Lady Devils keep up fight, but fall to Laney
MILLEDGEVILLE — For every pass, every shot and every second, the Model girls’ basketball team fought in a battle of the top ranked Class AA teams in the state.
But despite an effort that only increased as the game went on, the Lady Devils’ season ended one game too soon.
Laney established its backcourt pressure early to grab a double- digit lead Saturday and held on thanks to their size and speed to defeat Model 6549 in the GHSA state semifinals at the Georgia College Centennial Center.
The loss snapped a 10game winning streak for the Lady Devils and halts their playoff run where they outscored opponents by an average of 28.7 points. And while emotions ran high after the game, Model coach Sally Echols still knew her girls gave their all.
“I don’t know if there were problems in the first half, but the ball did not fall,” Echols said. “We just were not able to finish the shots we wanted, and that was the difference. But I still feel like these ladies played from start to finish. They didn’t quit.”
Model junior Victaria Saxton led all players with 21 points, a more impressive feat considering she battled foul trouble for a large portion of the game and recorded only four points in the first half. Senior Bailey Upton finished with nine points, while sophomore Kyla Reynolds added seven.
Laney (30-1), which entered the game on a 27game win streak, got 19 points from guard Jaiden Hamilton and 18 points inside from De’Sha Benjamin. Jazmine Bartlett added 14 points, scoring mostly in transition.
The Lady Wildcats will face Rabun County for the Class AA title Saturday at Georgia Tech’s Mc- Camish Pavilion.
The difference in the game was the first two quarters, with Laney controlling whatever tempo it wanted and forcing Model turnovers.
The Lady Wildcats led 18-7 after the first quarter but quickly moved to a half-court offense in the second quarter. Benjamin came alive in that s etting, notching 10 points and giving her team a 33- 16 halftime lead.
“After the first half, when we came in the locker room, I knew we had to win the second half and battle,” senior guard Natalie Davis said. “We knew we just had to stay aggressive but remember to get back on defense, just keep the pressure.”
Model came out of the break searching for the holes in Laney’s defense. At the end of many of those attacks was Saxton, who scored 12 points in the third quarter and led a n 8- 2 r un midway through the period.
Laney countered with 24 points in the quarter and led 57-35 entering the final frame, but the momentum of the game had shifted. No matter what the outcome appeared to be, the Lady Devils were matching their opponents shot for shot.
“I think Laney had to adjust their game plan in the second quarter and begin stalling the ball,” Echols said. “They’re a great ball team, no question, but I think that strategy was a testament to what we were doing to them.”
Model (25-6) won the final quarter, with its de- fense holding Laney to single digits and Benjamin fouling out with five minutes left in the game. Six different Lady Devils scored in the quarter, including buckets from seniors Upton and Davis.
Upton remained on the court in the closing minutes, deflecting passes as the final moments of her high school career ticked away. Laney was well ahead, but the senior was not going to leave the court without trying.
“I told myself before the game just to have no regrets,” Upton said. “That’s something I’ve tried to keep in my mind this season. I’m sure the other seniors have, too. But for me, I wanted to make sure I went out on a good note and did everything I could, no matter the outcome.”
Model scored the final five points of the game in the last 50 seconds and received plenty of applause from the fans that made the trip from Floyd County.