Visting Valdosta held off Ware County Tuesday night in slipping out of town with a thrilling 53-51 victory.
The Lady Wildcats (7-6), winners of four of their last five games, led the Lady Gators (8-2) at the end of every quarter.
Valdosta also captured the junior varsity matchup notching a 29-25 decision.
The Lady Gators will participate in a three-day tournament in Moultrie at host Colquitt County December 28-30 to close out 2022. Ware County will face Thomas County Central at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Deerfield at 2:30 p.m. on Day 2, and Bainbridge at 4 p.m. Friday.
Valdosta 53
Lady Gators 51
The Lady Wildcats’ Denver Arnold and Essence Cody combined for 31 points spoiling the game-high 22-point outing of Ware County’s Trinity Jenkins.
Arnold scored 18 points with Cody adding 13 points to lead Valdosta.
CoCo Moody joined Jenkins, who was 9-of-11 at the free throw line, in double figures for the Lady Gators finishing with 12 points.
The Lady Wildcats built a 16-10 first quarter advantage. Ware County battled back in the second stanza outscoring the visitors 15-11 to get to within 27-25 at intermission.
The Lady Gators cut the deficit in half during the third period outpointing Valdosta 11-10 to trail 37-36. The nip-and-tuck affair continued over the final eight minutes with the Lady Wildcats holding on outscoring Ware County 16-15.
Charlacia Jones and Charlese McClendon followed Jenkins and Moody with eight points and seven points respectively. Alexis McNeal chipped in two points.
Valdosta JV 29
Lady Gators JV 25
Valdosta outpointed the Lady Gators 23-12 in the second half to rally from a seven-point halftime deficit for the win.
Ware County built an 8-6 lead by the end of the first period. The Lady Gators blanked Valdosta 5-0 in the second quarter to take a 13-6 at the break.
The Lady Wildcats stormed out the locker room to outscore Ware County 15-7 in the third stanza to claim a 21-20 lead. They finished the game outpointing the Lady Gators 8-5 in the fourth.
Bre Hill topped Ware County with eight points. Lydia Munford followed with six points. Kyla McKelvin, Rhi Matyka and Jomari Goodman contributed three points apiece. Arri Ramsey netted two points.
