MOULTRIE – A 43-39 victory at Lowndes on Tuesday has given the Colquitt County boys basketball program its best region start in 27 years.
A fourth-quarter rally led by Kanilyn Jones sent the Packers to the win that raises their Region 1-6A record to 3-0.
The Colquitt County boys last won their first three region games in the 1997-1998 season.
The Packers are now 10-2 overall after having won just 10 total in the two previous seasons.
And to make this season’s start even more impressive, the Packers have won all three of those region games away from the William Bryant Court.
Colquitt is the only boys team without a region loss and the Packers will put that perfect region record on the line when they play host to Valdosta next Tuesday, Jan. 14.
The Colquitt County boys and girls teams also will be home on Saturday for a pair of non-region games with Bainbridge.
Colquitt swept the Bearcats and Lady Cats on Dec. 10, in Bainbridge.
Tuesday’s win by the Packers avoided a sweep after the Colquitt County girls fell 64-37 to the Vikettes in the evening’s first game.
But the Packers 10th overall victory of the season looked anything but certain after Lowndes took a 31-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
That was when Colquitt outscored the Vikings 16-8 to get the win and remain atop the region standings.
And that was when Jones scored eight of his game-high 16 points and helped hold Kam Jackson, the Vikings leading scorer, to just a pair of free throws.
Jackson finished with 14, but nine came on three 3-pointers in the first quarter.
“He just put us on his back and carried us,” Packers coach Andy Harden said of Jones. “And he played his butt off on the defensive end.”
The game was tied at 14 after the first quarter and was led by the Packers by one point at the half.
After the Vikings outscored the visitors in the third quarter, Jones took over the final eight minutes.
“Both teams went into the game taking away certain players,” Harden said. “They were going to take away Cason (Harden) and Marcus (Moore).”
But the Vikings could not take away Jones and fell to 1-1 in the region and 10-6 overall.
Colquitt was able to nullify the taller Vikings, who featured Jackson, who is 6-foot-4, and Kaden Martin, who is a 6-foot-6 and scored 11 points.
Big Alexis Barge helped offset the height disadvantage in the fourth quarter and had a big dunk in the closing moments.
“He absolutely played great for us on defense,” Andy Harden said of Barge.
Harden said he was pleased with the poise his team displayed.
“We didn’t force anything,” Andy Harden said. “The kids understood where the mismatches were. They communicated well and played good defense.”
The Packers also got 11 points from JaKari Byrd; five each from Moore and Cason Harden; four from Quan Kinsey; and the dunk by Barge.
“That was a big win for Colquitt County basketball,” Andy Harden said. “We rebounded well and we played good defense.”
The Packers will try to remain unbeaten at home when they play host to Bainbridge and Valdosta over the next seven days.
Playing in what is now being called the “Hawgnasium,” where the Packers are 4-0, is beneficial, Harden said.
“The crowd was a big part of our win over Westover,” he said. “The kids feed off of that. It makes them feel appreciated.”
The Colquitt County girls team’s loss in Tuesday’s first game was its second in two meetings with Lowndes.
The Vikettes defeated the Lady Packers 71-38 in the Lee County Showcase last month.
“Lowndes is a very good team,” Lady Packers coach Stephanie Cody said. “But I can’t say they are 30 points better than we are.
“We had a good game plan, but it was like we gave out of steam. They capitalized on our mistakes. And we can’t let people beat us on the boards. If other teams get three or four offensive rebounds, eventually they are going to score.”
Amira Walters-Smith led the Lady Packers with 19 points.
Amareyia Knighton, playing with a sore shoulder, had 11.
Caylnn Singletary added four and Nacardia Robinson had three.
“It’s back to the drawing board,” said Cody, whose team is now 11-3 overall and 1-2 in the region. “We are going to keep working hard.”