Jeff Hart

For the first time in its history the North Hall football team advanced to the semifinals in any classification after holding on for a thrilling 12-10 win over Perry Friday night in the Class AAA state playoffs.

The Pickens girls basketball team built a 27-point lead but had to hang down the stretch to beat North Hall 76-71 Tuesday night in Region 7-AAA action.

Flowery Branch improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2002 after taking a 50-38 win over Chestatee Tuesday night in Region 7-AAA action. The Lady Falcons displayed a smothering full-court defense most of the game that held the Lady War Eagles to under 10 points in three of four quarters.

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According to published reports, Buford lost its coin flip with Charlton County Sunday to host the quarterfinal round of the Class AA football playoffs. The only game to be played in northeast Georgia Friday night will be at The Brickyard at North Hall when the Trojans play host to Perry.

The West Hall girls basketball team got its first win of the season Saturday night. The Lady Spartans hit 22-of-33 free throws and held off Class AAAAA Alpharetta 45-41 in overtime in the South Forsyth Turkey Shootout.

The defending Class AAA state champion East Hall girls basketball team picked up another title Saturday night. The Lady Vikings erased an eight-point halftime deficit to beat host Pope 42-38 and capture the Greyhound Thanksgiving Tournament Championship.

Marist outscored Gainesville 31-21 in the second half to take a 53-44 win Saturday in boys basketball action.

North Gwinnett quarterback Michael Tamburo connected twice with Jaison Yoshimura for two touchdowns to vault the Bulldogs past Brookwood 17-3 Friday night and into the quarterfinals of the Class AAAAA state playoffs.

Valdosta State scored 42 second half points as the Blazers defeated Catawba 55-29 in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs Saturday afternoon at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.