RABBITTOWN, Ga. — Cherokee Bluff rallied from a huge halftime deficit to avoid an East Hall upset, taking a 52-50 win in a crucial Region 8-4A North showdown on Tuesday at Valhalla.
The win kept the Bears (14-7, 7-1 Region 8-4A North) no worse than a tie for first place in the subregion. The rapidly-improving Vikings (5-16, 1-6 Region 8-4A North) had won 4 of their last 6 games coming into Tuesday’s matchup.
Bluff trailed just 12-11 after the first quarter, but Levi Holtzclaw and CJ Abgorsangaya led a huge second-quarter surge for East Hall, outscoring Bluff 21-8 in the period for a 33-19 lead at the break. But the Bears dialed up the defense in the second half.
The Vikings were held to just 4 points in the third quarter as Bluff exploded for 21 points to take a 40-37 lead into the fourth.
The Bears hung on at the end for their second straight win.
Bryce Horton and Carlos Marlowe each finished with 12 points to pace Bluff. Horton had four 3-pointers. Boston Kersh added 10 for the Bears.
Holtzclaw scored all 13 of his points in the first half, while Abgorsangaya had 10 of his 12 in the first half as well for the Vikings. Jamarcus Harrison also had 13 points for East Hall.
RABUN COUNTY 68,
TALLULAH FALLS 56
The Wildcats won their fourth straight game with a huge road win in Region 8-A Division 1.
The victory moved Rabun County (12-8, 3-1 Region 8-A D1) into a first-place tie with Athens Christian. Tallulah Falls (13-5, 2-2 Region 8-A D1) dropped into a tie for third with Commerce with the loss.
Jack Hood paced Rabun County with 22 points and 9 rebounds. Willie Goodwyn had Jayton Henry each had 14 points, Cooper Welch added 12 points and 9 rebounds, and Huey Blalock dished out 12 assist for the Wildcats.
Rabun County will play host to Commerce on Friday in another region matchup.
WEST HALL 54,
LUMPKIN COUNTY 51
The Spartans got everything they could handle from the Indians but rallied in the fourth quarter for a big Region 7-3A win at home.
West Hall (10-10, 5-3 Region 7-3A) led 16-15 after the first quarter but Lumpkin County (4-17, 1-7 Region 7-3A) would take a 27-26 lead into halftime. The Indians maintained a slim lead heading into the fourth. But they could not hold it as the Spartans outscored the Indians 14-10 down the streych.
Xavier Felix paced West Hall with 14 points. Isaiah Holder added 9 points and Andrew Malin and Owen Jenkins had 8 points each for the Spartans.
Lumpkin County was led by Hunter Cooper, who had a game-high15 points.
LAKEVIEW ACADEMY 80,
RIVERSIDE PREP 67
The Lions slowly pulled away for a GIAA win over the nearby Eagles on Tuesday at the Lakeview gym.
Lakeview (9-11, 2-2 GIAA) led just 20-19 after the first quarter but opened up a 43-35 halftime lead. The Lions pushed it to 58-45 heading into the fourth.
Five players scored in double-figures for the Lions. Tayden Ware led the way with 20 points. Justyce Sadler added 16 points, Jack Collins 15, Brock Graham 14, and Liam Weidner finished with 11 points for Lakeview.
The Eagles' Idan Azani had a huge game with 34 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
The Lions will next play host to Bethlehem Christian on Friday in another GIAA region showdown.
Riverside will hit the road on Wednesday againstTapestry Charter.
LANIER 64,
NORTH FORSYTH 44
Lanier held North Forsyth to just 20 first-half points and held off a third-quarter charge to knock off the Raiders at home on Tuesday.
North Forsyth trailed 34-20 at the half but cut the lead to nine points after the third period.
Lanier, behind Jayce Nathaniel's game-high 32 points, outpaced the Raiders 18-7 in the final quarter to seal the win.
Cole Kirouac led the Raiders with 15 points, while Braden Mullis chipped in 11.
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