Ware County’s Gators opened their 2025-26 campaign winning two of three tilts with both victories ending in double-digit wins.
Valdosta (1-4) spoiled the Gators’ opener Tuesday, December 2 posting a 60-51 decision for its first win of the season.
The Gators (2-1) rebounded Thursday, December 4 beating Worth County (1-3) 68-31 in the home opener. The loss was the second straight for the Rams.
Ware County followed with a 56-39 victory Friday, December 5 over visiting Glynn Academy (3-6), which has dropped six of its last seven games.
The Gators hosted Appling County Tuesday, December 9 with Groves of Savannah visiting Saturday, December 13.
Valdosta visits to wrap up the season series Tuesday, December 16. The Gators travel Friday, December 19 to Brunswick to face Glynn Academy.
They wrap up the pre-Christmas portion of the schedule Monday, December 22 hosting Richmond Hill.
Valdosta.................60 Gators.....................51
VALDOSTA — The host Wildcats overcame a three-point deficit after the opening eight minutes outscoring Ware County in each of the final three periods for the win.
The Gators hurt themselves at the free throw line connecting on just 8of-22 attempts (36 percent) while Valdosta finished 14-of-21 (67%).
Ware County claimed a 14-11 advantage by the end of the first stanza. The Wildcats responded with an 18-12 scoring advantage in the second quarter to take a 29-26 halftime lead.
Valdosta continued its domination in the third period outscoring the Gators 17-12 to open up a 46-38 advantage. The Wildcats clipped Ware County 14-13 over the final eight minutes for the final nine-point margin.
Photo By RICK HEAD
Ja’Londi O’Hara was the lone Gator in double figures lead the way with 12 points. Davion Jones contributed nine points while Elan Jones and Kevin Ramsey netted eight points apiece.
Travis Story and Dallas Vinson followed with five points and four points respectively. Tayshaun Franklin chipped in three points.
Valdosta received a game-high 18 points from Shawn Evans. Zion Suckey added 11 points.
Gators ..................68 Worth County........31
Ware County opened up a 16-point lead in the opening eight minutes and steadily pulled away from the visiting Rams in the home opener.
Jones and Franklin led a balanced scoring attack with 12 points apiece. The Gators received contributions from 12 of the 13 players who dressed.
Ware County bolted out to a 21-5 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Gators outscored Worth County 17-8 in the second stanza stretching the lead to 38-13 at the break.
The home team outpointed the Rams 16-9 in the third period for a commanding 54-22 lead bringing on a “mercy rule” final canto. Ware County closed out the game outscoring the visitors 14-9 to record a 37point victory.
O’Hara followed the Jones-Franklin lead netting 10 points. Story just missed giving the Gators a fourth double figure scorer finishing with nine points. Luke Hinely canned a pair of treys to finish with six points.
Isaiah White and Ramsey chipped in five points and four points respectively. Charles Huff, Jimmy Green, R.J. Munford and Vinson bagged two points apiece.
Worth County’s Cully Hinley scored a gamehigh 17 points draining five treys.
Gators...................56 Glynn Academy.....39
Ware County opened and closed Friday’s matchup outscoring the visiting Red Terrors 35-19 to secure the victory.
Jones and O’Hara led the way scoring 15 points apiece. Franklin and Jones were next with seven points each.
White finished with six points, Story four points and Ramsey two points.
The Gators doubled up Glynn Academy 18-9 in the first quarter with O’Hara netting 11 points and were never in trouble. The Red Terrors chipped one point off the deficit by intermission using a 12-11 scoring advantage to trail 29-21 at intermission.
Ware County carried a double-digit lead into the final stanza after outpointing the Red Terrors 10-8 in the third period in building a 39-29 margin. The Gators closed out the game outscoring the visitors 17-10.
Glynn Academy’s Collin Wilson (14 points) and Ahmad McIntosh (13 points) combined for 27 points.
