Third-seed Ware County punched its ticket to the Class 5A field of 64 teams here Monday night throttling outclassed sixth-seed Jenkins of Savannah 62-28 in the opening round of the Region 1 tournament.
The Lady Gators (17-7), ranked 12th by MaxPreps, meets second-seed Greenbrier (18-7), ranked No. 9 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and 10th by MaxPreps, in a semifinal pairing Thursday, February 19 at Liberty County High School in Hinesville. Ware County and the Lady Wolfpack split during the regular season with each winning on the others home court.
The second semifinal game pits Top 10 teams in both polls tipping at 7 p.m. Tournament host and region top-seed Bradwell Institute (20-3), ranked No. 2 by MaxPreps and No. 5 by the AJC, tangles with fourth-seed Statesboro (19-7), ranked eighth by MaxPreps and 10th by the AJC.
The Lady Blue Devils advanced with a 63-54 win over fifth-seed Coffee in the January 13 tournament opener.
Following Friday’s day off, the tournament will conclude Saturday, February 21 with the consolation game at 2:30 p.m., and the championship game at 5:30 p.m.
Lady Gators 62
Jenkins 28
Ware County scored the first 18 points of the game and was never in trouble in beating the Lady Warriors for the third time winning each by an average margin of 40 points.
Charlese McClendon led a trio players in double figures finishing with a game-high 15 points. Trinity Jenkins pitched in 12 points with Charlacia Jones scoring eight of her 10 points in the opening period.
The Lady Gators did not surrender a basket until 2:43 remained in the first quarter after building an 18-point advantage in the opening five minutes. Ware County went scoreless over the next 5:38 with Aniyah Wesley’s (nine points) free throw at 5:22 of the second period ending the drought.
A basket by Jenkins with 4:45 left in the half cut the deficit to 19-4 halting a 4:58 scoreless stretch. That would be as close as the Lady Warriors would get the rest of the night.
Ware County went on a 13-0 run beginning with 3:48 on the second quarter clock and ending with 20 seconds remaining for a 32-4 edge. Jenkins scored with less than 10 seconds remaining to enter halftime down 32-6 ending a third four-plus minute scoreless stretch.
The Lady Gators opened the second half with a 9-4 push as the lead swelled to 31 points, the biggest through three quarters, at 41-10 with 5:07 on the clock. Jenkins sandwiched a pair of treys around two free throws cutting the deficit to 43-18 with inside a minute remaining in the period.
After Ware County scored the final four points of the quarter, the Lady Gators opened the final stanza with a 10-2 surge in grabbing its biggest lead at 57-20 with 3:42 remaining in the game. Jenkins closed the game against Ware County’s bench with an 8-5 finish.
Bre Hill finished with seven points, all coming in the final four minutes off three offensive rebound putbacks and a free throw. CoCo Moody netted five points with Rhianna Mateyka and Aniston Delk contributing two points apiece.
