Eighth-ranked Ware County captured its fourth first round home playoff victory in five years turning back visiting St. Pius X 51-31.
The Lady Gators (24-4) stretched their winning streak to seven games Tuesday, February 18 beating Region 5 fourthseed St. Pius X (16-13) 5131. The loss was the third straight for the Lady Lions, who dropped seven of their final 10 games after a stretch of 10 wins in 11 outings.
The victory improved Ware County’s ledger to 74 in first round games under head coach Mandy Holland and 5-2 in home games.
In other first round Region 1 vs. Region 5 matchups, runner-up Warner Robins (25-1), ranked fifth, knocked off visiting third-seed Southwest DeKalb (18-10) 5851. Third-seed Perry (14-12) was no match for runner-up Northview (209) falling 69-34. Fourthseed Wayne County (14-11) fell at secondranked region champion Marist (27-2), winners of 19 straight games, 62-28.
First round No. 8 Lady Gators ..51 St. Pius X ...............31
Ware County spotted the Lady Lions a fivepoint lead in the first quarter before seizing control for the victory.
The Lady Gators scored on the opening tip on an uncontested layup by Charlacia Jones (nine points). St. Pius X scored the next seven points to jump ahead 7-2. The two teams exhanged baskets with the the Lady Lions holding an 11-6 lead late. Three free throws by Bailey Denton (trey, nine points) cut the deficit to 11-9 inside the final 30 seconds.
Ware County scored the first five points in the second quarter opening up a 14-11 lead. After a three by St. Pius X tied the score at 14-all near the fiveminute mark, the Lady Gators closed out the half on a 12-4 run to take a 2618 lead into the locker room.
The Lady Gators extended the lead to double digits at 31-20 with 6:28 remaining in the third period. The margin was 4125, the largest of the game, with 3:23 to play. Neither team scored the remainder of the quarter as they combined for just three points over the final 4:02 in the third period.
Two St. Pius X baskets in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter cut the margin to 41-29. The Lady Lions would get no closer. Ware County closed out the game with a 10-2 run over the final 5:24 limiting St. Pius X to a pair of free throws.
Shardell Vickers led the Lady Gators’ attack with 10 points. Rhianna Mateyka (trey) tied Jones and Denton with nine points.
Alexis McNeal (trey) bagged five points. Bre’yonna Hill and Lydia Munford (trey) followed with four points and three points respectively. Kyla McKelvin netted two points.
The Lady Lions were led by the game-high 12 points of Annabella Sherida. She scored nine in the opening stanza.
