RICHMOND HILL – For the first time in nine years, the Colquitt County boys basketball team has won its first two region games.
After defeating Camden County 49-42 on Friday in Kingsland, the Packers bused up I-95 about 90 miles to knock off Richmond Hill 55-44.
The last time the Packers won their first two region games was in January 2016, when they defeated Lowndes and Valdosta on back-to-back nights.
Not only are the Packers 2-0 in Region 1-6A games, they are now 9-2 overall.
Colquitt won just six games last season and four in the 2022-2023 season.
The Packers will put their strong start to the season on the line on Tuesday when they travel to Lowndes.
The Vikings won their region opener on Saturday, defeating Tift County 53-37 in Tifton.
The Lowndes boys are 10-5 overall.
The win over Richmond Hill did not come easily.
The Packers led by just four heading into the final quarter, but Kanilyn Jones scored nine of his game-high 26 points in the final eight minutes to help wrap up the win.
Jones had scored just two points in the win over Camden County the day before and then managed just one basket in the first quarter on Saturday.
But he scored nine in the second quarter, six in the third and nine again in the fourth quarter for his season-high 26 point-effort.
His offensive outburst included hitting 8-of-11 from the free throw stripe.
The Packers also got 14 points — including 12 in the first half — from Marcus Moore.
JaKari Byrd added eight, Cason Harden had a first-quarter 3-pointer and Zi Alridge and Quan Kinsey chipped in two points apiece.
The Packers will play on the William Bryant Court for the first time in 2025 on Saturday, Jan. 11, when Bainbridge visits for a non-region game.