WARNER ROBINS — Ware County’s Lady Gators will play for the Region 1-AAAA championship while the Gators are in the consolation tilt following Monday’s semifinal games here at host school Warner Robins.
Head coach Mandy Lingenfelter’s ninth-ranked second-seeded Lady Gators (22-4) won their fifth consecutive game and ninth in 10 outings winning a defensive tussle with third-seed Wayne County (14-9) 38-33.
Ware County’s victory was the third over the Lady Yellow Jackets this season and sixth straight overall. The Lady Gators posted a 54-37 victory in Jesup January 2 and won 37-33 at home January 28.
The Lady Gators will play tonight (Wednesday, February 12) at 7 p.m., in the championship game. Ware County faces unbeaten tournament host Warner Robins (24-0), and fourth-seed Perry (1311) 76-38.
Head coach Lenny Williams’ Gators (18-7), the No. 2 seed behind Benedictine, fell 67-55 to third-seed Warner Robins (17-7), winners in seven of its last eight games, in a semifinal pairing.
The two teams split during the regular season with each winning at home. The Demons notched a 72-66 victory January 3 with Ware County taking the January 18 matchup 60-49 for its second win in the ninegame series.
The Gators will play today (Wednesday, February 12) at 5:30 p.m., in the consolation bracket against the loser of topseed Benedictine (19-4) and fifth-seed Wayne County (6-16).
Pierce County’s fourthseed Lady Bears (5-17) secured a state tournament berth with their third win in four games scoring a 33-21 Region 3-AA play-in victory at home over fifthseed Crisp County (3-21), losers of 12 straight games.
PCHS swept the season series notching a 43-41 overtime win at home January 10. The Lady Bears recorded a 28-19 victory February 1.
Pierce County squares off with the ninth-ranked top-seed Tattnall County Lady Warriors (17-5) today (Wednesday, February 12) in the semifinals at 7 p.m. The tournament wraps up Friday with consolation and championship games beginning at 4 p.m.
No. 9 Lady Gators...38 Wayne County........33 Ware County built a 12point halftime lead and then held on to beat the Lady Yellow Jackets.
The Lady Gators doubled up Wayne County 8-4 in the first period. Ware County used a 12-4 scoring advantage in the second quarter to stretch the lead to 20-8 at intermission.
Wayne County chipped three points off the deficit during the third quarter outscoring the Lady Gators 13-10 to get to within 30-21. The Lady Yellow Jackets continued to chip away outpointing Ware County 12-8 over the final eight minutes.
Bre Hill was the lone double figure scorer for the Lady Gators scoring eight of her team-leading 12 points in the first half. Rhianna Matekya knocked down a pair of threes in scoring nine points. Bailey Denton scored all six points from the foul line.
Charlacia Jones and Alexis McNeal followed with four points and three points respectively. Kyla McKelvin and Lydia Munford chipped in two points each.
Wayne County’s Talin Ward claimed game-high scoring laurels finishing with 18 points.
The Lady Yellow Jackets are 4-5 since a 10game winning streak midway through the year.
Warner Robins......67 Gators ...................55 The Demons matched Ware County’s first-half point total during a second quarter run to take control of the game.
Ware County staked itself to an 18-10 lead by the end of the first period. Warner Robins followed with a 24-6 run in the second stanza to take a 34-24 lead to the locker room.
The Demons padded the lead by five points during the third quarter outscoring Ware County 15-10 to increase the lead to 49-34. The Gators found some offensive rhythm in the fourth period outscoring Warner Robins 21-18.
Darius Ward scored 17 of his game-high 22 points over the last two quarters to lead five players in the scoring column. Jarvis Wright finished with 13 points.
Tayshaun Franklin was next with nine points. Dedric Jackson finished with seven points with Sibari Williams netting four points.
The Demons had three players reach double figures. Trey Bradley scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the first half while D.J. Strickland netted 13 of his 16 points after halftime. Trey Dantes finished with 10 points.
Lady Bears ............33 Crisp County..........21 BEARVILLE — Pierce County pitched a second quarter shutout while outscoring the Lady Cougars in every quarter for the win.
The Lady Bears were clinging to a 7-4 lead entering the second quarter. They held the visitors scoreless while managing six points to take a 13-4 lead at intermission.
PCHS matched its firsthalf point total while Crisp County nearly tripled its point total during the third stanza. The Lady Bears’ 13-11 scoring advantage pushed the lead out to 26-15. Pierce County clipped the Lady Cougars 7-6 over the final eight minutes.
Claire Murray scored a game-high 12 points to lead PCHS. Isabella Marx and Madi McGatha (trey) bagged six points apiece.
Sahara Minott contributed five points. Caren Drew and Ansley Hutchison each scored two points.
The Lady Bears helped themselves at the free throw line connecting on 12-of-14 (season-best 86 percent).
Manyah Chambers and Shinese Johnson topped Crisp County with five points apiece.
