Ware County’s bid to reach its first Final Four in 61 years was thwarted by visiting top-ranked Creekside Tuesday night in an Elite 8 Top 10 matchup.
The eighth-ranked Region 1 champion Lady Gators (25-5) had their eight-game winning streak snapped by the unbeaten Region 4 champion Lady Seminoles (31-0) falling 63-46 February 25.
Ware County last reached the seminfinals in 1964 en route to winning the Lady Gators’ lone state title during Genevive Strickland’s (Pope) tenure. WCHS opened the eight-team (region champs) AA tournament beating Elbert County 48-22. The Lady Gators knocked off Douglas County 39-28 in the semifinals and turned back Dodge County 44-35 in the championship game.
Creekside, making its first semifinal appearance since 2001, beat second-ranked Marist (29-3) 54-43 Saturday, March 1 in the semifinals at Fort Valley State University.
The Lady Gators battled toeto- toe with Creekside for two quarters before the Lady Seminoles started easing away. Down 28-24 at intermission, Ware County was outscored 35-22 over the final 16 minutes.
Creeksides’ 17-point margin of victory was their closest in 10 games. The Lady Seminoles had allowed 26.5 points in two tournament victories winning by an average margin of 41.5 points. Ware County’s 46 points was the most scored on Creekside since a 57-52 win over Southbridge of Miami, Fla., January 20 — a stretch of 10 games.
The Lady Seminoles were paced by sophomore point guard C’india Dennis, who tied her season-highs of 33 points and five made three-pointers. It was the fifth 30-point night of the season and 10th of her young career.
Creekside took advantage of the three-point line outscoring the Lady Gators 30-3 from long distance with 10 makes. The Lady Seminoles were 9-of-10 from the charity stripe while Ware County finished 11-of-24.
Dennis scored 13 of her 20 first-half points in the opening quarter helping Creekside build a 20-15 lead. Charlacia Jones, who finished with a season-best 20 points, kept Ware County in the game with nine first-period points.
The Lady Gators chipped one point off the deficit during the second stanza outpointing Creekside 9-8 to trail 28-24 at intermission.
The Lady Seminoles stretched the margin to double digits by the end of the third period outscoring Ware County 17-10 to open up a 45-34 lead.
The deficit reached as many as 20 late in the fourth quarter as Creekside capitalized on missed baskets and several crucial turnovers. The Lady Seminoles closed out the game outpointing Ware County 18-12.
Rhianna Mateyka was next in the scoring column for the Lady Gators, finishing with eight points. Shardell Vickers and Bailey Denton (trey) followed with six points and five points, respectively.
Alexis McNeal totaled four points. Kyla McKelvin netted two points with Bre’yonna Hill adding a free throw.
Creekside had two other players reach double figures. Sky Cleveland (three treys) scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half. Maliha Harris (two treys) scored all 10 of her points over the final two periods.
