Number one-ranked Lady Tigers rout Americus-Sumter

Published 1:33 am Tuesday, January 22, 2019

AMERICUS – the Americus-Sumter Lady Panthers (7-11, 4-6) wanted desperately to stop a three-game losing streak and to avenge their 85-27 drubbing at the hands of the Lady Tigers of Carver (Columbus) (CHS) on Friday, January 11, at CHS. However, in the second meeting between the two teams, the Lady Tigers used full-court pressure, causing numerous turnovers by the Lady Panthers. As a result, CHS built a 22-4 lead in the first quarter and never looked back on their way to a 77-54 win over the Lady Panthers on Saturday, January 19, at Americus-Sumter High School (ASHS).

The Lady Tigers (20-0, 11-0) are currently ranked number one in the state in the GHSA Class AAAA division.

The Lady Panthers had two players in double figures. Tiffani Goodman led ASHS with 20 points and Destinee Sims scored 13. The Panthers had a very tough time stopping CHS 6’3 center Olivia Cochran. Cochran led all scorers with 30 points. Two other Lady Tigers scored in double figures. Ja’nya Love-Hill scored 16 points and Sadrea Mabry chipped in 14.

ASHS forward Brianna Pope goes up for a layup. Pope scored six points in the loss.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

Trinity Jackson scored the first two points of the game to give ASHS a 2-0 lead, but it was all CHS after that. The Lady Tigers used full-court pressure and relentless man-to-man defense to force the Lady Panthers into committing a plethora of turnovers. CHS turned those turnovers into points and built a 22-4 lead in the first quarter.

Though they fell behind early, the Lady Panthers were able to go on a 5-1 run to close out the quarter and were only down by 14 points at 23-9.

However, the Lady Tigers went on a 7-2 run to start the second quarter before Sims hit a three-pointer to make the deficit 30-14 CHS.

Americus-Sumter girls coach Sherri Harris tries to coach her team back from a double-digit deficit. Unfortunately, the Lady Panthers fell to Carver (Columbus) 77-54.
Photo by Ken Gustafson

However, ASHS would not quit. The Lady Panthers were able to cut their deficit to 11 points when Banita Lee hit a three-pointer late in the second quarter. At that point, the Lady Panthers trailed 39-28. They would go into halftime trailing 42-28. They were down by 14, but it was not an insurmountable deficit.

However, things fell apart in the third quarter. The Lady Tigers resumed their swarming man-to-man defense and full-court pressure, causing ASHS to commit more turnovers. The Lady Panthers were not able to cut their deficit below double digits, and CHS went on to win 77-54.

The Lady Panthers will try to end their four-game losing streak when they host Cairo (8-11, 6-6) on Tuesday, January 22, at 6 p.m.