Gainesville uses big second half to eliminate Buchholz

Following a neck-and-neck first half, Gainesville emerged from halftime and took control for a 6A District 2 Semifinals win over city-rival Buchholz.

The No. 2 seed Hurricanes, leading 18-17 at the half, outscored the No. 3 Bobcats 27-13 in the second half of a 45-30 win on Wednesday at The Purple Palace.

Gainesville (9-12) advances to the district championship game against top-seed Lincoln (Tallahassee) on Friday.

Buchholz finished the season with an 11-9 record.

Eastside 57, Santa Fe (Alachua) 22

The top-seeded Rams jumped out to a 21-4 first-quarter lead in a 57-22 4A District 5 Semifinals win on Wednesday.

Eastside (14-8) will play No. 2 seed Palatka on Friday in the district championship.

Sophomore Haleigh Richburg led Santa Fe (7-11) with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Hawthorne 78, Bell 17

Junior De’Mya Adams scored 27 points as defending Class 1A state champion Hawthorne eased past Bell, 78-17, in the 1A District 6 Semifinal round on Wednesday.

The top-seeded Hornets (17-3) led 28-6 after the first quarter and 62-11 at the half.

Senior Lakijah Brown added 15 points and senior Ashley Coleman added 14 points and seven rebounds for the Hornets. Junior Jhalea Jackson led Hawthorne with nine rebounds.

Hawthorne will play No. 2 seed Newberry for the district championship on Friday.

Bell finished with an 8-13 record.  

GIRLS BASKETBALL – WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7 RESULTS

1A-District 6 Semifinals
1 Hawthorne 78, 4 Bell 17 
2 Newberry 79, 3 Fort White 48 

1A-District 7 Semifinals
1 Wildwood 72, 5 Chiefland 18
2 Trenton 48, 3 Williston 46 

2A-District 4 Semifinals
2 Countryside Christian 37, 3 St. Francis Catholic 22 
1 Oak Hall 34, 4 St. John Lutheran (Ocala) 14 

3A-District 2 Semifinals
2 P.K. Yonge 52, 3 Bradford (Starke) 44

4A-District 5 Semifinals
1 Eastside 57, 4 Santa Fe 22
No. 2 Palatka 49, 3 Suwannee 31

6A-District 2 Semifinals
2 Gainesville 45, 3 Buchholz 30 

FRIDAY, FEB. 9
1A-District 6 Championship
2 Newberry vs. 1 Hawthorne, 7:30 p.m.

1A-District 7 Championship
2 Trenton vs. 1 Wildwood, TBA

2A-District 4 Championship
2 Countryside Christian vs. 1 Oak Hall, TBA

3A-District 2 Championship
2 P.K. Yonge vs. 1 Trinity Catholic (Ocala), TBA

4A-District 5 Championship
2 Palatka vs. 1 Eastside, TBA

6A-District 2 Championship
2 Gainesville at 1 Lincoln (Tallahassee), 6 p.m.