BRUNSWICK – The Colquitt County girls basketball team rebounded from its only loss this season by winning two straight games this weekend in Brunswick.
The Lady Packers, who lost 71-38 to Lowndes on Dec. 20, defeated Orange Park, Fla., on Friday and dealt Ware County its first loss of the season on Saturday in Brunswick’s Hoopin’ at the High.
Colquitt will take a 10-1 record into its Jan. 3 region opener at Camden County.
After a 46-43 win over Orange Park, the Lady Packers trailed Ware County by 11 at the half Saturday afternoon.
But Colquitt outscored the Lady Gators 21-3 in the third quarter and went on to a 56-50 victory.
Amira Walters-Smith scored 11 in the third quarter and Amareyia Knighton added 10, but coach Stephanie Cody said the difference in the quarter and the rest of the game was defensive pressure.
“Defense was definitely the game-changer,” Cody said. “It was a team defensive effort. We’ve been trying to home in on our defense.”
She also praised Azaria Battle and Nacardia Robinson for their work on the boards.
“Everybody contributed,” Cody said. “Hopefully this will carry over. We’ve just got to keep on working.”
Walters-Smith finished with 26 points and is now averaging 20.5 points a game.
Knighton added 22. Robinson had seven and Caylnn Singletary added a free throw.
Ware County, ranked No. 4 in Class AAAA, falls to 13-1.
The Lady Packers edged Orange Park 46-43 on Friday in their first game since the disappointing 33-point loss to Lowndes in the Lee County Showcase.
“I told them we can’t dwell on the past,” Cody said. “We just have to keep making strides.”
Knighton led the way in the low-scoring contest with 13 points.
Walters-Smith and Robinson each had 12 and Singletary added nine.