VALDOSTA— In a high-stakes sweet 16 matchup, the Lowndes Vikettes continued to stay home for their state playoff game against Mill Creek’s Hawks. As the game unfolded, both teams gave their all on the court, trading blows in a game that put fans on the edge of their seats from the opening tip.

The contest began as a defensive slugfest. The Hawks drew first blood when Lena Queen nailed a three-pointer, putting them on the board at 3-0. However, the Vikettes quickly responded, as Kaci Demps hit a three of her own, leveling the score at 3-3. Both teams found few opportunities to score, staying tied until the four-minute mark.

As the first quarter progressed, both teams started exchanging baskets, with Kayla Jackson adding a two-point rebound finish for the Vikettes and Aryana Thomas extending the lead with a jumper. Despite Isabella Ragone’s early scoring spurt for the Hawks, including an and-one play, the quarter closed with the Hawks holding a slim 10-9 advantage.

The second period saw Lowndes take control. Thomas set the tone with back-to-back three-pointers, briefly the lead to 15-10. The intensity only grew as Jackson and Laila Foster contributed timely baskets, with Foster’s two-pointer sparking a surge that had the home crowd roaring.

Although the Hawks’ Alison Champa and Ayla Summer excelled, the Vikettes steadily built their lead, finishing the half with a commanding 33-25 advantage.

Following halftime, Thomas and Demps led the charge, filling the quarter with threes and aggressive drives to the basket. Jackson added to their crusade, helping the team extend its lead to 54-38 by the end of the period. Despite the Hawks’ persistent efforts — most notably by Ragone, who kept her team in the game with multiple scoring runs — the growing deficit was hard to overcome.

Demps set the tone early in the final period with a pair of driving two-pointers. Although the Hawks momentarily trimmed the gap with Ragone’s final push, Thomas’s sharp shooting and relentless defense restored the lead.

The Vikettes’ balance of offense and defense allowed them to maintain a comfortable margin throughout the final minutes, ensuring that the final score read 67-51—a victory that crowned the home team and propelled them into the Elite 8.

The Vikettes will continue to stay home against Grayson’s Rams on Tuesday. The Rams are set up to be the Vikettes’ toughest battle of the season, boasting an overall record of 28-1. Last season, the Vikettes fell to Grayson in the final four in a tough 66-25 loss. Today, Grayson has not yet faced a playoff opponent that pushed them, so the Vikettes will have to perform at their best in this Elite 8 game.