The #3-ranked Lady Indians, seemingly in control of the game Tuesday evening against #9-ranked Dawson County, held off a pesky comeback by the Lady Tigers in a 54-45 region win.

Lumpkin County (14-3; 4-1 in 7-AAA) used a 21-0 run in the first half to pull up a 26-13 lead. Dawson County (9-7; 2-2) rallied at the end of the third and into the fourth, closing within 4 points in the closing minutes.

An early 3-point play by Mary Mullinax had Lumpkin up, but the Lady Tigers had a Morgan Chester putback and a 3-pointer from Emma Grace McCarron to give the visitors a 9-8 lead. The Lady Indians responded with a triple by Averie Jones and a buzzer-beating putback by Lexi Pierce to take a 14-9 first quarter lead.

Lumpkin went on the 21-0 run, which contained a trifecta from Jones. Dawson ended the run with a deep ball from Abby Samples-Slaton. It was part of a crucial 8-2 run for the Lady Tigers to get back into the game, as they trailed 28-21 at the half. Jones, Mullinax, and Pierce combined for 26 of the team’s 28 first half points.

Lumpkin County had its own 9-2 run to open the third, going up 37-23. Kirklyn Porter connected from long range though to get the Lady Tigers within striking distance at 41-35 heading into the final frame. Samples-Slaton caught fire, splashing a deep ball to get within 41-38, and another tray by McCarron made it a one-point game at 44-43. With two minutes to play, Dawson was within 4 points before Pierce’s 3-pointer and fast break layup stretched the lead to the 54-45 final.

Pierce ended with a game-high 18 points, scoring 9 in each half. Jones closed with 15 points, including 10 in the first half. Mullinax joined them in double figures with 11. Ciera Brooks had 9 points, all coming in the second half, and Elizabeth Walker had 2 points. Dawson County was led in scoring by Samples-Slaton, who had 17 points. McCarron had 8 points, Chester and Eva Bishop had 6 apiece, Porter 5, and 3 by Anna Ayers. Jones had a trio of 3-pointers, while Pierce and Brooks added one each for the Lady Indians. Samples-Slaton had 3 3-pointers also, and McCarron had 2 while Porter added one.