MORGAN COUNTY
Morgan County sophomore Kymora Smith came up big when it mattered against Long County in the first round of the GHSA Class AAA state playoffs on Tuesday.
The 5-foot-7 point guard was clutch in the final minutes of regulation for the Lady Dogs, who prevailed 49-45 over the Lady Blue Tide, advancing them to the Sweet 16.
Smith put on a clinic on both ends of the floor in the fourth quarter. She totaled 13 points, with nine coming in the final eight minutes. Smith also recorded several steals and had a pivotal block, which could’ve tied the game up, in the fourth quarter.
“Her energy is very key to our defense and offense,” Morgan County head coach Milfred Franklin said. “She sets to tone with her steals. Kiwi (Kenwanna) Lane also sets the tone with her defense. Those two, especially Kymora, were clutch tonight.”
Lane, who’s the team’s other primary ball handler, had a big third quarter. She only scored six points, with four coming from the foul line, but was instrumental in helping the Lady Dogs get back into the contest after trailing 25-21 at the break.
The Putnam County transfer scored her only field goal to start the third quarter, and then she made a conscious effort to get to the foul line. Lane drew contact and sunk her free throws. She also played an important role on the defensive end.
“The gameplan worked, and our girls stuck to it,” Franklin said. “We executed the Xs and Os.”
The win didn’t come easy for Morgan County, though. The Lady Blue Tide fought hard until Smith blocked a potential game-tying shot with just under 50 seconds left.
The first quarter was back and forth as each squad would answer the other’s shots. The game was tied 6-6 with 5:03 remaining when Jaden Young broke it open with two consecutive 3-pointers, putting the Lady Dogs in the driver’s seat, 12-6.
Morgan County led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter. Long County took the lead early in the second as its defense adjusted, holding Young to only two points. The Lady Blue Tide also clamped down and limited the Lady Dogs’ entire offense.
Long County relied on center Alaysia Fernandez in the second quarter. The 6-foot-1 power forward scored five of her seven points in the period. It also didn’t help that Morgan County went nearly six minutes between baskets to close the half.
The third quarter was neck-and-neck as each team traded blows. The Lady Dogs finally took the lead at the 1:58 mark of the period following a pair of free throws by Lane. Still, Long County didn’t roll it over as it led 36-35 heading into the fourth.
Besides Lane, senior Destiny Hunter was also a huge reason why Morgan County got back into contention late in the third quarter. She scored six points in the period but also helped the Lady Dogs defensively by limiting Fernandez to two points.
“Destiny (Hunter) opened up the floodgates for us in the third quarter,” Franklin said. “She got us going (to start the second half) and played great defense down the stretch.”
Morgan County held its own in the fourth quarter, feeding off the home crowd’s energy. The Lady Dogs struggled from the free-throw line, although Smith’s back-to-back baskets with under two minutes remaining made up for it at the end.
“I was very proud of how we kept battling, even though Long County had a lead on us, but the girls kept battling and fighting,” Franklin said. “They never gave up.”
Hunter led Morgan County in scoring with 15 points, followed by Smith with 13 points, respectively. Young added 10 points and Lane registered six in the win on Tuesday.
The Lady Dogs will face No. 1 seed Carver (Columbus) in the second round of the playoffs this upcoming weekend. The Lady Tigers are ranked No. 4 in Class AAA.
“We’re ready for the challenge,” Franklin said. “I just know they have to deal with us.”