NORCROSS — Cherokee Bluff was in control from the tip in a 72-50 rout of Lumpkin County in the first round of the Region 7-3A tournament at Greater Atlanta Christian School on Tuesday.
The Bears (16-11, Region 7-3A No. 4 seed) forced Lumpkin County to waive the white flag in the third quarter, leading by 31 points.
Griffin Neville poured in 20 points to lead the Bears first-ever region tournament win and first Class 3A state playoff berth. Jason Evrett contributed 10 points.
Jacob Cumbie led the Indians (8-17, Region 7-3A No. 5 seed) with 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Peyton Polk hit for 17 and four boards. Brian Cunane pulled 10 rebounds and scored 6 points.
It also was the final game for Lumpkin County coach Jeff Steele, who announced his retirement earlier in the season.
Bluff will play No. 1 seed Dawson County on Friday at East Hall. Tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m.
LAKEVIEW 61,
HEBRON CHRISTIAN 43
Declan Weidner and Conley Millwood combined for 31 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Lions past Hebron Christian on Tuesday in the second round of the Region 8-A tournament at Commerce.
Weidner was the Lions' top scorer with 16 points and 8 boards, while Conley Millwood added 15 points and 8 rebounds. Harrison Cooper scored 13 points and dished out 7 assists. Sam Stewart totaled 8 points and 11 rebounds, and Holden Cooper added 5 steals and 4 assists.
The Lions (11-15, Region 8-A No. 6 seed) will play the winner of Athens Academy/Towns County on Friday at Commerce. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.
NORTH HALL 57,
EAST HALL 50
The Trojans survived a furious East Hall third-quarter charge to claim a berth in the Class 3A state playoffs and a trip to the semifinals of the Region 7-3A tournament on Tuesday at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross.
After falling behind 15-7 in the first quarter, the Vikings rallied behind Imre Earls, who scored 11 points, 9 from the 3-point arc, in the quarter, to tie the game 28-28 with a minute to go in the half. Earls finished with a game-high 20 points -- 15 from the 3-point line.
North Hall's Clark Howell, who finished with a team-high 19 points, nailed a 3-pointer on the Trojans' next trip down the floor to grab the lead back, 31-28. Brock Cooper extended the lead, 33-28, with seconds left in the half.
The halftime break, however, was not good for the Trojans as they came out cold, but it didn't kill the Vikings' second-quarter momentum. East Hall grabbed its first lead of the game off a Christian Torres basket, 37-36. Torres led an 11-3 charge to go up by as much as three points, 39-36, early in the quarter and eventually ending the third period up, 43-40.
But the fourth quarter belonged to Howell and the Trojans. Howell tossed in eight straight foul shots in the final 8 minutes -- 10-of-10 for the game -- including two with 2:15 left to push the lead up, 50-45.
Luke Gunter added 12 points and several key rebounds to help the Trojans.
North Hall (18-8, Region 7-3A No. 3 seed) will play the winner of GAC/Fannin County on Friday at East Hall.
The Vikings end their season 6-18.
UNION COUNTY 66,
ELBERT COUNTY 49
Pierson Allison scored 25 points and Sawyer Drake had 18 to lead the Panthers past Elbert County in the second round of the Region 8-2A tournament at home.
The win also clinched a Class 2A state tournament berth.
Kyle Morlock chipped in 9 points in the win.
CLARKE CENTRAL 71,
JOHNSON 31
Clarke Central held Johnson to 12 second-half points while scoring 45 to beat the Knights in the first round of the Region 8-5A tournament at Clarke Central on Tuesday.
Johnson trailed 26-19 at the half.
Buddha Johnson and Jesse Harbin scored 8 points each to lead Johnson.
The Knights end their season 4-22.
RIVERSIDE 64,
TALLULAH FALLS 60 OT
Shad Dabney scored 26 points, pulled 6 rebounds and dished out 6 assists to lead the Eagles past the Indians in overtime in the second round of the Region 8-A tournament on Tuesday at Commerce.
The Eagles will will play the winner of Providence Christian/Athens Christian game on Friday at Commerce. Game time is 8:30 p.m.
KILLIAN HILL 46,
LANIER CHRISTIAN 39
Trevin Last scored 16 points in the Lightning's loss to Killian Hill in the region tournament on the road Tuesday.
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