MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County girls basketball has had one advantage this week while preparing to meet Stephenson High on Friday at the Macon Centreplex in the second round of the Class AAAAA state tournament.

The Lady Jaguars are much like Camden County’s Lady Wildcats, whom the Lady Packers defeated 47-46 last Friday in the first round of the state tournament.

“Their method of play is similar to what Camden did,” Lady Packers coach Joe Parker said Tuesday. “They are a lot like Camden, except bigger.”

And that height is spread through the top 10 players, all of whom will be used extensively by coach Dennis Watkins.

And those girls are used to winning.

Stephenson won the Class AAAAA state championship last season and, despite having just two starters back in 2004-2005, will take a 24-5 record into its meeting with Colquitt County, 16-12.

While the Lady Packers needed a basket and a free throw by junior post player Jessica Lemus with 6.3 seconds remaining to eliminate Camden County, Stephenson had little trouble with Mundy’s Mill, winning at home last Friday 69-49.

Mundy’s Mill remained close the first half, but was worn down by Stephenson’s speed and depth in the final 16 minutes.

That depth was evident in the scoring column, where 12 Lady Jaguars contributed.

Only one Stephenson player — freshman Jylisa Williams — finished in double figures. She had 14.

The Lady Jaguars are led by junior Jasmine Smith, who averaged a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds.

Smith transferred to Stephenson this season after averaging 16 points and five steals for Central Gwinnett last season.

But Smith is just one of a fine cast of players, Parker said.

“He’s got 10 kids he plays,” Parker said. “He substitutes five at a time and he’s got two big post players. Their second group is just as big as their first.

“They’ve got a bunch of good athletes who can run around and try to make you turn it over. When you’ve got 10 who can play, you can afford to chase people around.”

One disadvantage of chasing people around defensively is that it often takes them out of rebounding position.

As does having big people shooting from outside.

‘We just can’t get outrebounded,” said Parker, whose team made Camden County pay last week, winning the battle of the board 37-17.

And Parker has worked his team hard this week preparing for what he expects will be relentless pressure from the Lady Jaguars.

“They’ll trap after a missed free throw or after a basket,” Parker said. “They’ll run a 1-2-2 full and go to a 1-2-1-1.

“But we’re not intimidated by that. I hope they keep the pressure up.”

Colquitt County and Stephenson had one common opponent this season.

The Lady Packers split with Tift Count — winning 27-22 in Tifton, but losing 37-29 at home — while the Lady Jaguars beat the Lady Devils 65-42 back on Dec. 4.

Colquitt County will start Lemus and Tiffany Erving in the front court and Ashley Stafford, Nikki Hudson and Latoya Carr at the guard positions.

The Stephenson-Colquitt County winner will advance to play the winner of Friday’s 4 p.m. Riverdale-Glynn Academy game. Glynn Academy advanced last Friday with a 69-51 victory over Coffee.

Houston County, Region 1-AAAAA’s other first-round survivor, will meet Redan at 4 p.m. Thursday.

All four Region 1-AAAAA boys teams advanced in the first round. Lowndes will meet Newton at 5:30 p.m. Thursday; Coffee will play Douglass at 8:30 p.m. Thursday; Tift County will meet Tri-Cities at 5:30 p.m. Friday; and Houston County will meet Stephenson at 8:30 p.m. Friday.

To reach the Macon Centreplex Coliseum and Convetion Center, take I-75 North to I-16. Take I-16 East to Exit 2.