Lowndes girls win Thomasville tournament

THOMASVILLE — Lowndes High’s girls basketball team won the Reebok Holiday Tournament in dominant fashion.

The Vikettes routed host Thomasville 60-25 in the championship game. Tournament MVP Taccara Bivins scored 22 points for Lowndes. Stephanie Sermons contributed 12 points, and also made the All-Tournament team. Kia Tillman added eight points.

Lowndes (9-1) hosts Warner Robins (10-2) on Jan. 5 in its Region 1-AAAAA opener.

The Vikettes earned a spot in the championship game with a 53-41 victory over Terrell County on Thursday. Sermons scored 20 points in the win. Bivins added 15.



Valdosta girls upset ranked team

ORLANDO, Fla. — Valdosta High’s girls basketball team upset Ridgeway High, 47-46 Thursday night at the Midnight Basketball Christmas Tournament. Marcia Hill hit a shot at the buzzer to give the Lady Wildcats the victory.

Ridgeway, a ranked Tennessee team from Memphis, led 40-38 entering the fourth quarter, and built its lead to as much as six points. But Valdosta came back, and won at the buzzer.

Hill led Valdosta with 12 points, while Brooke Baldwin and Chelsea Williams added eight.

On Friday, the Lady Wildcats earned a spot in the tournament’s championship game of the Midnight Basketball Christmas Tournament with a 58-56 overtime victory over Pinecastle Christian Academy, the host school.

The Lady Wildcats trailed 12-1 after one period and 24-16 at halftime. But a three-pointer with six seconds left in regulation tied the score at 48-48, and sent the game into overtime.

Shanavier Walker led Valdosta with 18 points, while Zajerria Godfrey added 12.

In the championship game, Valdosta will face either defending Florida 4A state champion Titusville Astronaut or Orlando Christian, a Class 1A state semifinalist last year.