TIFTON — For the third time this season, Lowndes’ and Valdosta’s boys battled down to the end.

For the third time, it was the Vikings who came out on top.

Lowndes’ boys moved on to the semifinals of the Region 1-AAAAA basketball tournament, and earned a spot in the state playoffs, with a 46-39 victory over Valdosta Thursday night.

The game was much closer than the score indicated. Lowndes’ Kevin Wright sank four free throws in the final 23 seconds to extend the Vikings’ lead to seven and put the game out of reach.

Valdosta came out on fire Thursday. The Wildcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead, thanks in part to seven Bryan Brown points. The Vikings rallied at the end of the quarter, but Valdosta still led 15-9 after one period.

Lowndes cut the VHS lead down to two early in the second quarter, but a late Cory Marable three-pointer gave Valdosta a 25-19 halftime lead.

Wright scored seven points in the third quarter, and Lowndes took its first lead of the game, 32-27 with 3:52 left in the period. But Valdosta came right back with five straight points to end the third, and led 34-32 going into the final period.

But in the fourth, three-pointers by Larry Jackson and A.J. Brown put the Vikings on top 38-36 with 4:21 remaining, and they would not relinquish the lead again.

Wright and A.J. Brown led the Vikings with 13 points apiece. Santonio Bivins and Bryan Brown scored 11 each for Valdosta.



Colquitt County girls 54, Valdosta 45

Valdosta’s girls didn’t win Thursday night, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort.

Facing a Colquitt team that had dominated it in both of their regular season meetings, Valdosta battled to the end, and hung with the Lady Packers this time.

“I am not disappointed at all in my team,” Valdosta head coach Julie McCutcheon said. “They played their hearts out, they did everything I had been coaching them to do. I am very proud of them.

“We’re going to do a lot of work this off season. I’m meeting with them Monday. We’re going to go to camps this summer. We didn’t get to do as much as I would have liked last summer, because I was just taking over. But we’re going to do a lot of work and get better for next year. I only lose one senior. The rest of my team is coming back.”

Colquitt started the game strong, quickly jumping out to the lead. The Lady Packers led 20-11 after one period.

But after that, the Lady Wildcats played them even. Valdosta and Colquitt played each of the next three quarters even.

Colquitt’s lead remained nine points at halftime, 30-19, and after three quarters, 41-32.

But Valdosta twice closed in on the lead in that time. In the third quarter, the Lady Wildcats went on a run to close the deficit to 32-28, and had the ball, but could not get any closer.

Marcia Hill led the Lady Wildcats with 16 points. Shanavier Walker added 13. Laquita Smith led Colquitt with 11.