HAHIRA — The Colquitt County seventh-grade basektball teams swept Hahira in Hahira on Tuesday, as the girls won 20-4 and the boys overcame a halftime deficit to win 43-36.
The seventh-grade Lady Packers claimed their first win of the season by dominating defensively all 24 minutes of the game.
Dexshalyn Polite led the effort, repeatedly pressuring the Hahira guards into turnovers, then leading the fast break.
When the Vikettes were able to get the ball in close, they found Blakelee Handfield, Yuanna Rushing and Tara Reynolds waiting for them.
Handfield led the team in rebounding, and Reynolds blocked several shots.
“I was very pleased with our defense tonight – obviously,” Coach Jon Scroggins said. “To hold a team, at any level, to four points – that shows our commitment on the defensive end.”
The Packers led 12-0 at halftime and kept the shutout going until midway through the third quarter.
“I told them before the game that the team who wanted it the most would win tonight,” Scroggins said. “I also told them that we weren’t going to let them shoot – ‘No good shots!’ That’s our motto defensively.”
Offensively, Abbi Beth Paulk scored the first four points of the game, and finished with eight. Polite also had eight, and Reynolds added four.
The seventh-grade boys finished off the road sweep behind 11 points from Brandon Key. Daniel Mobley added eight, and Robert Lingo and Shiem King each had six.
“That was our best effort so far,” Coach John Phillips said. “I played 14 people and nine of them scored. I was also proud of our defensive effort – we pressured the ball well.”
The first half was back and forth, and neither team was able to establish control.
The largest lead of the first half was four for Hahira, and Colquitt County trailed by that margin at halftime, 19-15.
The youngest Packers opened up the second half with a 7-0 run to lead 22-19, and only trailed once more, 25-24, before finally seizing control in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Packers, now took a 37-29 lead with three minutes to go.
Mobley and Key hit big shots down the stretch, Lingo controlled the paint, and the Vikings were never able to make a serious run.
The seventh-grade teams complete their four-game road docket at Lowndes Middle School on Saturday.
Local Sports
7th-graders take two at Hahira
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Conference champions
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls basketball team celebrates its South Georgia Athletic Conference championship. The team includes, front, from left, coach Sheila Williams, Za'Nautica Downs, Akia Sutton, Ty'Asia McNeal, Shy Seay; and back, Sydnee Dalton, Shay Stanfill, Kiarra Lovett, Abiyah Spencer, Coach Jon Scroggins, Angel Kinchen, Chyna Calhoun, Michaela Bennefield, Istajhe Johnson, Ashuntee Stewart and Ja'nysia Brown. Not shown, Coach Tamika Seay and Emily Dozier.
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Lady Pack clinches top seed for region tournament
Makeba Ponder’s free throw with 6 seconds remaining gave the Colquitt County girls a 55-48 victory over Lowndes on Tuesday on the William Bryant Court at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium and ensured the Lady Packers would have the top seed in next week’s Region 1-AAAAA tournament at Tift County.
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Rifle team defeats Worth County
The Colquitt County High rifle team remains unbeaten after taking a 1,098-1,082 victory over Worth County on Tuesday in Sylvester.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Prine shines at Snowflake Invitational
Kenyadah Prine is progressing just fine in her comeback from two frustrating seasons that were marred by injuries. The Lowndes High senior is making the most of her opportunities to return to top form, no matter how big or small the stage.
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Level 3 gymnasts first, Level 4 team second in Thomasville
The Moultrie YMCA MGs headed to Thomasville on January 28 to continue their meet season in the Rose City gymnastics invitational and the Level 3’s took first place and the Level 4’s placed second.
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Register wins region wrestling championship
Travis Register will take an unbeaten record into next weekend’s state sectional after going 2-0 and winning the 220-pound weight class at Saturday’s Region 1-AAAAA wrestling tournament at Lowndes.
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Lady Packers hold off Tift County
The Colquitt County girls basketball team held off a determined Tift County second-half rally on Saturday on the William Bryant Court at the Espy Gymnasium to get a 59-48 Region 1-AAAAA victory.
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Talking it over
The defending Region 1-AAAAA champion Colquitt County High baseball team held an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at Ike Aultman Field at Packer Park. The Packers are gearing up for their Feb. 21 season-opener against Lawton Chiles of Tallahassee at Packer Park. Packers assistant coach Jake Mobley talks with sophomore pitcher, and little brother, Gabe Mobley during Saturday’s scrimmage.
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Seventh-grade girls win conference championship
The Colquitt County seventh-grade girls’ basketball team claimed the conference championship Saturday, upsetting previously undefeated Coffee, 20-19.
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