East Hall overcame a seven-point third quarter deficit with tenacious defense and clutch free throw shooting in the final minute to rally for a 61-54 win over the Wildcats in the Region 8-AA championship game at the Rabun County gym.
Dre Perry provided the difference for East Hall (23-5) scoring 12 of his team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, including hitting 7-of-8 free throws in the final 58 seconds.
"He has ice water in his veins," East Hall coach Joe Dix said. "He's been doing that all year for us. We did a great job of regrouping in the second half and executed real well in the final couple of minutes."
For the Vikings, it's their first region title since winning the Region 7-AAA title on the way to the Class AAA state title in 2007. Rabun County (18-10) was looking for its first-ever region crown.
Dix said before the game he expected a dogfight to the end despite two lopsided wins over the Wildcats during the regular season.
"It's hard to beat a team three times," he said. "They have been playing really well and I knew they would give us a great game. We were fortunate to make some plays down the stretch."
East Hall's defense was a huge key to the game holding Tanner Plemmons and Jeff Scott to just 17 combined points. The two dynamic Rabun County guards torched Hart County for 60 points in the semifinals the night before.
"We tried to keep the ball out of their hands and I thought we did a great job for the most part," Dix said. "Those guys can really score and holding them down was a big key."
The Wildcats gave the Vikings everything they had for the first three quarters, sparked by junior Dillon Bleckley, who had a career-high 27 points to go with 13 rebounds and three steals. It was a stick back by Bleckley on a missed shot midway through the third quarter that gave the Wildcats their biggest lead at 38-31 lead and cap a 20-8 run over the second and third quarters.
But East Hall got six straight points from Brian Edwards to pull within 40-37 and a 3-pointer from Hayden Chapman capped a 13-6 run for the Vikings to tie the game at 44 heading into the fourth quarter. Bleckley would again give Rabun County the lead on a basket off a missed shot but six straight points by East Hall would give the Vikings the lead for good at 52-48.
Plemmons would hit a 3-pointer to pull the Wildcats within 52-51 but Perry would control the ball and score the final nine points for East Hall to seal the win.
East Hall now will play host to Decatur next Saturday in the first round of the Class AA state tournament. A tip-off time has yet to be determined.
East Hall ran out to a 9-5 lead in the first five minutes of the game but was not able to take advantage of a sloppy start by the Wildcats. Rabun County had six turnovers in its first seven possessions with just one shot attempt, which was blocked by Sterling Bailey.
The Wildcats finally found their rhythm late in the quarter to pull within 14-12 heading into the second quarter. East Hall used a quick 5-0 run to take a 19-12 lead and looked to have its offense going. But again the Wildcats responded.
Rabun County closed out the final four minutes of the first half with a 10-2 run to take a 28-25 halftime lead. Bleckley had 15 first half points as East Hall focused on shutting down Plemmons and Scott. Plemmons had as many fouls (3) as points in the first half and Scott managed just one field goal to go with two free throws.
Scott finished with nine points, four rebounds, and five assists while Plemmons had eight points for the Wildcats.
Edwards and Chris Orr had eight points apiece for East Hall.
The East Hall boys basketball team celebrates.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/2/236339