Eighth-ranked Ware County’s Lady Gators split a pair of Region 1AAAA battles winning at Wayne County and falling to visiting third-ranked Warner Robins in a Top 10 matchup.
The Lady Gators (17-4 overall, 3-2 region) won their fourth straight game Tuesday, January 14 turning back the Lady Yellow Jackets (12-6, 2-2) 54-37 in Jesup. The loss for Wayne County was the second in three games following a 10-game winning streak.
Ware County stretched its winning streak to four games against the Lady Yellow Jackets following a three-game sweep in 2021-22 to even the series at 12 games apiece since the 2012-13 campaign.
The Lady Gators had their 16-game home winning streak end Saturday, January 18 with a 52-40 loss to the Lady Demons (19-0, 5-0) to fall two games back in the region standings. The setback was the ninth-straight to Warner Robins dating back to the 2020-21 season.
The Lady Demons posted a 59-44 home win over Ware County back on January 3. The Lady Gators last victory over Warner Robins was a 6748 decision in the 201213 state tournament.
Ware County was scheduled to travel Tuesday, January 21 to face New Hampstead. Perry visits Friday, January 24 for Senior Night capping the next to last week of the regular season.
Lady Gator ........... 54 Wayne County.......37 JESUP — Shardell Vickers, Rhianna Mateyka and Lydia Munford combined for 39 points to outscore Wayne County in leading the Lady Gators to the road win.
Vickers scored a season- high 17 points while Mateyka (two threes) and Munford (three treys) each scored 11 points.
Ware County outpointed the Lady Yellow Jackets in every quarter.
The Lady Gators claimed a 13-7 lead through the opening eight minutes. They used a 1310 scoring advantage during the second period to take a 26-17 halftime lead.
Ware County stretched the margin to double figures in the third quarter outscoring the Lady Yellow Jackets 15-8 to grab a comfortable 41-25 lead. The Lady Gators posted a 13-12 scoring advantage over the final eight minutes.
Bailey Denton (trey) was next in the scoring column for Ware County netting seven points. Bre Hill added four points with Alexis McNeal and Charlacia Jones chipping in two points apiece.
The Lady Yellow Jackets were led by the 11 points of Mimi Everette and 10 points of Kalasia Culbreath.
No. 3 Warner Robins.................52 No. 8 Lady Gators .....................40 Warner Robins built a 16-point advantage three minutes into the second half and then held off the rally of the Lady Gators, who got to within five with three minutes to play.
Up 37-21 after scoring the first six points of the second half, the Lady Demons went scoreless for a five-minute stretch in the final period as Ware County battled back to within 45-40. The visitors went 7-of-8 from the charity stripe inside the final minute to escape.
Mateyka (two treys) scored nine of her team-leading 12 points in the first period to keep the Lady Gators within striking distance as Warner Robins opened up a 21-12 lead. The visitors outpointed Ware County 10-9 in the second stanza to take a 31-21 halftime lead.
The visitors outscored the Lady Gators 10-9 in the third quarter for a 41-30 advantage. A 10-4 run by Ware County closed the deficit to 45-40 before the Lady Demons iced the game at the charity stripe.
Vickers and Jones followed Mateyka in the scoring column with eight points and seven points respectively. Munford finished with four points.
McNeal (trey) and Hill each contributed three points. Kyla McKelvin netted two points with Denton canning a free throw.
Warner Robins got 36 combined points from Trinitee Thomas and Kor’veanna Slaughter. Thomas scored 14 of her game-high 20 points in the second half. Slaughter poured in 13 of her 16 points in the first half.
