Ware County High School’s basketball teams posted a home sweep of visiting Vidalia in a pre-season scrimmage Tuesday night.
The Lady Gators notched a 59-32 victory in the November 5 opener with the Gators following with a 72-57 decision in the nightcap.
Ware County tips off the 2024-25 campaign Saturday, November 16 against Charlton County at 4 p.m. (Lady Gators) and 5:30 p.m. (Gators). Atkinson County visits Tuesday, November 19.
Lady Gators.............................59 Vidalia.....................................32 Bailey Denton scored a team-high 11 points leading 10 players in the scoring column to pace Ware County.
The Lady Gators jumped out to a 197 lead by the end of the first period. The scoring quickened in the second period with Ware County holding a 20-16 advantage to take a 39-23 halftime lead.
“We ran the floor well tonight,” said head coach Mandy Ligenfelter.
Both teams struggled to score in the third stanza with the Lady Gators clipping Vidalia 7-6 to carry a comfortable 46-29 lead into the final period. Ware County closed out the game with a 13-3 scoring advantage.
Sharedell Vickers (team-high nine rebounds, three steals) and Lydia Munford followed with nine points apiece. Bre Hill (five rebounds) and Rhi Mateyka (three rebounds, two steals) were next with eight points and six points respectively.
Larissa Revis netted five points with Charlacia Jones (seven rebounds, teamhigh four steals) contributing four points. Alex McNeal finished with three points while Kyla McKelvin (team-leading seven assists) and Molly Smith each contributed two points.
Gators .....................................72 Vidalia .....................................57 Jarvis Wright scored a game-high 28 points to lead three players in double figures helping the Gators outgun Vidalia.
Dedrick Jackson followed with 14 points while Darius Ward added 12 points. Tezhan Bolds netted nine points.
Sirbari Williams and Luke Hinely bagged three points apiece. Shaun Mcclam finished with two points with Alex Looper adding a free throw.
Ware County doubled up the Indians in two-point baskets, 20 to 10. Vidalia drained 11 threes with the Gators making seven. Ware County finished 11-of-17 at the charity stripe while the Indians were 4-of-4.
The Gators outpointed the visitors in each of the first three periods in opening up a 16-point advantage.
Ware County held a 21-17 advantage in a fast paced first quarter. The Gators used a 15-8 scoring advantage in the second stanza to take a 36-25 lead at intermission.
A 17-12 scoring margin in the third period extended Ware County’s margin to 53-36 with eight minutes to play. Vidalia cut one point off the deficit outscoring the Gators 20-19 in the final quarter.
Rashad Brown led the Indians with 22 points including six threes (three each half.) Jayon Coleman netted 13 points.
