CANEY BAY — Brantley County closed out the 2025-26 regular season here Monday sweeping visiting Montgomery County on Senior Night.
The MaxPreps 14thranked Lady Herons (195) enter the Region 1-A tournament riding a fivegame winning streak after beating the Lady Eagles (3-22) 47-24. Third-seed Brantley County faced the winner of sixth-seed Jeff Davis (5-19) and seventhseed Berrien (4-19) Tuesday, February 17 in Thomasville with a berth to the semifinals at stake. The winner in the BCHS bracket advances to face second-seed Thomasville (19-3) Thursday, February 19 in Fitzgerald at 4 p.m. The championship game is Friday, February 20 at 7 p.m.
The Herons (12-13) won for the fourth time in five games beating the Eagles (8-17), who entered having won three of their last four outings, 57-47.
Fourth-seed BCHS opened the region tournament Tuesday, February 17 against fifth-seed Worth County at Bacon County. The winner advances to Thursday’s (February 19) semifinal matchup in Fitzgerald against the top-seed Purple Hurricane (19-4). The championship game is Friday, February 20 at 8:30 p.m.
No. 14 Lady Herons.47 Montgomery Co.....24 Brantley County built a double-digit lead in the first quarter en route to knocking off the Lady Eagles.
Edie Lowther (seven rebounds, two steals) scored a game-high and career-high 13 points to lead the Lady Herons. Abbie Lee (two treys; eight rebounds, teamhigh eight steals, three assists) bagged 12 points.
BCHS jetted out to a 14-2 advantage at the end of the first period. The Lady Herons continued to add distance outscoring Montgomery County 13-5 in the second stanza for a comfortable 27-7 lead.
Brantley County extended its margin in the third quarter outscoring the Lady Eagles 15-4 for a commanding 42-11 advantage. The Lady Eagles surpassed their threequarter total during the “six-minute mercy rule” final period outscoring BCHS 13-5.
Rachel Kennedy (seven rebounds, two steals) just missed double figures finishing with nine points. Julie Carter (team-high four assists, three rebounds, three assists) and Grace Carver (three rebounds) contributed four points each.
Julia Miller (two rebounds, two steals) netted three points. Raeleigh Gibson (rebound) chipped in two points.
Ella Highsmith, who did not score, pulled down a team-leading 11 rebounds, recorded five steals and handed out two assists. Kirsten Smith had six rebounds to go along with an assist and a steal.
Montgomery County was led by Zoe Jordan’s nine points.
Herons ..................57 Montgomery Co.....47 Brantley County overcame a two-point deficit entering the final period outscoring the Eagles by 12 points for the win.
Down 41-39, the Herons closed the game tripling up Montgomery County 18-6 over the last eight minutes with half the points coming from long distance.
The visitors built a 1310 advantage in the opening stanza. BCHS, keyed by the eight points of Holton DePratter (10 points, six rebounds, steal) in the quarter, outscored the Eagles 2115 to take a 31-28 advantage to the locker room.
Montgomery County outpointed the Herons 138 in the third period to take a 41-39 lead into the fourth quarter.
Jayden Simmons recorded a double-double scoring a team-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds, two assists and a steal. Jayden Byron justed missed a doubledouble netting nine points to go with a team-leading 14 rebounds. He also had a team-high five steals and an assist.
Tristan Dyess (five rebounds, two assists, two steals) contributed eight points. Zary Harris (four rebounds, assist) and Tallon Collins (two rebounds, assist, steal) bagged four points each.
Cole Courson (five rebounds, assist) chipped in three points. Nathan Howell tallied two points.
