The Greene County girls basketball team picked up its first win of the season on Feb. 3, edging Wilkinson County 53-51 at home.
With the victory, the Lady Tigers are now 1-16 overall and will close the regular season on Feb. 6 with a road game at Lake Oconee Academy.
Head coach Steven Hopper said he was proud of the way his team approached Tuesday night’s matchup, noting the energy and mindset that played a major role in the result.
“The energy level was where it needed to be — very high — and the girls came out motivated to play,” Hopper said. “I was very proud of them in that aspect. They came out with the right mindset to get things done.”
Greene County set the tone early, scoring 20 points in the first quarter and adding 10 more in the second to build momentum against the Lady Warriors. Hopper credited contributions across the lineup and pointed to the sophomore class as a key factor in the team’s progress.
“The backbone of this team is the sophomore class, and they really showed up,” Hopper said. “Sophomore guard Akerria Griggs scored 10 points, and Ja’Neyce Hull had 11, including the biggest shot of the game in the fourth quarter.”
Griggs reached double figures by knocking down two three-pointers, a two-point basket in the first quarter, and two free throws in the second. Hull scored three points in the first half before erupting for eight points in the fourth quarter to help secure the win.
Denver McCommons led all scorers with 20 points, but Hopper said Hull’s late-game production proved to be decisive.
“Ja’Neyce really was the backbone of us getting the win,” Hopper said. “Denver handled the basketball well, but when it came down to the points we scored in the fourth quarter, Ja’Neyce had eight of them, including the game-winning bucket.”
Despite the narrow final margin, Hopper said the win demonstrated significant growth for his team.
“In the third quarter, we were up big, and it showed the girls that not only can we start well and lead at halftime, but we can hold a lead,” Hopper said. “Down the stretch, winning a close game wasn’t exactly how I wanted it, but it showed them they can win tight basketball games.”
Hopper emphasized that the victory was the result of a full team effort and said it was especially meaningful for younger players who earned their first high school win.
“I’m okay with the fact that it was a tight game because they got to see a little bit of everything,” Hopper said. “Some of them hadn’t won a game as a starter — or even at the high school level — so it was great for them to get that win, especially for the seniors.”