VALDOSTA — The 2024-25 basketball season of the Valdosta Wildcats came to an end Wednesday with a 61-53 loss to Etowah.

Etowah entered as the No. 3 seed from Region 5-6A to Valdosta’s No. 2 from 1-6A. Though arriving as a third-place team to the ‘Cat Cage, MaxPreps considered Etowah Georgia’s 13th best team, regardless of classification.

With the win, the Eagles are to play Saturday at Buford, the Region 8 champion.

Valdosta had been Region 1’s top team exiting the regular season, but entered the playoffs as a No. 2 team after a 58-55 loss to Lowndes in the region finals.

The ‘Cats finish the year 17-11. Jabarri Williams, Brandon Brown and Braylan Deas are among the names set to graduate.

All of Region 1’s boys teams fell in the first round of the playoffs: Valdosta to Etowah, Lowndes to Cherokee, Colquitt County to Wheeler and Tift County to Walton.