BUFORD, Ga. — KJ White had himself a fourth quarter.
The junior guard outscored Seckinger 16-15 in the fourth quarter to lead the Gainesville boys basketball team in a come-from-behind 57-51 win on the road Friday night.
White scored nine of his points from 3-point land, including two that pushed the Red Elephants (13-6, 6-1 Region 7-5A) ahead in the fourth twice and was 6-of-6 from the foul line to help ice the game down the stretch. He finished with a team-high 22 points.
But Gainesville would like to forget the first 24 minutes. Big Red trailed the entire game and fell behind 11 in a 6-minute scoring drought that started in the second quarter and ended with 4:37 left in the third quarter.
However, late in the third quarter, the Red Elephants shifted to a zone defense, then extended to a zone press in the fourth quarter, and that was the beginning of the rally. The change in defense forced 10 turnovers and stalemated the Jaguars offense.
It also fueled a 30-point final eight minutes and held the Jaguars to 15 points.
Gainesville took its first lead of the game off a White steal and a bucket, 37-36 with less than five minutes left. Then the two traded lead the next three trips down the floor. White and Xavier Griffin gave the Red Elephants the lead for good with back-to-back baskets.
Griffin was key in the quarter with six points, including a stickback with 1:31 to go that gave Big Red a 49-46 lead. He finished with eight points and seven rebounds — four of which were offensive boards.
Junior big Charlie Gersmehl was big throughout the game, he had 10 of the Red Elephants 19 first-half points, and had five huge fourth quarter baskets, including a 3-point play that cut Seckinger’s lead to one point, 36-35, with 5:23 left. He finished with 15 points and five rebounds.
Caden Jackson chipped in six points for the Red Elephants.
KJ Banks led the Jaguars (9-9, 3-4 Region 7-5A) with 18 points. Caleb Wells added 16, and Tony Wells had 15.
NORTH HALL 63,
WHITE COUNTY 62
North Hall rallied from a three-point deficit in the third quarter to get the one-point win on the road Friday.
After White County took a 48-45 lead at the end of the third, the fourth became a back-and-forth battle.
Gunner Spain, who led the Trojans with 25 points, hit the game-winner at the horn.
Cole Hulsey finished with 21 points.
Blayne Gunter led the Warriors with 25 points and nine rebounds. John Phillips and Tristan Orndorf had 11 each.
EAST HALL 74,
WEST HALL 29
Bray Langston scored 20 points, and Jamarcus Harrison had 15 to lead the Vikings (15-4, 4-1 Region 8-3A) in the win over West Hall on the road on Friday.
East Hall jumped out to a 20-7 lead after the first quarter and a 37-15 halftime lead. The Vikings continued their dominance in the third, outscoring the Spartans 21-9.
Cooper Barton added eight points, and Khalil Goss had seven for the Vikings.
BUFORD 71,
COLLINS HILL 55
Dillon Nixon scored 26 points to lead the Wolves past Collins Hill on the road Friday.
The Wolves remain perfect in Region 8-6A play with the win.
Carmelo Williams added 16 points for the Wolves (14-3, 8-0 Region 8-6A).
Austin Richards and Ruben Borg had 13 each for the Eagles.
