Adam MacDonald
VALDOSTA — It’s not every game that the Lowndes Vikettes put up 70 on the scoreboard, but they needed all the points they could get to hold off the Valdosta Lady Wildcats Friday night.
Keira Peak scored 26 points, Amanda Harper continued her hot shooting with 17 points and Danyelle Jones added 16 points, as the Vikettes hung on for a 70-67 win over the scrappy Lady ’Cats.
The Vikettes (17-3, 8-1) led by as much as 14 in the fourth quarter, but a late 8-0 run by the Lady ’Cats (13-5, 5-5) sliced Lowndes’ lead to 64-60 with 1:23 to play.
The Vikettes responded by hitting 5 of 8 free throws over the next 50 seconds to take a five-point lead. Kendra Patrick then missed a 3-pointer for the Lady ’Cats with 16 seconds to go that could have got Valdosta within two of the lead.
Harper and Kenya Durden hit one free throw apiece to make it 70-64 and Alisha Crawford hit a 3-pointer for the Lady ’Cats as time expired to make it 70-67.
“I was impressed with this ballgame,” Vikettes coach Shan Garner said. “It was a good high school ballgame.”
The Vikettes only made 6 of 10 free throws over the last 1:13 of the game, but they managed not to turn the ball over.
“We got a win over a quality opponent at home which you have to do in this region.” Garner said.
Stormm Phillips led the Lady ’Cats with 18 points. Crawford finished with 17 points and Sierra Foster added 12 points.
Both teams travel to Houston County today. The Vikettes are at Houston County and the Lady ’Cats are at Warner Robins.
