Published: March 03, 2006 09:36 am      

Lady Devils advance to state playoffs

Travel to Screven County for first round

They weren’t even given a chance to win the Region 4AA championship last, but the Jackson High School Lady Devils’ basketball team surprised everyone and proved the critics wrong. Not only did the team make it to the semi-finals of the region tournament, they also advanced one step further to state competition.

Head Coach Ronnie Watts and his young team shocked everyone in the region by knocking out Tri-County and Manchester in the first two rounds to reach the semi-finals of the tournament at Greenville High School. A 20-point victory over the Lady Eagles last Monday followed by a 17-point downing of the Lady Blue Devils last Thursday had Jackson in the final four of the region tournament. With the wins, the Lady Devils also clinched the team a spot in the AA state playoffs that begin this weekend.

In the semi-finals last Friday, the Lady Devils were matched up with the two time defending Region 4AA champions -the Macon County Lady Bulldogs. Macon County defeated the Lady Devils both times the two teams met in the regular season and were looking to end Jackson’s chances at a region title for the third consecutive season.

For the past two seasons Jackson fell to the Lady Bulldogs in the Region 4AA championship game, so this year they were looking for some revenge over their newly established region rivals one round earlier. But, sadly for the Lady Devils and their fans, they didn’t get it.

The game was an offensive struggle for both teams. At the end of the first quarter the teams were tied at two each. At halftime Macon County led, but only 7-6. It wasn’t necessarily the fact that neither team could score, but instead it was Watts’ determination to break Macon County out of its 1-2-2 zone and force the Lady Bulldogs into man-to-man coverage that kept the scoring at a minimum in the first half.

Twice in the first half Jackson players stood with the ball just across mid-court for more than five minutes before the Lady Bulldogs broke down and dropped out of their zone defense.

In the second half, though, it was Macon County who took control of the game as they began to pull away. The Lady Devils had numerous looks at open outside shots as well as open lay ups, but couldn’t convert. Jackson was ice cold from the field and was outscored by the Lady Bulldogs 26-5 in the second half. In the end, Macon County defeated the Lady Devils for the third time this season and for the third consecutive year in the Region tournament by a final score of 33-11.

With the loss Jackson not only lost any chance at a region championship, but also lost the chance to host a first round state playoff game in Jackson.

Saturday, the Lady Devils traveled back to Greenville for the fourth time of their exhausting week to play the Greenville Lady Patriots, who were defeated Friday by the eventual Region 4AA champions - the Callaway Cavaliers - to decide the number three and four seeds.

Jackson played much better on Saturday and nearly avenged their 50-43 regular season loss to the Lady Patriots, but couldn’t hold on at the end losing 49-45.

On one hand, Jackson was obviously upset at being denied a chance at a region championship, but on the other hand Watts’ team was thrilled at the fact that they were going to the 2006 AA state playoffs and used the rest of Saturday to celebrate their state playoff spot. But then came the announcement of their first round opponent.

With the Lady Devils finishing as the number four seed from Region 4AA, they will be forced to open the state playoffs against the number one seed and the Region 3AA champion.

That team is Screven County, who by the way is one of the best basketball teams not only in AA, but in all classifications throughout the state.

The Lady Devils come into their first round game with a 10-19 overall record this season. Screven County on the other hand is 25-2 and ranked fourth in the state. Both of the Lady Gamecocks’ two losses this season have come on behalf of the hands of AAAA Effingham County by a combined 13 points.

Jackson will travel to Sylvania on Saturday to open the first round of the state playoffs. Should the Lady Devils pull off the mammoth upset they will then play next Friday in round two at Savannah State College.

Tip off Saturday is slated for 7 p.m.