Vikettes fall to Grayson in Elite 8
Published 2:53 pm Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Lowndes' Kaci Demps matches Tatum Brown's intensity as she attempts to push into the paint.
Down by a single possession in the last seconds of the game, the Vikettes convene to formulate a plan.
The Vikettes come together to put pressure on Zoie Lofton's scoring attempt.
The Rams' Jayla Bennett goes for two in a close game against the Vikettes.
VALDOSTA — The Lowndes Vikettes left everything on the court at the Crimson Coliseum but fell short in a nail-biting 57-54 loss to the Grayson Rams in the GHSA state playoffs Elite 8.
The defeat marks the end of a strong playoff run for the Vikettes, who sought redemption after last year’s tough 66-25 Final Four loss to the Rams.
Both teams came out strong in the first quarter, trading baskets in a high-energy back-and-forth battle. Kayla Jackson remained consistent and continued to be a threat in the paint, working alongside Shamiaha Webb.
However, the Rams, led by Zoie Lofton and Coco Rudolph, quickly responded, and the opening quarter appeared to be a strong start for the Rams. A quarter-ending three-pointer from Aryana Thomas kept the game close at 21-18 for the Rams.
The Vikettes found their rhythm early in the second quarter and took a 28-24 lead, fueled by Jackson and Kaci Demps’s attacks on the paint. Bryanna Thomas knocked down a three of her own, and Lowndes seemed poised to pull away, but an impressive late push from Grayson tied the game at 35-35 at halftime.
Coming out of the half, the court found itself in a defensive deadlock, with neither side scoring for the first two minutes. Webb gave Lowndes the lead with a crucial rebound and putback, while Demps and Jackson continued to apply pressure inside. Despite a late offensive from Grayson, the Vikettes held onto a four-point advantage heading into the final period, up 46-42.
With a ticket to the Final Four on the line, the game slowed down, with both teams focusing on their defense. Feeling the pressure, Rudolph took it upon herself to close the gap with a rush into the paint for two, followed by a deep three-pointer to put the Rams on the heels of the Vikettes.
Lowndes’ hard-earned lead would be taken with the Rams’ Lofton and Rudolph gliding into the paint for baskets. Jackson would briefly take the lead back for the home team, but the Rams’ Tatum Brown answered quickly to stay ahead. With ten seconds remaining in the game, the Vikettes needed to make a three-pointer to force overtime but could not capitalize, leading to a final score of 57-54.
