Lady Packers fall in OT in state tournament
MOULTRIE — Redan’s Amani Franklin hit a long 3-pointer just before the buzzer ending regulation to tie the Lady Raiders’ state quarterfinal game with Colquitt County at 46-46 on Saturday at the Macon Centreplex and the Lady Raiders went on to eliminate the Lady Packers in overtime 59-48.
Redan will advance to play in one Final Four contest against defending state champion Collins Hill at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Gwinnett Arena.
Stephenson will meet South Gwinnett at 4 p.m. in the other girls semifinal.
Colquitt County’s girls, who defeated Morrow and Lovejoy to reach the Elite Eight, finish 21-10.
Redan, which will take an 18-7 record into the semifinals, played for the state championship last year, losing to Collins Hill 69-52.
“When we got into the overtime, their experience showed,” Colquitt County coach Joe Parker said after the Lady Raiders outscored his Lady Packers 13-2 in the overtime.
“They were real calm and it looked like we might have lost a little confidence.”
Parker said his team battled to the end.
“We had lots of chances,” Parker said. “But the kids played hard. They all gave it all they had.
“We lost to a team that played for it last year. And our young kids got a lot of experience.”
Sophomore Taquella Coates led the Lady Packers with 10 points. Jessica Lemus, playing her final game, had nine points and 11 rebounds against the tall Lady Raiders. Ashley Stafford, hobbling on a sore ankle, had seven points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman Nicolle Thomas also had seven points, Tiffany Troupe had five, Laquita Smith and Nikki Hudson had four each and Dorothy Strong had two points. Frankin had 15 points, included two other 3-pointers late in the third quarter.
The Lady Packers trailed after the first quarter, but came back to take the lead at the half.
“We had a plan defensively that worked real well,” Parker said. “Their height was a problem.
“We did a good job rebounding, but they must have had 20 blocked shots.”
The Lady Packers were the final Region 1-AAAAA team to fall in the tournament. Region champion Houston County was eliminated by Bradwell Institute 57-46 in a second-round game on Thursday.