Lady Herons, seeded 18th travels to face 15th-seed Washington Co.
Brantley County’s Lady Herons disappointing “Final Four” showing at the Region 1A DI tournament was followed by a berth into the field of 32 for the state tournament.
The Lady Herons (17-8), who earned a berth to the region semifinals after winning 12 of their last 14 games for a No. 2 seed, are seeded 18th in the 32-team field. They open at seventh-ranked Washington County (18-8), seeded 15th in the bracket.
Brantley County is one of five region teams earning an at-large berth along with tournament champion Worth County (15-8). The Lady Rams are seeded seventh and will host fellow region member Bacon County (12-10), seeded 26th.
Region runner-up Fitzgerald (12-13), the 12th seed, is hosting 21st-seed Bremen (16-9). Thomasville (15-12), which finished third, is seeded 24th and travels to ninth-seed Dodge County (16-12). Jeff Davis (8-16), the 32nd-seed, travels to top seed Fannin County (24-2), ranked second in the Top 10 poll.
The Lady Herons entered the semifinals as the No. 2 seed with season sweeps over every team except top-seed Worth County. Brantley County lost 44-39 Thursday, February 13 to third-seed Fitzgerald at Worth County High School.
BCHS posted a 45-41 win over the Lady Purple Hurricane January 3 in Fitzgerald and recorded a 53-42 home win January 17.
The Lady Herons followed with a 5047 loss Friday, February 14 to fourthseed Thomasville. Brantley County escaped with a 57-53 win January 10 on the road against the Lady Bulldogs and notched a 55-32 home win January 25.
Semifinals Fitzgerald .................................44 Lady Herons .............................39 SYLVESTER — Fitzgerald led at the end of every period in scoring the upset of the Lady Herons.
The Lady Purple Hurricane grabbed a 9-7 advantage at the end of the opening stanza. Brantley County sliced the deficit in half by intermission outscoring Fitzgerald 8-7 in the second period to trail 16-15 in the nip-and-tuck affair.
The Lady Purple Hurricane padded the margin by two points during the third quarter outpointing Brantley County 108 to carry a 26-23 lead into the final eight minutes. The scoring pace quickened with Fitzgerald holding on with an 18-16 scoring advantge.
Summer Colley (five rebounds, assist, steal) and Ella Highsmith (seven rebounds, team-leading four steasl, two assists) led the Lady Herons with 12 points and 10 points respectively. Abbie Lee (team-high nine rebounds, three steals) followed with nine points.
Kimora Mincey (four rebounds, steal, assist) netted four points. Riana Dennard (team-high three assists, three steals) and Ayaniah Davenport (five rebounds, steal, assist) each bagged two points.
Fitzgerald was led by the 13-point effort of Kianti McDuffie, who drilled four three-pointers. Chariyell Jones contributed 12 points.
Consolation Thomasville 50 Lady Herons 47
SYLVESTER — Thomasville nearly matched its production through three quarters with a 23-point outburst to rally past the Lady Herons.
The Lady Bulldogs claimed an 11-6 lead at the end of the first period. Brantley County cut two points off the deficit by intermission using. 10-8 scoring advantage to pull to within 19-16 at the break.
The Lady Herons continued their surge in the third period outpointing Thomasville 14-8 to open up a 30-27 lead. The Lady Bulldogs put together a 23-17 scoring advantage over the final eight minutes for the win.
Lee (five rebounds, steal) led the Brantley County scoring attack with 11 points. Tamiyah Coley (three rebounds, two assists, two steals) followed with 10 points.
Denard (three rebounds, three assists, steal) contributed eight points, Highsmith (teamhigh tying seven rebounds, three steals) netted six points.
Julie Carter (team-high tying seven rebounds, team-leading five assists, team-high three steals) and Colley (two rebounds, assist, steal) scored two points apiece. Edie Lowther (two rebounds) and Davenport (three rebounds, two steals) chipped in two points each.
