MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County girls basketball team defeated Mitchell County 57-19 on Saturday and won two of its three games in the Vereen Rehabilitation Christmas Shootout held on the William Bryant Court.

The Colquitt  County boys dropped a three-point decision to LaFayette (Ala.) in their opener on Thursday, but rebounded to crush Early County 66-37 on Friday.

The Colquitt County boys took a 4-6 overall record into their late Saturday meeting with Mitchell County.

The Packers had little trouble with the Bobcats on Friday, leading 16-8 after the first quarter, 36-13 at the half and 57-20 heading into the final quarter.

Early did outscore the Packers 17-9 in the final quarter.

The Packers had 11 players in the scoring column against Early County, including Elijah Scott, who had 11.

Dy Williams added 10 points, including six on a pair of 3-pointers.

Montavious Ponder, who also had two 3-pointers, and Montana Edwards each had eight; Lemeke Brockington had seven; Aaron Long, six; Henry Daniels and Tyler Walker, five each; Nathan Harden, two; and Reggie Scott sank a free throw.

Early County took an 0-9 record into its Saturday game against Lowndes.

The Mitchell County boys brought a 4-2 record over from Camilla into Saturday’s Shootout finale.

The Colquitt County girls had a big second half and defeated Choctawhatchee High of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., 63-47 on Friday.

The Lady Packers got 25 points from leading scorer Janiah Ellis and 15 from freshman Carliss Johnson in the victory that raised their record to 10-2.

But Colquitt County coach Rondesha Williams was not pleased with her team’s effort in front of the home fans in a 55-52 loss to Brunswick.

Colquitt led 37-36 heading into the final quarter.

But two free throws and a basket by Jaliyah Howard put Brunswick up 45-42 with 4:47 left in the game and the Lady Packers never could make up the difference.

Back-to-back baskets by Ellis and Johnson pulled the Lady Packers to within two with 5 seconds left.  But the Lady Pirates added a free throw with 2.3 seconds remaining to get their fifth win in a row and raise their record to 9-4.

“That game should be a learning lesson for us,” a clearly disappointed Williams said after the game. “I was not pleased with how we played.

“They didn’t do what I asked them to do and if you are not obedient, you sacrifice something.”

Colquitt led 26-22 at the half despite not getting a basket from Ellis, who entered the game averaging 23.9 points.

She did score 14 points in the first two quarters, but all came on free throws. Colquitt scored just two baskets in the second quarter, one each by Keyana Harper and Camille Singletary.

The Lady Packers were out-rebounded 44-27 and hit just 22-of-34 free throws.

“They act like when they shoot free throws in practice they are wasting their time,” Williams said. “Free throws bit us in the Sweet 16 last year and they bit us again tonight.

Ellis finished with 24 points and Johnson added nine. Singletary and Harper each had seven; Audreyanna Rowland and Gracie Belle Paulk each had two; and Kelsey Dawson had a free throw.

“We are a much better team than that,” Williams said.

On Saturday, the Lady Packers breezed by a Mitchell County team that did not score more than six points in any of the four quarters.

Ellis led the Lady Packers with 16 points. Johnson scored 12 and Harper had 10.

Singletary scored seven, Rowland had five, Shadasia Reynolds had four, Heaven Robinson scored two and Karlie McMullen had a free throw.

Robinson and Harper each had eight rebounds.

The Lady Packers will take an 11-3 record into their Region 1-7A opener at Camden County on Friday.