Dodge Squaws are region runner-ups;

Host first round of state this Friday

Dodge County News, February 25, 2009

By Chad W. Smith

The third ranked and two time defending region champion Dodge County High School (DCHS) Squaws basketball team began defense of their region championship last Thursday at the Region 3AA tournament at Southeast Bulloch High School. The Squaws played three games in row and won two of the three to take the Region 3AA runner-up trophy home. Dodge defeated Jefferson County on Thursday, February 19 by a score of 70-54. This win earned the Squaws a state tournament berth for 37^th time in Dodge County High School’s 51 year existence. It is the 18^th year in a row the Dodge County girls’ basketball team has advanced to state and sixth year in a row under the direction of Coach Carol Smith.

The Squaws then faced the eighth ranked Screven County Lady Gamecocks who had defeated Dodge earlier in the season 63-51. But Dodge avenged the earlier loss by defeating Screven 62-48 on Friday, February 20, when it counted the most. That semifinal win advanced the Squaws to the region championship game for the third year in a row. Dodge faced the fourth ranked Laney Lady Wildcats in the championship game, again a team that had defeated the Squaws earlier in the season by a score of 66-47. This time the Squaws played probably their best game of the season as they almost pulled out a win but lost 65-63. The Squaws are to be commended on their effort and heart in the championship game; they have nothing to be ashamed of. It was a great game.

The Squaws (24-4) now move on to face the third seeded team from Region 4AA in the Henry County Lady Warhawks. The Lady Warhawks finished the season behind Northeast Macon and Greene County and have a 20-8 record. The first round game is scheduled for Friday, February 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Dodge County High School. If the Squaws win on Friday they would advance to the Sweet 16 round on Tuesday, March 3 against the winner of the Albany/Pierce County game. If Albany wins, the Squaws would travel to Albany High School; if Pierce County wins the Squaws would play at home. Check out the complete state brackets at the GaSports.com website.

In the region championship game on Saturday, February 21, the Squaws trailed the Laney Lady Wildcats 19-15 after one quarter. Tahitia Butler led Dodge with six points in the quarter. Janna Anderson followed with the first of her four three-pointers in the game. Dodge opened the second quarter on a nine point run to take the lead 24-21 at the 4:43 mark. Laney closed out the quarter by outscoring the Squaws 12-3 to take the lead back at 33-27 at the half. Butler again led with four points and Anderson had her second three-pointer. Michelle Mitchell led the third quarter for the Squaws with seven points as the Squaws were outscored 14-13 and trailed 47-40. The Squaws outscored the Lady Wildcats 14-6 to begin the fourth quarter and took the lead again 54-53 on Anderson’s fourth three-pointer of the night with 4:17 left. Dodge was then outscored 12-9 to close out the quarter. Nisha Walker led Dodge with 11 points including three three-pointers in the final quarter. Walker’s last three-pointer came with .2 second left in the game. Laney then attempted to get the ball inbounds and Tahitia Butler intercepted the ball and was knocked down by a Laney player and jabbed in her stomach and no call was made and the game ended with Laney up 65-63.

Final scoring for the Squaws against Laney was: Tahitia Butler, 16 points; Michelle Mitchell, 15 points; Nisha Walker, 15 points; Janna Anderson, 12 points; Yaleisa Burns, two points; Kemiya Harrell, two points.

Final scoring for the Squaws against Jefferson County was: Tahitia Butler, 16 points; Kemiya Harrell, 14 points; Michelle Mitchell, 12 points; Janna Anderson, 11 points; Nisha Walker, seven points; Yaleisa Burns, six points; Jaye Hilliard, four points.

Final scoring for the Squaws against Screven County was: Nisha Walker, 21 points; Michelle Mitchell, 17 points; Janna Anderson, 12 points; Kemiya Harrell, nine points; Tahitia Butler, three points.