VALDOSTA— The Valdosta Wildcats hosted the Colquitt County Packers in a regional basketball doubleheader Friday night with mixed results. The Lady Wildcats fought hard but fell 50-36, while the boys’ team took their game in a decisive 74-54 victory.

Girls’ Game

The girls’ matchup opened with a physical defensive battle, as both teams fought for control in the early minutes. Colquitt’s Amira Walters-Smith finally broke the deadlock, scoring the game’s first points, and teammate Amareyia Knighton quickly followed with another basket to put the Lady Packers up 4-0. Valdosta’s Summer Eberhart responded with an inside shot, but Colquitt’s fast-paced attack, led by Knighton and Walters-Smith, helped them pull ahead 10-4 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Valdosta made a strong push to close the gap. After Colquitt extended their lead to 14-4, the Lady Cats rallied behind Jhakiah Battles, who drained a crucial three-pointer to shift momentum. Eberhart took over for Valdosta, scoring three consecutive baskets in the paint to bring the Wildcats within three points at 16-13. However, just as Valdosta looked to even the score, Colquitt responded with a well-timed three-pointer from Walters-Smith, keeping their lead intact at 19-13 going into halftime.

The second half proved to be a challenge for the Lady Wildcats as Colquitt’s defense tightened, making it difficult for Valdosta to close the gap. Despite continued efforts from Eberhart and the Wildcats’ offense, Colquitt steadily built their lead. By the fourth quarter, Valdosta found themselves trailing 43-27. 

A brief late-game surge saw Christian Wright hit a three-pointer, followed by back-to-back baskets from Shakaya Hines to bring the Wildcats closer. But Colquitt had an answer for every Valdosta run, with Walters-Smith knocking down free throws and a deep three-pointer to seal the victory. When the final buzzer sounded, the Lady Wildcats fell 50-36 in a tough battle. 

Boys’ Game

The last game of the evening saw the Wildcats take control of the court throughout the game. Colquitt County’s Marcus Moore opened the scoring with a three-pointer, but the Wildcats wasted no time responding. Braylan Deas drove into the lane for two, and Brandon Brown followed up with a confident three-pointer, giving Valdosta an early lead. As the quarter progressed, the Wildcats’ shooting proved to be on point, with Jabarri Williams and Brown sinking deep shots to extend the lead to 19-12 by the end of the first quarter.

Colquitt attempted to slow down Valdosta’s momentum in the second quarter, but the Wildcats’ dominance in the paint made the difference. Corey Howard established himself under the basket, grabbing key rebounds and scoring on second-chance opportunities. Valdosta extended their lead to 27-16 after Brown and Williams continued to find open looks. Colquitt’s Cason Harden managed to cut into the lead with a three-pointer and a tough drive into the paint, but Valdosta kept their composure, closing the half with a 32-21 lead.

An early exchange of baskets in the third quarter saw Deas, RaCobe Studevan, and Howard add to the Wildcats’ total, pushing their advantage past 20 points. Colquitt attempted to keep pace with buckets from Harden and Jones, but Valdosta’s relentless scoring barrage continued. By the end of the quarter, the Wildcats had built a 57-38 lead.

The fourth quarter was more of the same, as Valdosta refused to let Colquitt mount any sort of comeback. Deas showed his speed and skill with a flying pass into the lane for an easy two points, and Brown continued to exploit gaps in Colquitt’s defense. Free throws from Kaleb Johnson and solid execution down the stretch ensured the Wildcats finished strong, securing an emphatic 74-54 win.

The Wildcats will travel to Tifton on Saturday to face the Tift County Blue Devils. They aim to conclude regional play on a high note.