MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High ninth-grade boys basketball team played its best game of the season to defeat Worth County on Thursday at the Gladys Espy Gymnasium while, across town, the eighth-grade basketball teams swept Hahira at the Willie J. Williams Middle School gymnasium.

The freshmen exploded for 20 second-quarter points to break open a game that they led by just three points at the end of the first quarter and rolled on to a 52-31 victory over the Rams.

“Everybody played exceptionally well,” said ninth-grade coach Keith Hose. “I am really proud of all of them.”

Ten Packers got into the scoring column, led by Dominique Pressley, who had 11.

Derrell Ward and Jeremy Downs each had nine, Nathaniel Hill added eight, Quin Robertson and Cameron Erving each had three and Amel Magwood, Sam Cokely, Lawhe Wingfield and Tyrell Wright each had two.

The victory raises the team’s record to 4-2. The freshmen will play next at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 4, at Thomasville.

The Colquitt County eighth-grade boys raised their record to 7-1 with a 45-40 victory over Hahira.

The Packers scored the first 12 points of the game and had 17-point leads in both halves, but coach Craig Pitts used the game to give the reserves plenty of playing time.

Colquitt had defeated Hahira by 17 on the road last month.

Colquitt was led by Quan Daniels, who had 11 points.

Cornelius James added nine points, Cole Pitts had eight, Tevin King and Rashaun Hunt each had four, Derhyan Arnold had three, Gary Thomas and Draoon Hampton each had two and Trey DeBruce and Tyler Brown each contributed a free throws.

The eighth-grade girls evened their record at 4-4 with a 35-17 victory, completing the season sweep of Hahira’s Vikettes.

The earlier victory was by just five points. On Thursday, the Lady Packers jumped out to a 14-2 first-quarter lead and coasted from there.

Bria Wallace and Sarah Strong each had nine points for the eighth-grade Lady Packers.

Aishika Fields had seven, Phatema Wiley added six, Valencia Harvey had two and Brittany Taylor and Brittany Harris each had a free throw.

The results of the Thursday’s seventh-grade games at Hahira were unavailable at press time.

The seventh-grade teams meet Merry Acres at 10 a.m. Saturday at Charlie A. Gray Middle School.

The eighth-graders’ next games will be at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at Coffee.