Season over for four area teams

Northwest Georgia will be without a participant in the GHSA boys’ basketball playoffs moving forward as four area teams lost Saturday in the Sweet 16

All four teams — Christian Heritage, Sonoraville, Chattooga and North Murray — fell behind by double digits early, but two managed to make it close in the final quarter before falling.

North Murray (23-4) was close to being run out of the gym at South Atlanta in a Class AA game, trailing 17-5 six minutes in. The Mountaineers, however, used three 3-pointers from Beau Ellis to cut the Hornets’ lead to 34-30 by halftime.

Though coach Tim Ellis’ team never took a lead, the deep, high-pace Mountaineers appeared to be wearing the hosts down as they made it a one-point game on Gavin Pittman’s 3-pointer halfway through the third quarter.

South Atlanta (23-8), though, ended the quarter on a 10-3 run to take a 55-46 lead into the final eight minutes as Diontae Harris and Sedrick Smith combined for eight points.

North Murray’s Judson

Petty led a 7-2 run to start the final period with four points to make it a four-point game, but the Hornets put their secondround win on ice with a 9-0 run that included 3s from Kyree Boone and Jaden Favors.

› Macon County 66, Christian Heritage 61:

In a Class A-Division II matchup of top-five ranked teams, the Lions fell behind by 16 early but managed to make it close in the final quarter before falling to the Warhawks (26-2). Jax Abernathy again led Christian Heritage (23-3), putting up 26 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and three steals, with Braden Koneman adding 18 points and eight rebounds and Cash Hare 11 points.

› McDonough 78, Sonoraville 38:

The Phoenix, after winning their first region championship and getting a first-round Class AAAA win, ended their season at 21-8 with the home loss despite 10 points each from Brant Bryant and Bryson Shellnut.

› Mount Vernon 87, Chattooga 49:

The Mustangs (22-8) raced out to a 34-8 lead after one period in the Class A-Division contest and never looked back in ending the Indians’ season at 18-10.