DUBLIN — Third-seed East Laurens built a 24-point first quarter lead and cruised to a Class A DI “Sweet 16” 62-37 victory here Friday over visiting Brantley County.
The 14th-seed Lady Herons (21-8) were seeking their first victory in the second round since 2004 when the program reached the “Elite 8” beating Bryan County 64-52. BCHS is 0-3 in “Sweet 16” matchups since falling in 2005, 2006 and 2024.
Nahunta High School’s Wildkittens won quarterfinal and semifinal games in 1963 and 1964 en route to consecutive Class B runner-up finishes. Hoboken High School’s Trojanettes lost in the 1964 Class C “Elite 8”.
The Lady Falcons (25-4) lost in the 2025 semifinals. They entered the matchup ranked ninth in the last regular season Top 10 poll. East Laurens, winners of five straight and 16 of its last 17 games, captured the Region 2 tournament.
The Lady Falcons will host Region 1 runner-up Bacon County (26-2), ranked fifth in the Top 10 poll and seeded sixth, in the quarterfinals.
The home team stormed out to a 27-3 lead in the first eight minutes making eight field goals (two treys) and draining 9-of-12 free throws. Brantley County’s lone points came on a trey by Chloe Johns. BCHS did not attempt a free throw.
The Lady Herons got back in the game in the second period outscoring East Laurens 13-7 to trail 34-16 at intermission. Grace Carver (two rebounds, two steals, assist) scored six of her nine points in the period.
The Lady Falcons regained control of the game during the third quarter outscoring Brantley County 19-6 building a 53-22 lead. BCHS cut into the deficit during the “mercy rule” final period outscoring the home team 15-9 during the six-minute stanza.
Abbie Lee (five rebounds, two steals) was the lone double-figure scorer for the Lady Herons with 10 points. Tamiyah Coley (two rebounds, two steals, assist) followed Carver with six points.
Ella Highsmith (team-high eight rebounds, team-leading three steals, assist) netted five points. Anniston Bowers (steal) joined Johns with three points. Julie Carter (five rebounds, team-high three assists) contributed a free throw.
East Laurens had four players reach double figures combining for 59 points. Deanna Lowther scored a game-high 18 points with Jameria Bing (three treys) bagging 17 points. Gary Mitchell added 14 points with Zahmaria Robinson finishing with 10 points.
The Lady Falcons outscored BCHS by six points from inside the arc and three points from outside. The difference came at the free throw line with the home team going 23-of-34 (66 percent) to the Lady Herons’ 7-of-16 (44%).
