Gainesville claims region title, remain undefeated

Gainesville claims region title, remain undefeated

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The mission began months ago with a quiet edge and a lingering sense of unfinished business.

On Thursday night, Gainesville took the first major step toward redemption.

The Red Elephants captured their second straight Region 7-5A championship with a commanding 58-46 victory over Johns Creek at Chattahoochee High School, extending their unbeaten season to 27 games and delivering the program’s best start since 1982.

But for Gainesville, the title was less a celebration than a statement.

“They keep it focused for 32 minutes as a team,” head coach Charlemagne Gibbons said, who is in year three at the school. “But I’ll tell you, these guys felt a certain way. They thought we should have had more All-Region nominees and honors. They were a little upset about that, and they came out ready to play.”

If motivation was needed, the Red Elephants found it.

Running the table in one of the state’s most competitive regions is rare. Doing it with authority is even rarer. Over the past two seasons, Gainesville is 45-8 overall and 26-2 in region play, including tournament games — dominance that has shown up both on paper and on the floor.

Still, postseason recognition was limited. KJ White earned Co-Region Player of the Year honors and shared Co-Defensive Player of the Year with Kevin Curtis. Charlie Gersmehl was named first-team All-Region, while Curtis, Brandon Nelson and Bryce Jackson received honorable mention.

The response? Defense.

During the region tournament, Gainesville tightened its grip, allowing just 42 points per game — a reflection of a veteran group determined to control its own narrative.

Now comes the next phase.

The Red Elephants will host Chamblee on Wednesday, February 25 at 7:00 pm in the opening round of the GHSA Class 5A state tournament, chasing the program’s first boys state championship since back-to-back titles in 1982 and 1983.

Interestingly, perfection was never the plan.

“Even though we’re undefeated, we’ve had ups and downs and a lot of adversity through the course of the season,” Gibbons said. “We’ve just been fortunate to have an older group of guys who don’t want to lose.”

That mindset revealed itself during a grueling holiday stretch, when Gainesville faced back-to-back challenges against quality opponents and responded with resilience.

“When that happened, I said to myself, these guys don’t want to lose,” Gibbons said. “They don’t want any slippage. They were picking each other up, and it carried on from there. I’m proud of the connection with these guys.”

That connection has become the foundation of a season that players say reflects months — and years — of work.

“It’s really nice to know all the work we’ve been putting in has paid off,” Gersmehl said, a Belmont signee. “The day-in and day-out work. Everyone is in the gym. Winning is the outcome of that.”

The seriousness of the group was evident even before the season began.

“We’re a lot more serious than last year,” senior Quintin Mansfield, a Troy signee, said during preseason media day. “I think it will take us further.”

And when asked what success would look like?

“When we’re undefeated,” he said.

So far, the Red Elephants have delivered exactly that.

A region title secured.
A perfect record intact.
And with March ahead, Gainesville’s magical run is no longer just about redemption — it’s about history waiting to be reclaimed.