MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County seventh-grade basketball teams won convincingly over Newbern at the Willie J. Williams Middle School gym Tuesday.

The girls won 30-11, and the boys won 46-30.

The eighth-grade teams also swept Newbern in Valdosta on Tuesday.

The seventh-grade Lady Packers played aggressive defense and repeatedly turned steals into layups and/or free throws on the other end.

“It all starts with defense,” coach Jon Scroggins said. “We were opportunistic tonight.  We were sound defensively, and then took risks at the right time and capitalized on (Newbern’s) mistakes.”

Za’Nautica Downs lead eight Colquitt County scorers with 11 points, including hitting on five out of her six free throw attempts.

Michaela Bennefield scored seven, Akia Sutton added three, and Shy Seay, Ashuntee Stewart, Kiarra Lovett, and Angel Kinchen each had two. Shay Stanfill added a free throw.

The seventh-grade girls finish the regular season with a 9-3 record.

In the second game, the Newbern boys kept the game close for a while, and trailed only 26-18 at halftime.

J.J. Peterson and DaNas Andrews sat a lot in the first half with foul trouble, leaving Tyrese King and Cameron Singletary to carry the offense and Deaundre Atmore and Allen Key to defend the basket.  

The Packers dominated the third quarter. Singletary hit two big 3-pointers, and Peterson and Andrews played big under the basket. Newbern managed only two points in the period.

Peterson scored 10 points in the second half and finished with 12.  Singletary scored 11 and Andrews had 10, giving the Packers three double-digit scorers for the game.  

King added six, Atmore had four, Gavin Phillips scored two, and Allen Key made a free throw.

“We played well on offense all night,” coach Josh Purvis said.  “They keyed on Tory (Ponder) — who’s been one of our leading scorers all season — so we had to run our offense through other guys.”  

“We started a little shaky on defense, but we settled down in the second half. I’m pleased with the win, and we’re ready to turn our attention to the post-season.”

The seventh-grade boys will take an 11-1 record into the conference tournaments, which begins Tuesday.

Dates and times for the games have not yet been announced.

In Valdosta, the Colquitt County boys had little trouble defeating Newbern for the second time this season, winning 50-23. The eighth-grade Lady Packers won by a point 23-22.

The eighth-grade Packers finish the regular season with a 10-4 record.

Keil Pollard led the Packers on Tuesday with 15 points.

Jaquan Blakely added eight, Quan Mathis had seven, Landon Scott had five, Morgan Hart had four, Akaari Ryce had three and Quan Singletary, Demetrius Walker, Nathan Lang and Chris Bouie each had two.

Colquitt County eighth-grade girls coach Tiffanie Young said her team “didn’t play the best game, but it’s a win. We missed a lot of wide-open layups.

“I just hope we come ready to play for the tournament.”

Ta’Kerria Waters had 10 points, Arial Pollard had seven and Ta’nia Johnson, Yasmine French and Jac’Quala Hardy each had two points.

 The eighth-grade girls are 4-10.

Brackets for all four tournaments should be released this week.

Play in the first two rounds will be at the highest seeded team’s gymnasium.

The championship games will be played at Coffee.