Ware County closed out 2025 falling at Brunswick and opened 2026 with a road win at Orange Park in Florida.
The Gators (10-2), off to one of its best starts in school history, had a nine-game winning streak end Tuesday, December 30 on the final day of the Brunswick Christmas Tournament falling to the host Pirates 6762. The victory was the seventh in a row for Brunswick (13-2).
Ware County bounced back at the Raider Dome Classic at Orange Park (Fla.) High School beating the tournament host Raiders (10-4) 55-44 Saturday, January 3.
The Gators opened Region 1AAAA play Tuesday (January 6) at New Hampstead in the first of a three-game schedule. The Lady Gators (4-7) travel to Hilliard (Fla.) High with the Lady Phoenix not fielding a team this year.
Perry visits Friday, January 9 followed by a Saturday, January 10 trip to Ludowici to face Long County.
Region foe Wayne County comes to town Tuesday, January 13 in the first of a second three-game region slate. Ware County travels Friday, January 16 to Savannah for a matchup with Benedictine with the Lady Gators having the night off. The Gators go to Warner Robins Saturday, January 17.
Brunswick...........................67 Gators.................................62
BRUNSWICK — Ware County’s furious fourth quarter comeback bid came up just short against the tournament host Pirates.
The Gators scored more points over the final eight minutes than the previous three quarters combined. Ware County trailed 45-30 entering the four period when a track meet erupted.
The two teams combined for 54 points with the Gators outscoring Brunswick 32-22. Ja’Londi O’Hara scored 12 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter. Travis Story (two treys) netted 11 of his 15 points in the final frame.
Ware County also received double figures from Masiyer McKoy (12 points) and Davion Jones (11 points, two treys). Kevin Ramsey finished with six points with R.J. Munford chipping in two points.
The Pirates jumped out to a 16-9 lead by the end of the first stanza. Ware County cut one point off the deficit by intermission outscoring the host 10-9 to trail 25-19 at intermission.
Brunswick used a 20-11 scoring advantage in the third period to push the margin out to 45-30.
The Pirates, who connected on eight long-distance bombs, had a trio of double figure scorers led by the 21 points of Rakeim McCaster with 17 coming in the second half. Alfonso Hart scored 13 of his 18 points after intermission. D.J. Jackson netted 11 of his 12 points over the first two periods.
Gators.................................55 Orange Park .......................44
ORANGE PARK, Fla. — The Gators seized control of the game over the middle two periods doubling up Orange Park 28-14 in rallying for the win.
The Raiders claimed a 14-12 first quarter lead. Ware County outscored the tournament host 16-9 in the second stanza to take a 28-23 lead to the lockerroom.
The Gators used a second straight seven point scoring advantage outpointing Orange Park 12-5 in the third period to build a 40-28 lead. The Raiders closed the game outscoring Ware County 16-15.
O’Hara led a trio of Ware County double-figure scorers finishing with 14 points. McKoy netted 13 points with Jones bagging 11 points.
Ramsey scored six points with Story following with five points. Isaiah White, Dallas Vinson and Munford each bagged two points.
Orange Parks’ Michael Bulloch garnered game-high honors with 17 points. Joshua Bell contributed 13 points.
