The Elephants struggled to compete with the Knights in the first half, trailing 44-41. But as the second half began, the momentum shifted the Red Elephants' way. Gainesville opened the third quarter on a 32-10 run to take the lead 72-51 heading into the fourth quarter.
Johnson (6-9) came out on fire in the fourth quarter and continued to battle back -- at one point, the Knights even took an 86-84 lead. But Johnson had no answer for Gainesville's Allan Dockery, as the senior scored 28 points and pulled dowb 13 rebounds. Dockery also drained two critical free throws inside the final minute. Gainesville's George Manomanp also scored 23 points.
Johnson's Brandon Sloan helped out his cause, by leading the Knights with 22 points and 8 rebounds. It wasn't enough, however, as the Knights came up short on a last second 3-pointer by Tre Dudley. Devaris Finch also scored 19, and Colby Horne added 11.
The final two minutes of the contest proved both heated and critical, as Gainesville's Ty Redmon and Johnson's Devaris Finch got into a fight with 1:45 left in the game. Redmon fouled out of the game after his technical foul and Finch hit five straight free throws.
Yet the Red Elephants' defense stepped up and forced four turnovers in the final 1:30 of the game to help seal the victory. The victory moved Gainesville coach Jerry Davis to 697 career wins
Gaineville's Nick Johnson, center, fends off East Hall defenders Patrick Hoggard, left, and Kasey Rylee, right, in a game earlier this season. Gainesville edged Johnson on Tuesday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/1/205859