North Georgia Report Tip-Off Classic notebook

North Georgia Report Tip-Off Classic notebook

By Robert Alfonso Jr.

Gainesville, GA – The start of the basketball season in Northeast Georgia always tips off with the start of the North Georgia Report Showcase series. There are several events on the year with the North Georgia Report Tip-off Classic at Lakeview Academy on Saturday was the first one.

There were a few matchups of teams who would not necessarily play one another but will help with their strength of schedule. 

Mountain View dismantles Lanier Christian Academy 

The Bears (1-0) come into the season with a young team. They are loaded with some inexperienced players, especially in game action. However, its youth had a chance to grow up on the spot. They beat the Lightning (0-1) 67-34.

Mountain View picked up production from everyone on the roster. The main stays were three sophomores Victor Guerrero, Trey McCoy, and Jamel DeJesus. They each brought something different to the Bears victory. McCoy led the Bears with 14 points and 4 assists. Guerrero had 10 points and six rebounds. DeJesus chipped in with six points. 

Hebron Christian hold on in opener

The Lions (1-0) used its length and strength to wear down Lambert in a 77-61 win. These two teams battled early but the Lions rattled off a few runs to take the lead and keep it until the final horn.

Leading the way for Hebron was sophomore Landon Crews, who finished with 21 points He played strong and in the clutch during the Lions run. Lukas Romine, a senior, was active inside and out adding 20 points and eight rebounds. The Georgia College and State commit delivered some powerful dunks to help get the Lions going. Sophomore Ashton Burt handled the pressure and ran the offense while also chipping in with 12 points. 

Lambert (0-1) got plenty of production from its seniors Patrick Blanchard and John Ezewu. Blanchard finished with a team-high 13 points. Ezewu added 12 points. 

Lakeview girls roar to victory 

The Lady Lions (1-0) put on a defensive clinic in the second-half of its season opener. Lakeview applied its full court press to help secure a 56-46 win over Morgan County (0-1). 

Sophomore Catherine Rowland Willams scored a team-high 17 points and 12 rebounds for Lakeview. A pair of freshmen Aiden Penland and Teagan Hicks chipped in with 11 points apiece. Hicks also had seven assists, three rebounds and two steals. 

Junior Chloe Thompson scored a gamer-high 17 points for the Bulldogs. Victoria Snow, a senior, had 10 points. 

Duluth run away from Spartans

After a slow start, the Wildcats picked things up in the second half and never really looked back. They up the intensity on defense and ran away from West Hall 63-43.

Leading the charge for the Wildcats (1-0) was junior Isaiah Delande, who finished with a game-high 19 points. Malakhi Chatman, a junior, chipped in with nine points. 

Izaeiah Smith led the Spartans (0-1) with 12 points.