Swainsboro wins by one in thriller versus SCD

Savannah Country Day almost pulled off a major upset in A D-1 Region pushing the home team and heavy favorite, Swainsboro, to the limit but coming up short 51-50. The Lady Hornets had the ball and a chance to win as the time ran out after losing to the Lady Tigers by twenty points earlier in the season. This could be a potential matchup in the region tournament later this month and there is a reason folks say it is hard to beat a good team three times. Several players who I had not seen before turned in strong performances for their team. Both teams will present serious challenges to whomever they face in the state tournament.    Murphy was the player of the game for Swainsboro, attacking the basket and making plays from the opening tip. Murphy played more of a point forward snatching rebounds off the defensive boards and bringing the ball up a lot of times during the game. Offensively, she was good against SCD's zone playing in the high post at the elbows and free throw line. Murphy made herself a target and when she received the ball either rose up for a quick jump shot or drove the ball effectively to the basket. She showed very good athleticism and a lot of skill. Murphy is a player a lot more people will know if the Lady Tigers can make a deep run in the state playoffs.     Freeman plays with a lot of toughness and isn't afraid of contact. She used that physicality to defend SCD players hard for 84 feet all game long. She sped up the SCD guards and caused a handful of turnovers, including steals and turned those into points scoring in transition. Freeman is a capable shooter from three knocking down an early shot from the corner. She was also active on the boards for Swainsboro and added an easy put back on an offensive rebound. Kimiya is a kid in the '28 class college coaches should know.     Walden was a player I had not seen before, but it didn't take long to realize that she was a legit player who a lot more people should and will know in the freshman class in Georgia. Walden has very good size for a guard and did a lot of things well for Swainsboro, including a nice floater from a few feet in front of the basket in the first quarter. Walden has a nice looking shot, with good form and balance. She showed her range knocking down a three between the top and the wing in the first half. Walden moves well and is a good athlete. Walden maybe a freshman, but she was very vocal in the key moments at the end of the game and showed leadership ability.     Hildebrandt played an almost flawless game for SCD. at the point guard position. She had the basketball in her hands the majority of the game and she did everything she could to give her team a chance to win. Molly scored and assisted off of several plays involving backdoor cuts showing a really high basketball IQ. She scored twice pushing the ball down the left hand side of the court on the break, leaping and switching the ball to her right hand, before rising up and finishing off the glass on contested layups. She had several steals in the game on defense, both guarding her player and jumping in the passing lane and intercepting the ball before pushing it quickly down the court.     Gilpin had great chemistry with Hildebrandt and was the recipient of some solid, timely passes that she converted into two points. Gilpin moves really well without the ball cutting to the basket and through the lane. Her constant movement gave Swainsboro problems on defense. On one possession she cut to the basket, made a tough catch, gathered herself and made a spin move before laying the ball up in the basket. Gilpin was active on the boards on both ends of the court and kept the player she was guarding in front of her on defense for the majority of the game with good lateral movement.     Myers has really good size for a guard and showed good speed in agility in the game. Her versatility on offense kept the ball moving and flow going wherever she was on the court. She kept her head up seeing her teammates cutting to the basket and delivered some nice passes in close quarters. Myers finished well around the basket and knocked down a midrange jumper from the baseline. In the last two minutes of the game she came up with a huge block to get her team a stop on defense and another possession to win the game. She grabbed an offensive rebound in closing seconds as well but was unable to convert the put back.

Savannah Country Day almost pulled off a major upset in A D-1 Region pushing the home team and heavy favorite, Swainsboro, to the limit but coming up short 51-50. The Lady Hornets had the ball and a chance to win as the time ran out after losing to the Lady Tigers by twenty points earlier in the season. This could be a potential matchup in the region tournament later this month and there is a reason folks say it is hard to beat a good team three times. Several players who I had not seen before turned in strong performances for their team. Both teams will present serious challenges to whomever they face in the state tournament.