Gainesville girls win 12th Lanierland Tournament
By Robert Alfonso Jr.
GAINESVILLE, GA – After a long stint away from the Lanierland Tournament girls championship will reside at Gainesville High for at least one season.
The Red Elephants captured the 61st edition of the longest consecutive running tournament in Northeast Georgia. This is the 12th title for Gainesville, who entered as the fifth-seed. It was the school’s first since 2014. It is also the first title for third-year head coach Alan Griffin.
While attendance was down because of Covid protocol, the usually packed tournament still had players excel on the hardwood. We even put out our own All-Tournament team since none was available at the time of publication.
Here is who we thought were standouts.
2021 Lauren Teasley (Gainesville) is a versatile wing player. This unsigned senior was named the tournament MVP after a solid performance throughout, especially in the championship. The Red Elephants has utilized her length and athleticism to control the interior against a smaller East Hall lineup. She has good hands and a great looking jumper. Teasley is a relentless rebounder, as well.
2021 Emma Easterwood (Chestatee) is easily the most poised player on the court just about every time she steps on the floor. This guard helped the Eagles to a third-place finish over North Hall. This Emmanuel signee is also a solid scorer who is proficient and tactical with her movement on the floor. Easterwood allows the game to come to her while also taking control whenever it is needed.
2021 Logan Wiggins (Chestatee) is a tall presence in the paint for the Eagles. Her size and skill were essential for the Eagles throughout the tournament. This 6-foot dual-sport athlete patrols the middle re-directing shots like she does as a volleyball player. However, she isn’t just a defensive presence. Wiggins’ game extends outside of the lane some.
2022 Alexis Burce (East Hall) is a savvy veteran and a competitive young lady. She has been in or around the program for a long time and understands how to play. Burce is a solid defender with a high motor. Her ability and effort were key in helping the Lady Vikings get to the championship game.
2022 Rylee McCall (North Hall) is a knockdown shooter. Her quick release is hard to defend. She moves well through the Lady Trojans offense looking for her spot. Once she gets it there is a good chance the defender will be too late in recovering. McCall never looks rattled regardless of the game’s intensity of pressure being applied.
2022 Bowen Corley (Chestatee) is a Swiss army knife. This multi-skilled individual is an excellent rebounder and leader on the floor. One can see who she manages to control the game with just her activity on the defensive end of the floor. She is also a willing ball handler giving the Eagles another option in potentially breaking a press. Teams cannot win without a committed rebounder, which Corley has shown.
2022 Joelle Snyder (Lakeview) is a solid scorer. She has a solid looking jumper which was evident in scoring 31 points against West Hall, 21 of those points came from behind the three-point line.
2022 Timber Gaither (Cherokee Bluff) has remained consistent all season for the Bears. This guard is just solid in many phases of the game. She makes it a point to compete on defense and does not let that effort go to waste on offense. Gaither is locked in and helped Cherokee Bluff secure fifth place.
2022 Shania Kriews (Flowery Branch) game has improved and has been forced to step up for the Falcons. She helped carry the workload during the tournament despite all the defensive attention. Kriews averaged double-figures as the Branch finished sixth.
2023 Keke Jones (Gainesville) could easily be the smallest, yet most prolific scorer in the state. This gritty guard makes her way to the basket like a person jogging through the park. Her ability to score just seems easy. Jones’s fearless offensive approach transcends to the defensive end of the floor. She is a tenacious defender. Bright future ahead for this youngster.
2023 Maleah Harrison (East Hall) may have delivered the most exciting shot of the tournament. This guard nailed a three-pointer late helping the Lady Vikings advance to the finals. She is a scrappy player with a decent handle. Her energy is contagious and helps East Hall go.
Honorable Mention
| Zaira Williams, Gainesville | Alexi Mize, Cherokee Bluff |
| Riley Harkin, West Hall | Rylee Thompson, North Hall |
| Kristina Peach, North Hall | Morgan Aguilar, Flowery Branch |
| Ashley Locke, Flowery Branch | Mackenzie White, West Hall |
About the Author
Alfonso
Robert Alfonso Jr. is a graduate of Mount Sait Mary College. He has more than 20 years of journalism experience. Alfonso has helped build a basketball web brand in Georgia and has covered high school through college sports for publications in New York, North Carolina, and Georgia. His mission has always been to uplift the athletes who play sports providing them the exposure needed in this new media platform.