Boys basketball: Jefferson climbs into 1st place; Tigers, Chestatee get region wins

JASPER — Dawson County used a huge first half to take a 65-45 win over Pickens on Saturday afternoon in non-region boys basketball action.

 

The Tigers (10-5) opened the game with an impressive 20-8 run and then exploded for a 19-4 second quarter for a 39-12 halftime lead. Pickens cut into the lead in the second half pulling to within 52-26 by the end of the third quarter. They kept chipping away until the final score.

 

Jake Craft paced Dawson County with 22 points.

Tucker Lowe led the Dragons with 14 points.

It was the fourth straight win for Dawson County, which knocked off No. 8 Cherokee Bluff on Friday.

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JEFFERSON 64,
MADISON COUNTY 43

The Dragons climbed into a tie for first place in Region 8-4A with a road win over the Red Raiders.

It was the fifth straight win for Jefferson (8-3, 3-1 Region 8-4A). Madison County (4-7, 2-1 Region 8-4A) was the only unbeaten left in the region until Saturday.

Dalen Gales paced Jefferson with 19 points. Spencer Darby added 17 for the Dragons.

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CHESTATEE 74,
FLOWERY BRANCH 46

The War Eagles snapped a six-game losing streak with a big Region 8-4A victory at home on Saturday.

Meanwhile, it was the sixth straight loss for the Falcons.

However, it did not come as easy as the score indicated. Flowery Branch (3-11, 2-2 Region 8-4A) led 14-12 after the opening period and after a 16-8 second quarter Chestatee (3-11, 2-2 Region 8-4A) took a 28-22 lead into halftime.

The second half was all War Eagles. Chestatee outscored Flowery Branch 46-24 in the second half, including a big 23-10 third quarter run to take control.

Hugh Pruitt led Chestatee with 17 points, including four 3-pointers. Peyton Phillips also drained four 3-pointers as part of his 14 points and Ethan Popham added 11 points for the War Eagles.

Trey Shaw and Jack Burney each had 12 points to pace the Falcons. The Branch was held to just six field goals in the second half.

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FRANKLIN COUNTY 73,
COMMERCE 62

The Tigers dropped their fourth straight game in close loss to the Class 3A Lions.

Kemanni Horne and Jackson Morris each poured in 13 points to lead Commerce (3-10).

Cayden Lord added 12 points and Shawn Cunningham had 11 for the Tigers.

Commerce will get back to Region 8-A Public action on Tuesday playing host to Towns County.