But the outcomes of Saturday's finals of the Class AAA basketball tournament left one team from Hall County celebrating a title defense and a second looking to the future. Gainesville's girls defeated Region 7-AAA rival Fannin County 61-33 for the state championship, their third in four years.

In the nightcap, junior-laden East Hall came up just short in its bid to repeat as state champs, falling 67-61 to West Laurens.

"The area is a big, intense area for basketball," said Eric Wheeler, an East Hall fan. "The schools are high on sports. They expect you to win in Hall County."

And it was the weight of expectations that filled the air Saturday at the Macon Centreplex.

East Hall fell behind early to the taller Raiders, who never relinquished the lead and withstood several Viking runs late in the game.

East Hall loses one senior off this year's squad, which will compete in Class AA next season.

"We just didn't play with the intensity that we needed to play with," East Hall senior Brandon Glasper said. "I just knew it was my last game and I had to end it right."

The mood was festive earlier Saturday after Gainesville claimed its fourth state championship in 10 seasons. The game also marked the end of the Tasha Humphrey era at Gainesville.

The 6-foot-3 senior, a Parade All-American, will take her game to the University of Georgia after scoring 29 points in her final game as a Red Elephant.

"She has done everything we have wanted her to do," said Gainesville coach Manson Hill. "The most extraordinary thing about her is that she's team-first."

Gainesville fan Terry Brownlee said it has been "lovely" watching the team win three state titles in four years.

"We have been looking for this since Tasha was in middle school," Brownlee said. "It would've been nice to win four titles in four years. But winning three out of four is just as nice. I can't complain."

Neither can Humphrey, who heads to Athens with a legacy unmatched in Hall basketball history.

"Everybody knew who we were," she said. "We were going to win."