The Chattooga boys' and girls' basketball teams advanced to the second round of their GHSA Class AA state tournaments with impressive home wins Friday night.
The Lady Indians downed Heard County 76-53 as Chattooga's Faith Ann Foster scored 16 of her 22 points in the first half - including the 1000th point of her prep career - and Makiya Parrish led all scorers with 23. Parrish scored six straight points in the second period to give Chattooga a 24-19 lead.
The Lady Indians (21-6), who will play at Early County either Wednesday or Thursday, never trailed again.
The Chattooga boys overcame an early deficit with a 22-point second quarter to defeat Temple 68-55.
Jatorrian Williams scored nine of his game-high 26 points in the period as the Indians (22-6) took a 31-25 lead into halftime.
Damien Smith's basket early in the third quarter pushed the lead to 20, and Williams soon followed with seven straight points for a 45-33 advantage. Jamarious Mosteller added 10 points for the Indians, who will face either Bleckley County or Thomasville in the second round.
In a Class AAAA boys' matchup Friday, Heritage was eliminated at North Oconee, 47-42.
North Murray lost 49-47 in overtime to visiting Monroe Area on Thursday night.
In other GHSA girls' basketball first-round games involving local teams Friday:
* In Class AAAA, LaFayette lost 63-58 at Atlanta's St. Pius X despite Mykeria Johnson's 19 points and finished 15-11.
* In AAA, Region 6 champion Sonoraville defeated Jackson County 42-41 to improve to 22-6, while Calhoun lost 43-40 at Morgan County to fall to 18-12 and Coahulla Creek put a scare in Region 8 champion Jefferson before falling 62-55 to finish 20-8. Sonoraville will host Jackson in the second round next week.
* In AA, Dade County was edged 39-37 at Lamar County to finish 19-10. Kami Counts had 11 points, eight in the fourth quarter, to lead the Lady Wolverines. Gordon Central also lost a close one, falling 59-58 at Region 5 champion Bremen to finish 17-11.
* In Class A private, Christian Heritage escaped Athens Academy, 36-32, improved to 18-6 and will play at Hebron Christian in the second round next week.
The first round continues Saturday with two girls' games for area teams: Trion hosts Elite Scholars Academy at 2 p.m. in Class A public, and Ringgold hosts Hart County in Class AAA at 5.
In boys' games, AAAA's LaFayette hosts Oconee County at 6, and in AAA, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe hosts Hart County at 7, Calhoun visits Franklin County at 6 and Murray County plays at Windsor Forest at 6.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.
GHSA basketball state playoffs, first round
BoysSaturday, Feb. 15Class AAAAOconee County (16-11) at LaFayette (23-2), 6 p.m.Class AAAHart County (22-5) at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe (23-4), 7 p.m.Calhoun (17-10) at Franklin County (20-8), 6 p.m.Murray County (18-7) at Windsor Forest (23-4), 6 p.m.GirlsSaturday, Feb. 15Class AAAHart County (15-13) at Ringgold (18-8), 5