Charlton County used a strong second-half effort to pull out a 67–51 win over Lake Oconee Academy on Feb. 18 in the first round of the Class A Division II state playoffs.
The Maidens (21-7) advanced to the second round, where they lost 72-56 to No. 1 Randolph-Clay. The Lady Titans’ 2024-25 season ended in the opening round of the state tournament for the first time in a few years.
LOA coach Savannah Soles gave credit where it was due, stating that Charlton County wasn’t a typical No. 3 seed. The Maidens played in a region with powerhouses Seminole County, Clinch County, and Brooks County.
“You never want to lose in the first round, but when you look at the standings and the draw we got as a No. 2 seed compared to the other No. 2 seeds, it was a tough one,” Soles said. “We kept preaching, ‘To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best.’ Charlton County led their region all year long, so we knew it would be a challenge.”
Lake Oconee Academy led Charlton County 13-12 at the conclusion of the first quarter. Senior shooting guard Briana Glave powered the Lady Titans in the opening period, scoring eight of the Lady Titans’ 13 points.
The second quarter was a low-scoring affair, with Lake Oconee Academy having the 9-6 edge. Both teams shot poorly from the field as the defenses shined, although the Lady Titans held a 22-18 advantage at the half.
The Maidens jumped ahead in the third quarter as sophomore guard Trenity Hamilton got hot from the field. She scored 11 points in the period, grabbed several rebounds off the glass, and also forced a few steals.
Charlton County only led Lake Oconee Academy 40-37 entering the fourth quarter, but the rest of the game was a different story. The Maidens dominated the Lady Titans in the final eight minutes, outscoring them 27-14.
Charlton County junior shooting guard Christiona Farmer took over, scoring 10 of her 15 points in the fourth quarter. Sophomore point guard Rihanna Battle also contributed eight of her 15 points down the stretch.
Glave and Ansleigh Padgett kept LOA in the game, but it wasn’t enough.
The Maidens also had a clear size advantage, as they grabbed 51 rebounds, 31 of which were offensive boards. Senior power forward Mahogany Steele led them on the glass by grabbing 20 rebounds and scoring 10 points.
Lake Oconee Academy only grabbed 25 rebounds. The Lady Titans also shot 33% from the field and the 3-point line.
“We got in some foul trouble, so I had to sit a few girls, and that’s when it started to slip away,” Soles explained. “Charlton’s athleticism, height, and size wore on us, but at the end of the day, I felt like the girls competed.”
Hamilton joined Steele in achieving a double-double. She led the Maidens with 21 points but also grabbed 10 rebounds.
Padgett led LOA with 19 points, followed by Glave, who added 13.
The Lady Titans finished the season with a 17-9 record.
“I’m proud of the girls. A lot of people didn’t expect us to be here,” Soles said. “We believed in ourselves.”