FITZGERALD — Brantley County’s quest for Region 1A titles ended with both the Lady Herons and Herons falling here Thursday in the semifinals to ranked foes.
The third-seed Lady Herons (20-6) had their six-game winning streak snapped by fifth-ranked second-seed Thomasville (21-3), who stretched its winning streak to 14 games, falling 56-45 February 19.
BCHS and the Lady Bulldogs split during the regular season with each winning at home. The Lady Herons needed overtime January 9 to win 58-54. Thomasville posted a 58-42 win January 24.
The fourth-seed Herons (13-14), winners in five of their last six games, including three straight, fell 63-38 to seventh-ranked Fitzgerald (21-4), the top-seed and host, winners of eight straight and 17 of its last 18 games.
The Purple Hurricane swept Brantley County during the regular season, posting a 91-59 road victory January 2, and a 77-47 home win January 16.
No. 5 Thomasville ...56
Lady Herons............45
Thomasville had three players combine for 54 of its 56 points in beating the Lady Herons.
Harmony Bryant led the way, scoring a game-high 24 points. Justyce Cole (four treys) contributed 17 points, with Jayla Brooks netting 13 points.
BCHS’s Abbie Lee (trey) recorded her second straight tournament double- double with a 21-point, 10-rebound performance, scoring 10 points over the final eight minutes. She had a team-best four steals and dished out three assists.
The Lady Bulldogs had two big scoring advantages in the first and third periods outpointing Brantley County 32-14. The Lady Herons held the scoring advantage for the second and fourth periods at 31-24.
Thomasville built a 13-5 lead by the end of the opening period. Each team scored 14 points in the second stanza, with the Lady Bulldogs taking a 27-19 lead at intermission.
The second seed used a 19-9 scoring advantage in the third quarter to extend the margin to 46-28. BCHS outscored the Lady Bulldogs 17-10 in the final period.
Anniston Bowers (seven rebounds, three assists, steal) followed Lee’s lead with six points. Tamiyah Coley (five rebounds, three steals) bagged five points.
Grace Johns and Ella Highsmith (nine rebounds, team-leading four assists, three steals) chipped in four points apiece. Jule Carter (two rebounds, assist, steal) and Edi Lowther (steal) netted three points and two points respectively.
No. 7 Fitzgerald ..................63
Herons ...............................38
The Purple Hurricane used a 3413 scoring run over the middle two periods to overcome a one-point deficit in turning back Brantley County.
The Herons claimed an 11-10 lead following the opening eight minutes before Fitzgerald seized the momentum. The Purple Hurricane outpointed BCHS 16-7 in the second quarter in taking a 26-18 halftime lead.
Fitzgerald tripled up the Herons 18-6 over the third period to build a 44-24 advantage. The Purple Hurricane kept BCHS from making a run, outscoring the Herons 19-14 in the final stanza.
Jayden Byron (trey) was the lone double-figure scorer from Brantley County recording a second straight double-double with a team-high 10 points and team-high tying 10 rebounds. Nathan Howell (two rebounds, steal) bagged eight points.
Jayden Simmons (three rebounds, assist) and Cole Courson (team-high tying 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals) each netted five points. Tallan Collins (rebound) and Holton DePratter (five rebounds, steal) contributed four points apiece. Hayes Evans (five rebounds, assist) netted two points.
Fitzgerald’s Victor Copeland (trey) claimed game-high scoring laurels with 15 points. Javeon Vickers (three treys) added 13 points.
