MOULTRIE —
The Colquitt County eighth-grade boys basketball team lost their first three games this season, but have they ever been on a roll since.
The eighth-grade Packers have won 10 of 11 since that start and will take a seven-game winning streak into today’s South Georgia Athletic Conference tournament-opener.
Colquitt, 10-4 overall and 10-2 in SGAC games, is the No. 2 seed and will meet No. 7 seed Cook Middle School at 5 p.m. today at the Charlie A. Gray Middle School gymnasium in the first round of the tournament, which is scheduled to conclude with the championship game on Saturday at the Gray gym.
The Colquitt County-Cook winner will advance to play the winner of the game between No. 3 seed Lowndes and No. 6 Valdosta.
As the higher seeded team, the Packers will remain at home for second-round game with a win today.
Colquitt defeated Cook 20-17 in their only meeting this season.
In the other two conference openers today, No. 1 Tift County will play host to No. 8 Hahira and No. 4 Coffee will be at home against No. 5 Pine Grove.
The winners of those two games will saquare off in second-round game.
The eighth-grade girls will take a 2-10 conference record into their tournament-opener on the road today.
Their seeding was determined by a late game on Tuesday.
They will either travel to Douglas to meet top-seeded Coffee or go to Valdosta to play No. 2 seed Pine Grove.
The eighth-grade Packers won games on Saturday and Monday as tune-ups for the conference tournament.
On Monday, Tyrese King scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to give the Packers a come-from-behind 45-39 victory at Valdosta Middle School.
Colquitt trailed 29-20 heading into the fourth quarter, but King took the game over.
“Tyrese hit a big three and our trap started to work,” coach Roger Jones said. “And Ty Powell hit a three that put us up 42-39.
“It was a battle. They beat us up for three quarters.”
Tory Ponder added eight points; Allen Key and Dantavious DeBruce each had four; Powell and John Burdon each had three; and Trey Howard and Jamarius Walker each had two.
The eighth-grade Packers also defeated Valdosta Middle School 33-21 back on Nov. 29.
Ponder led the Packers in their 43-39 victory over Lowndes on Saturday at the C.A. Gray Junior High gymnasium, scoring 14 points and dishing out numerous assists.
“Tory was hard-nosed and he hit his free throws,” Jones said.
Da’nas Andrews had nine points; King had seven; DeBruce addes six; Key had four; Burdon had two; and Gavin Phillips had a free throw.
“I told the guys this is the best time to get hot,” Jones said. “We just have to sustain it three more games.”
Jones said he believes the top four seeded teams — Tift County, Colquitt County, Lowndes and Coffee — are closely matched.
The eighth-grade Lady Packers fell 32-28 to Lowndes in overtime on Saturday.
Colquitt trailed 17-7 at the half.
“We stepped it up a little in the third quarter, applying pressure to their point guard,” coach Tiffanie Young said. “The fourth quarter was our best quarter.”
Colqutit outscored Lowndes 15-4 in the final six minutes to force overtime.
“In a game like this, free throws are key,” Young said. “We shot 20 free throws, but made only six.
“I am very proud of the way they played in the second half. We didn’t give up.”
Ashunte Stewart led the Lady Packers with 11 points. Istajhe Johnson had eight; Ty’asia McNeal had seven; and Shy’Derria Seay had two.
Failure to convert free throws also hurt the eighth-grade girls in Monday’s 30-16 loss at Valdosta.
“We lost by 14, but missed 10 free throws,” Young said. “If I can only get my players to understand how important free throws are.”
Johnson and Stewart had four points each; Doniesha Edmonds and McNeal had three each; and Seay had two.
“Although we have come a long way from the first practice, we still have a lot to learn,” Young said.
Local Sports
Eighth-grade boys open tournament play at home today
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