LITHIA SPRINGS — A second round playoff road trip turned into a joy ride for the Flowery Branch girls basketball team on Wednesday.
The second-seeded Lady Falcons swatted Region 6-AAAAA champ Lithia Springs 68-39 in the Class 5A Sweet 16 to march into the state tournament quarterfinals for a third straight season.
The Branch's reward is another possible home match-up, as No. 2-seeded Dutchtown edged Region 2-AAAAA champion Ware County 44-42 to set up a showdown of No. 2 seeds in the Elite Eight. A unviersal coin flip from the GHSA will determine home-court advantage for the game, which will take place either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Ashley Woodroffe led the Lady Falcons (24-6) in the second round with 27 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals. Meanwhile, Taniyah Worth added 20 points, 4 rebounds and 5 steals. Caroline Wysocki also scored 7 points and dished out 5 assists, while Ashlee Locke grabbed 12 rebounds to go along with 4 points and 4 assists.
JEFFERSON GIRLS 62,
PICKENS 40
The Lady Dragons advanced to the Elite Eight for the third time in five years courtesy a solid win on Wednesday in the Class 4A state playoffs at The Arena.
Jefferson, the Region 8-AAAA champions, next will play Henry County, the Region 4-AAAA champions, in the quarterfinals. A coin flip will be held on Friday to determine who will get the home court advantage.
Jefferson led just 17-9 after the first quarter but outscored Pickens 35-20 over the second and third quarters to take control.
Jazmin Allen poured 23 points to lead Jefferson. McKenzie Ulmer added 11 points and Nia Johnson 10 points for the Lady Dragons, who have won 10 straight overall.
RABUN COUNTY GIRLS 63,
LAMAR COUNTY 42
The Lady Wildcats used a big third quarter to blow open a close game at halftime en route to the win.
Rabun County led 14-10 after the opening period but fell behind 15-14 early in the second quarter. The Lady Wildcats outscored Lamar 18-4 over the final six minutes of the half to take a 28-18 lead, however, and then exploded for a 20-9 run in the third quarter to put the game out of reach with a 48-28 lead.
Rabun County next will travel to Fitzgerald in the quarterfinals in a rematch of last season’s quarterfinal held in Tiger. The Lady Wildcats won that last season's showdown 74-60 on the way to the Class AA championship game.
BUFORD GIRLS 75,
JACKSON, ATLANTA 40
Tory Ozment poured in 26 points to lead the defending Class 5A state champion Lady Wolves to the lopsided win on Wednesday at The Buford Arena.
Buford (26-3) led just 18-12 at the end of the first quarter but exploded for a 26-point second quarter to blow the game open. Buford generated five turnovers during a 19-2 run to close out the first half for a 44-16 lead, holding the visitors to just four points in the quarter. The Lady Wolves then outscored Jackson, Atlanta 20-9 in the third quarter to put the game away.
Tate Walters added 11 points for Buford, which will take on Region 4-AAAAA champion Eagles Landing in the quarterfinals.
A coin flip will be held on Friday to determine who will get the home court advantage.
