MOULTRIE — Varsity Lady Packer basketball won their first round in the state playoffs and will be continuing to round two.
The Archer Tigers, from Lawrenceville near Atlanta, traveled to Colquitt County Tuesday and went home with their season completed.
The Lady Packers won by only seven points.
50-43 was the final score.
“This was a big game – a big win,” said head coach Rondesha Williams. “It feels better than all the others.”
Archer High is a 7A school from Region 4 and they finished their regular season at 3rd seed, with 8-3 in region play and an overall record of 19-8.
Putting into perspective the level of play the Lady Packers faced, the Tigers are comparable to Lowndes, which is who the Lady Packers lost the region finals to.
“I am so proud of all the girls,” said Williams. “Every single one of them stepped up tonight and they all fought to be winners.”
During the first half, the Lady Packers came out strong and controlled the first quarter when it ended 13-9; however, the Tigers weren’t going without a fight.
The second quarter was the lowest scoring for the Lady Packers as the Tigers slowly closed the margin on the scoreboard.
In fact, the Tigers managed to take the lead with less than two minutes before the end of the quarter, and the game paused at 24-22.
“When they were up by two the girls didn’t worry or stress,” said Williams. “They did the little things needed to get it back and they played the game as a unit.”
Throughout the game the Lady Packers ran several plays that succeeded in outwitting the Tigers.
In one, point guard Jamaya Moore lopped a high arching pass to Ameris Johnson who continued the forward movement to Nyleigha Knighton waiting under the basket to shoot an undefended layup.
Moore also had several 3-point baskets throughout the game, one as the result of a pass from Johnson who snagged the rebound of a Lady Packer missed shot and then quickly passed the ball out of the crowded key.
Going into the final quarter, the score was tied at 32.
The Tigers got the initial basket in the fourth quarter, but that would be the last time they would hold the lead.
With 7:26 left in the game, the Lady Packers gained the lead by a single point and were able to maintain that lead, and increase it, for the remainder.
Also scoring for the Lady Packers were: Amira Walters-Smith, D’Zeriyah Polite, Amareyia Knighton and Johnson.
The second round of state playoffs will be either Friday or Saturday according to the playoff bracket on GHSA.
Tonight’s round one game of Marietta (region 3 – seeded 4th) versus Campbell (region 2 – seeded 1st) on Wednesday night will determine who the Lady Packers will play.