Lanierland tournament takes center stage on Jacobs Media airwaves

The first round of the 53rd Lanierland Tournament provided plenty of interest to area basketball fans, and this week’s semifinal and championship schedule should bring with it plenty more intrigue.

Girls semifinal action will begin on Thursday, with the boys semifinals set for Friday. Championship games will follow on Saturday, and Jacobs Media will be there for each step, as WDUN will broadcast the six contests and Access North Georgia.com brings you coverage of each result of the tournament.

Thursday’s semifinals, at Gainesville High, and Friday’s semifinals, at North Hall, will air on AM 550, while Saturday’s championship contests, also at North Hall, will be on 102.9 FM.

Thursday’s action will pit the undefeated Flowery Branch girls against defending Lanierland champs East Hall in am 8:30 p.m. match-up. Meanwhile rivals Chestatee and North Hall will face off in the 7 p.m. contest.

On Friday, the Battle of Oakwood, will take place a few miles away from south Hall, as the red-hot Johnson boys take on West Hall at 7 p.m. The other semifinal should prove just as entertaining, as North Hall plays host to Gainesville. The two foes put on a thrilling semifinal battle in last year’s Lanierland, with the Red Elephants pulling out a hardfought win en route to a tournament crown.

Fans can expect plenty of twists and turns over the next few days, as the high school basketball season begins to heat up.

2012 LANIERLAND BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT SCORES/SCHEDULE

First round scores
Flowery Branch girls 58, Gainesville 30
North Hall boys 77, Lakeview 40
Chestatee girls 48, West Hall 44
West Hall boys 58, Flowery Branch 55
North Hall girls 65, Johnson 22
Johnson boys 85, East Hall 60
East Hall girls 54, Lakeview 41
Gainesville boys 80, Chestatee 69

Thursday, at Gainesville High
4 p.m. -- Consolation: East Hall boys vs. Flowery Branch
5:30 p.m. -- Consolation: Lakeview boys vs. Chestatee
7 p.m. -- Semifinal: Chestatee girls vs. North Hall -- Radio: 550 AM
8:30 p.m. -- Semifinal: East Hall girls vs. Flowery Branch -- Radio: 550 AM

Friday, at North Hall High
4 p.m. -- Consolation: West Hall girls vs. Johnson
5:30 p.m. -- Consolation: Gainesville girls vs. Lakeview
7 p.m. -- Semifinal: West Hall boys vs. Johnson -- Radio: 550 AM
8:30 p.m. -- Semifinal: Gainesville boys vs. North Hall -- Radio: 550 AM

Saturday, at North Hall High
9 a.m. -- Consolation round game
10:30 a.m. -- Consolation round game
12 p.m. -- Consolation round game
1:30 p.m. -- Consolation round game
3 p.m. -- Consolation round game
4:30 p.m. -- Consolation round game
6 p.m. -- Girls championship game -- Radio: 102.9 FM
7:30 p.m. -- Boys championship game -- Radio: 102.9 FM