GREENE COUNTY
Lake Oconee Academy (27-2) is headed back to the Final Four for a second straight season following its dominant 58-23 victory over Turner County (25-4) on Tuesday night.
The Lady Titans of Turner County entered the contest having won six straight, with victories over Wilcox County and Clinch County, two programs that were also in the Elite Eight.
Turner County was also averaging 64 points per contest during that six-game winning streak, but the Lady Titans were held to a season-low 23 points on Tuesday night against LOA.
“We keep saying take it one game at a time,” Lake Oconee Academy head coach Savannah Soles told the Lake Oconee News last week. “A lot of people expect us to win it again, and we do a good job of keeping that outside the program and focusing on us.”
Lake Oconee Academy led Turner County 10-9 at the end of the first quarter and limited its opponent to eight points in the second. The home Lady Titans then led 23-17 at the break.
In the second half, Lake Oconee Academy put away the game, as it has done all season, with its aggressive defensive prowess. The Lady Titans outscored Turner County 35-6 over the last two quarters of regulation, punching their ticket to the Final Four.
Seniors Hannah Heinen and Jada Williams set the tempo in transition. Also, Georgia Bosart helped the Lady Titans down low at the foul line in the win.
Turner County’s leading scorers,,Tykhia Burgess and Caitlyn Burgess, were held in check. The visiting Lady Titans could never get anything going offensively due to LOA’s press.
LOA came away with several steals on defense in the opening minutes of the third quarter, leading it to outscore Turner County 19-3. The Lady Titans added 16 points in the fourth, while Turner County also managed to only score three points in the closing eight minutes.
Bosart led LOA with a team-high 21 points, with Heinen and Williams each scoring 14 points. Turner County also had four players foul out, and LOA took full advantage of that.
Bosart shot 14-of-19 from the free-throw line in the second half. Jane Monachello was also 3-of-4 from the line in the last two quarters of regulation against the visiting Lady Titans.
To get into the quarterfinals, Lake Oconee Academy defeated Schley County 63-34 in the Sweet 16. The Lady Titans knocked off the Lady Wildcats with another dominant win.
Schley County has one of the best players in Class A Division II on its roster in guard, Jesstynie Scott. She averaged just over 20 points per game during her sophomore year..
Lake Oconee Academy couldn’t contain Scott as she scored 28 of Schley County’s 34 points. However, that’s all the Lady Wildcats had in their season-ending loss to the Lady Titans.
The defending state champions are headed back to the Final Four for a second straight year.
Next, LOA will face Mt. Zion-Carrollton in the semifinals, which will be held at Valdosta State University on Saturday. The Lady Eagles (25-5) have won seven straight going into the matchup.
Tip-off between Lake Oconee Academy and Mt. Zion is set for 2 p.m.
“Last year, we were able to fly under the radar and try and prove a point,” Soles said last week. “This year, everyone wants to beat LOA. So, we definitely have a big target on our back, and the girls know that.”