MOULTRIE – Janiah Ellis’ three-point play not only gave her a second-straight career-high game of 38 points, it was the deciding factor in a thrilling double-overtime victory, 62-58, for the Colquitt County High Lady Packers at home Friday. It was the beginning of Region 1-7A competition in a rare mid-afternoon start, and it certainly looked bad for Rondesha Williams’ club when it trailed Camden County High of Kingsland by 12 going into the final quarter of regulation.

Not only did the Lady Packers trail for a vast majority of the regular 32 game minutes, Williams reported afterwards 7 percent shooting from the field (no missing digits there; 7 as in less than 10). She was also miffed by a lack of defensive intensity for the first three quarters when Camden found open looks for easy baskets and numerous second-shot conversions.

“I told them if we win two quarters, we win the game,” said Williams. “We won the fourth quarter and overtime (the two OTs totaling eight minutes, same as a quarter).”

Colquitt’s girls were coming off three games in three days during the Vereen Christmas Shootout on William Bryant Court. They won all three, and Williams said it was great competition that she wanted to get ready for region. However, she said they came out “lax” vs. Camden.

“We can’t do that,” said Williams. “Camden is a good team, but we are a better team. We have to come out and put them away. But we didn’t quit (Friday) and I am thankful for that.”

Ellis scored 38 points (22 in the fourth quarter) on Dec. 29 when Colquitt defeated Westover in the third of three Shootout games. With 31 seconds to go in the second overtime Friday, Ellis broke a 58-all tie.

She wasn’t the only one coming up with clutch baskets. Eryiona Stokes, who had 13 points, put Colquitt (11-2, 1-0) ahead for the first time in the second OT on a trey. The Lady Packers had fallen behind by five, then both Stokes and Ellis went on the offensive … and Ellis on the defensive with two steals and a block. Naia Benefield also stole the basketball twice when Colquitt trailed 56-51.

Camden County’s No. 1 issue at the end was the free-throw line.

The 3-point line wasn’t too kind to Colquitt either, a pattern their supporters have seen more often than not in 2018-19. Camden in fact stuck back-to-back treys to open the action. The Lady Wildcats never trailed even as Ellis scored two straight stick-backs and gained some control of the backboards on both ends.

While Camden cooled off in its 3-point shooting, it was able to use size advantages inside with lob passes. Lady Packer senior Tionna Hunt caused two late turnovers, scoring on one, but her team trailed 12-8 going into the second.

Camille Singletary scored off her own steal in the new quarter, and for the first and only time of the half, Colquitt had a 3-pointer (2:56) off Ellis’ hands. That made the score 18-15 for Camden, and there would be one final highlight of the half. While the Lady Packers scored just the one time in their last six possessions, Camden maintained control of the ball through all the Colquitt pressure and found an open lay-in. The Lady Wildcats were up 20-15 at the break.

Stokes opened the third quarter executing a give-and-go set, but then Camden put on an exhibition of basketball to lead by 10, 31-21. The visitors caused turnovers before a 3 could be taken and got possession on a jump ball outside the arc. Whether contested or not, they attacked the basket, hit the 3 against the press and put back a third-chance shot.

Hunt cashed in Ellis’ inbound pass late in the quarter, but for Camden it was more scrambling creating open looks. With five seconds left, the Lady Wildcats took its biggest lead, 35-23, into the fourth quarter.

As for foul shooting, Colquitt did its part in the last eight minutes with seven points. And it didn’t take but two minutes for the Lady Packers to swing momentum with eight in a row. Ellis scored off her steal and then fired away successfully from 3 for 35-31 Camden.

Stokes countered the Lady Wildcat put-back with 3 at 3:30 (38-36 Camden), and with a minute to go it was still a two-point deficit at 40-38. Camden missed four straight at the line, and so with 38 seconds to play Colquitt knotted things up for the first time. The visitors had a chance for the lead at 3.5 seconds when rebounding a missed 3, but those charity shots too were off the mark.

Camden was the only side ahead on the board during the first overtime – but only as much as three 43-40 – until Stokes’ 3 went through at the 25-second mark. The Lady Wildcats were now making foul shots – six – and thus, at 1.5 seconds was in position to take – and make – a tying trey, 51-51.

Colquitt fell behind by five in the second OT from three turnovers and a Camden put-back.

BOYS CONTEST

The Colquitt-Camden boys Region 1-7A basketball opener didn’t provide nearly the drama and intensity of the preceding girls game. In fact, it looked like the Camden Wildcats were heading for a rout by running off 11 straight after the tip. The Packers were plagued by missed opportunities in the attempted comeback, but still brought the final margin down to eight, 52-44, in the Wildcats’ favor.

Tyler Walker led Colquitt with 11 points. Samari Louis came off the bench to score nine. Elijah Scott scored seven, as did K.T. Wilson before fouling out.

Walker ended the 11-0 run with a baseline jumper at 3:57. Wilson was next scoring off a steal. Colquitt was down by five, but Camden – on a stick-back at the 29-second mark – ended the period up 15-6.

For most of the first half, it was the Packers either giving back steals or making great passes … but not the ensuing shots on goal. The Wildcats stretched ahead by 16 at halftime 29-13. They were ahead by 20, 35-15, with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Even with Lemeke Brockington’s put-back, Camden was up 20 later in the third 39-19. The Packers, from that point, ended the quarter with eight in a row. It started with Wilson netting 3 at 1:44 and ended with Scott’s 2 with two seconds on the clock.

Camden led as much as 15, 44-29, in the first two minutes of the final period. Walker sank 3, and then a big lift came from Louis. He had two offensive rebound scores, one coming off Brockington’s steal. The Packers were down by six, 45-39, with Louis on the receiving end of Henry Daniels’ fast-break lead.

That was as close as Colquitt got. Camden was up by double figures, but Daniels ended the game with a fourth-chance 2 in the closing seconds.

• The next varsity basketball action for the Packers is Tuesday at William Bryant Court. It’s a non-region doubleheader with Lee County High beginning at 6 p.m.