The Red Elephants withstood a fourth quarter charge by Franklin County and hit three free throws in the final 35 seconds to hold on for a 69-64 win over the Lions to cap the first day's action.
The Johnson boys lost 66-63 to Chattahoochee, the Johnson girls lost to Parkview 97-7, and the Gainesville girls lost 36-23 to Franklin County in first round action.
Gainesville (3-6) never trailed after the second quarter but could never put Franklin County (6-4) away until the final moments.
"It was a good win for us," Gainesville coach Todd Cottrell said. "They are a well-coached team and never quit. I think we learned how to close out a game, which has been a problem for us."
It also marked the ninth straight game the Elephants have not had their entire team available. Junior Deshaun Watson was missing because he was taking part in the Junior Bowl.
"It's been tough because we still haven't had our entire roster together for a single game. I feel we'll be a good team when everyone is available," Cotrell said.
Still, Gainesville found a way to win. After Franklin County cut the lead to 47-45 early in the fourth quarter, the Elephants exploded for an 11-2 run in a 2:08 stretch, highlighted by a three-point play from Caleb Hayman for a 58-47 lead.
But the Lions made one last charge getting to within 64-62 on a 3-pointer from Tomoriea McGlockling with 59 seconds left. Chase England would hit one free throw with 35 seconds left and Shaquan Cantrell would drain two more 20 seconds later to put the game away.
The key play of the game, however, may have come with 1:35 left when Luke Moore put back a missed shot for a 62-56 lead to halt what had been a 9-2 Lions' run to pull within 60-56.
Moore finished with a team-high 21 points. Cantrell added 19 and Hayman had nine points for Gainesville. England finished with six rebounds for the Elephants.
"Luke made some big shots for us and has been solid all year. He's a big part of our offense," Cottrell said.
The win moves Gainesville into the semifinals against Class AAAAAA Parkview, which held off Douglass 58-54 in overtime, in the semifinals at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Collins HIll and Chattahoochee will play in the other semifinal at 5:30 p.m.
"Parkview is good. It will take another good effort for us to win that one," Cottrell said.
In the first half neither team led by more than five points, a 32-27 Gainesville lead at halftime.
The first quarter was nip-and-tuck with eight lead changes and one tie. Franklin jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead in the first two minutes but Gainesville answered with a 7-0 run, capped on a basket by Rodney Lackey, for a 9-6 lead.
The Lions came right back with a 7-3 run to reclaim the lead 13-12 but the Elephants answered that run with a 6-2 run for an 18-15 lead after the first quarter.
Gainesville maintained the lead throughout the second quarter but Franklin's Kalep Leverette hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 25 with 2:39 left in the first half. But the Elephants used a 7-2 run to close out the first half, capped by a 3-pointer from Moore with five seconds remaining.
McGlockling finished with a game-high 27 points for Franklin County. Red Montgomery had 18 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Lions.
In the boys bracket on Friday, in the consolation round, Dunwoody will play Johnson at 11:30 a.m. and Douglass will play Franklin County at 2:30 p.m.
Gainesville coach Todd Cottrell
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/12/256561