the fourth quarter for the win.

Trey Harvey led Dawson County with 19 points.

SANDY CREEK 92,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 22

Also for Region 7-3A, Lumpkin County had the unenviable task of traveling to defending Class 3A state champion Sandy Creek in the second round. The Indians were not treated well as the Patriots dominated from start to finish.

Amari Brown led Sandy Creek with 23 points.

Cal Faulknner paced Lumpkin County with 12 points.

Despite the lopsided loss on Saturday, the Indians did get their first postseason victory since 2016 in the opening round in a 57-37 upset win over Ridgeland on the road.