Track and field
CONYERS — Both the Buford boys and girls track and field teams competed at Heritage High School in the Patriots Early Bird Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. The girls team finished in first place while the boys had a strong second-place finish.
Records were broken all day by the Buford athletes. The girls relay team of Callie Snell, Cameron Perry, Caroline Snell and McKenzie Smith broke the school record with a time of 10:37.76. The boys 4×100 relay team broke the school record with a time of 50.58 and placed first. The 4×400 relay team of Isaiah Bond, Tobi Olawole, Victor Payne and Malik Williams broke their own school record in the event with a time of 3:21.86. Nate Norys broke his own personal record in the shot put with a distance of 39 ft. 8 in.
In the boys 100-meter dash, Bond had the fastest time in the country with a time of 10.73 while Venn was not far behind in second with a time of 10.9.
Mack Green placed first in the discus with a throw of 129 ft. 9 in. Bond and Olawole had impressive finishes in the 200-meter dash as well with times of 21.5 and 21.6.
Boys basketball
NORTH GWINNETT 38 NORCROSS 37
SUWANEE — North Gwinnett advances to the Class AAAAAAA Elite Eight after just barely beating Norcross on Saturday at home with a final score of 38-37.
Behind good 2nd-half shooting from Brendan Rigsbee, RJ Godfrey and Thomas Allard, the Bulldogs prevailed although that was seriously jeopardized in the final moments of the game. Norcross’ London Johnson was fouled. Johnson would miss two out of his three shots which turned out to be the difference between winning and losing the game.
North Gwinnett (21-7) will travel to Mableton to play Pebblebrook (24-3) on Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m.
WHEELER 77 LANIER 64
SUGAR HILL — Unable to control turnovers cost Lanier a chance to advance to the Elite Eight as Wheeler defeats the Longhorns on Saturday evening.
Last year’s AAAAAAA champions ended Lanier’s season after winning 77-64.
Lanier finishes the season with an overall record of 19-7. The Longhorns finish the season as the Region 8-AAAAAA champions.
Game day cheerleading
CARROLLTON — Schools competed in the first-ever game day Cheerleading state championships.
In AAAAAAA, North Gwinnett took home the state championship title.
Lanier came in third place in Class AAAAAA.
— Staff Reports
