Lowndes takes exciting doubleheader against Thomasville
Published 4:48 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Caison Kirkland/Valdosta Daily Times Jahmarcus Walker attempts to stop Thomasville's Antoine Garland Jr, from scoring off his rush into the paint.
Caison Kirkland/Valdosta Daily Times Lowndes' Bryanna Thomas (left) holds off Thomasville's Jayla Brooks.
Caison Kirkland/Valdosta Daily Times Thomasville's Xavier Burkes Jr. (0) attempts to lockdown Lowndes' Jahmarcus Walker. (12)
Caison Kirkland/Valdosta Daily Times Aryana Thomas (23) bides her times and looks for a way into the paint.
Caison Kirkland/Valdosta Daily Times In a close fourth quarter where every basket counts, Thomasville's Antoine Garland Jr. goes for it.
VALDOSTA — Lowndes’ varsity teams shone brightly Tuesday night in a thrilling doubleheader against the Thomasville Bulldogs. The girls’ team set the tone with a commanding victory, while the boys’ game kept fans on the edge of their seats with a close finish to the night.
VIKETTES 72, THOMASVILLE 18
The Lowndes Vikettes put on a clinic in their matchup against the Thomasville Bulldogs, dominating every aspect of the game to take a commanding 72-18 victory.
Aryana Thomas wasted no time asserting her presence, hitting a three-pointer to open the scoring. The Vikettes were relentless on both ends of the court, with Shamiaha Webb and Kaci Demps adding to the offensive onslaught. Despite a brief response from Thomasville’s Rhaniya Wilson and Jayla Brooks, Lowndes closed the quarter with a staggering 27-5 lead.
The second quarter brought more of the same as the Vikettes continued their dominant play. Strong contributions from Demps and Payton Fleming added to Lowndes’ lead, while Leah Jones drained a three-pointer to widen the gap. Thomasville added points through free throws and a three-pointer from Brooks, but the halftime score stood firmly in Lowndes’ favor at 41-10.
Lowndes maintained their momentum after halftime, with Laila Foster and Kayla Jackson contributing to the scoring. Thomasville found some rhythm late in the quarter but couldn’t keep up with the relentless Vikettes, who stretched their lead to 55-16 by the end of the period.
In a shortened six-minute fourth quarter, Lowndes continued to shine. Bryana Thomas and Webb added to the scoreboard with clean layups, while Foster drained a three-pointer to further energize the crowd. The Vikettes closed the game in style, finishing with a resounding 72-18 victory.
VIKINGS 48, THOMASVILLE 46
The boys’ game brought a stark contrast to the girls’ blowout, with the Lowndes Vikings narrowly defeating the Thomasville Bulldogs in a back-and-forth thriller.
The game started with both teams not willing to give an inch on defense. Tarrell Green Jr. broke the ice three minutes in, and Isaiah Camon followed with a jumper to give Lowndes an early lead. Thomasville’s Xavier Burkes Jr. kept the Bulldogs within striking distance, and the quarter ended with the Vikings holding a slim 7-6 advantage.
The second quarter saw the pace pick up as both teams found their offensive footing. Thomasville briefly took the lead after free throws, but Kaden Martin’s layup and Camon’s three-pointer swung the momentum back to Lowndes. The lead changed hands multiple times before Dallas Montgomery’s dramatic buzzer-beater from near half-court gave the Vikings a 26-23 edge at halftime.
Thomasville came out strong after halftime, led by a three-pointer from Antoine Garland Jr. and baskets from Monte Colvin and Burkes The Bulldogs pulled ahead 35-28 before Lowndes regrouped. Kam Jackson’s clutch three-pointer and key free throws helped the Vikings reclaim the lead, ending the quarter up 39-37.
The final quarter was a tense showdown, with both teams trading baskets and the lead repeatedly. With under a minute to play, Kaiden Brown tied the game at 46-46 with a free throw. Jahmarcus Walker then sank two critical free throws to give Lowndes a 48-46 lead with 30 seconds remaining. Despite multiple timeouts and a final three-point attempt from Thomasville, the Vikings held on for the thrilling victory.
